MAYOR BLOOMBERG HAS REFUSED ACCESS TO CENTRAL PARK
ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT!!!
UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE!!!
MAYOR BLOOMBERG HAS REFUSED ACCESS TO CENTRAL PARK
FOR PEACE ACTIVISTS!!!
Local Los Angeles chapters of NION, Code Pink and others are co-sponsoring a bi-coastal, simultaneous press conference in support of a massive, global media campaign to force Bloomberg to grant central park permits (see generic letter to Bloomberg and address info below).
We need your help to draw media attention! Press conference to be held in Hollywood on the Sunset Blvd overpass to the Hollywood Freeway, Monday August 16th. Gather at 4:00pm, press conference at 4:30. Bring banners, signs and posters in support of protests in NYC. Huge turnout essential!!! Critical!!! If you cannot go to NY, this is your chance to help the cause!
More details:
Not In Our Name Los Angeles, in conjuction with Peace activist groups across the United States including United For Peace and Justice, International A.N.S.W.E.R. and the National Council of Arab Americans are struggling to pressure New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to grant activists permits for the use of the Great Lawn of Central Park during the Republican National Convention August 29th thru September 2nd.
Mayor Bloomberg's refusal to grant permits for Central Park protests is an utter outrage and affront to all Americans' constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble and speak freely without the fear of governmental intimidation! The protests in New York City during the Republican Convention promise to draw hundreds of thousands of people from all around the nation and world - including many thousand from California. This is not simply a local New York issue. This is national in scope and international in interest and will impact the future of political discourse in the United States for years to come.
Although Bloomberg has granted limited permits to various protests planned for the week of the convention, organizers in New York have unanimously agreed that the Westside Highway is a dismal and isolated location that would severely limit visibility of the largest protest planned for Sunday August 29th, the day before the official start of the Republican convention. The Westside Highway site would complicate logistical support for the protesters and serve overall to discourage dissent. The City is already planning to install 10 to 12 foot high, razor-wire topped fencing around the entire perimeter of the Westside location lined with battalions of police and military personnel. Essentially they have planned a prison camp environment.
We will not let Bloomberg and his G.O.P. bosses force protesters into a 'Guantanomo del norte' unchallenged! The Mayor's position is unacceptable, un-American and anti-constitutional - especially when considering the fact the Central Park is a far more reasonable solution from all points of view - including public safety and security.
Not In Our Name Los Angeles in conjunction with several other local chapters of national activist organizations will announce plans for the campaign in a bi-coastal, mulit-city press conference (New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles), Monday August 16th at 4:30 on the Sunset Blvd. (Sunset at Van Ness) overpass to the Hollywood Freeway.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL SUPPORTERS TO COPY THE FOLLOWING LETTER AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY. TELL FRIENDS, FAMILY THAT IT'S VITAL FOR THE PARK TO BE OPENED AND PRESURING BLOOMBERG IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. WE MUST FLOOD HIS OFFICE WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE PERMITS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, PLEASE CALL 323-462-6263
BOILER-PLATE LETTER TO BLOOMBERG
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)
FAX (212) 788-2460
E-MAIL: http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
Dear Mayor Bloomberg:
My name is xxxxxxxxx and I am writing as a concerned citizen of the United States of America and world in support of the granting of permits for the use of Central Park for protests to be held during the Republican National Convention in New York City.
Recently it has come to my attention that permits applied for by groups such as United For Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Not In Our Name, the National Council of Arab Americans and International A.N.S.W.E.R., over one year ago, have been denied for extremely vague and seemingly arbitrary reasons (i.e. - large numbers of people would damage newly planted grass). The alternative route that the city of New York has imposed on the protests would severely impede and discourage the assembly of hundreds of thousands of peaceful and committed Americans who simply desire a place to assemble that best reflects the power of democracy in action. Unlike what happened in Boston during the Democratic convention, wherein the concentration-camp-like 'free speech zone' created for protesters only served to embarrass America in the eyes of the world, you Mr. Bloomberg have the historic opportunity to demonstrate to the world that United States of America is truly the beacon of freedom that so many of us desire it to be both in word and deed. Irrespective of one's political views or party affiliation, Americans are constitutionally guaranteed the right to assemble free from intimidation and in full public view.
As you know Mr. Bloomberg, vast numbers of Americans oppose the direction the current administration and federal government have taken America and the world. By denying permits for Central Park and forcing peaceful protesters to march through razor-wire cordons, surrounded by gauntlets of thousands of heavily armed riot police only serves to empower the enemies of America. Security is an important element of the protest, but doing so in a manner that is respectful of our constitutional right to dissent is the only option in a truly democratic society. To do otherwise, jeopardizes everything we as a nation have struggled to build. I implore you to grant the permits for Central Park. It's the only right and just thing to do.
Sincerely,
Your Name
UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE!!!
MAYOR BLOOMBERG HAS REFUSED ACCESS TO CENTRAL PARK
FOR PEACE ACTIVISTS!!!
Local Los Angeles chapters of NION, Code Pink and others are co-sponsoring a bi-coastal, simultaneous press conference in support of a massive, global media campaign to force Bloomberg to grant central park permits (see generic letter to Bloomberg and address info below).
We need your help to draw media attention! Press conference to be held in Hollywood on the Sunset Blvd overpass to the Hollywood Freeway, Monday August 16th. Gather at 4:00pm, press conference at 4:30. Bring banners, signs and posters in support of protests in NYC. Huge turnout essential!!! Critical!!! If you cannot go to NY, this is your chance to help the cause!
More details:
Not In Our Name Los Angeles, in conjuction with Peace activist groups across the United States including United For Peace and Justice, International A.N.S.W.E.R. and the National Council of Arab Americans are struggling to pressure New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to grant activists permits for the use of the Great Lawn of Central Park during the Republican National Convention August 29th thru September 2nd.
Mayor Bloomberg's refusal to grant permits for Central Park protests is an utter outrage and affront to all Americans' constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble and speak freely without the fear of governmental intimidation! The protests in New York City during the Republican Convention promise to draw hundreds of thousands of people from all around the nation and world - including many thousand from California. This is not simply a local New York issue. This is national in scope and international in interest and will impact the future of political discourse in the United States for years to come.
Although Bloomberg has granted limited permits to various protests planned for the week of the convention, organizers in New York have unanimously agreed that the Westside Highway is a dismal and isolated location that would severely limit visibility of the largest protest planned for Sunday August 29th, the day before the official start of the Republican convention. The Westside Highway site would complicate logistical support for the protesters and serve overall to discourage dissent. The City is already planning to install 10 to 12 foot high, razor-wire topped fencing around the entire perimeter of the Westside location lined with battalions of police and military personnel. Essentially they have planned a prison camp environment.
We will not let Bloomberg and his G.O.P. bosses force protesters into a 'Guantanomo del norte' unchallenged! The Mayor's position is unacceptable, un-American and anti-constitutional - especially when considering the fact the Central Park is a far more reasonable solution from all points of view - including public safety and security.
Not In Our Name Los Angeles in conjunction with several other local chapters of national activist organizations will announce plans for the campaign in a bi-coastal, mulit-city press conference (New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles), Monday August 16th at 4:30 on the Sunset Blvd. (Sunset at Van Ness) overpass to the Hollywood Freeway.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL SUPPORTERS TO COPY THE FOLLOWING LETTER AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY. TELL FRIENDS, FAMILY THAT IT'S VITAL FOR THE PARK TO BE OPENED AND PRESURING BLOOMBERG IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. WE MUST FLOOD HIS OFFICE WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE PERMITS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, PLEASE CALL 323-462-6263
BOILER-PLATE LETTER TO BLOOMBERG
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)
FAX (212) 788-2460
E-MAIL: http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
Dear Mayor Bloomberg:
My name is xxxxxxxxx and I am writing as a concerned citizen of the United States of America and world in support of the granting of permits for the use of Central Park for protests to be held during the Republican National Convention in New York City.
Recently it has come to my attention that permits applied for by groups such as United For Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Not In Our Name, the National Council of Arab Americans and International A.N.S.W.E.R., over one year ago, have been denied for extremely vague and seemingly arbitrary reasons (i.e. - large numbers of people would damage newly planted grass). The alternative route that the city of New York has imposed on the protests would severely impede and discourage the assembly of hundreds of thousands of peaceful and committed Americans who simply desire a place to assemble that best reflects the power of democracy in action. Unlike what happened in Boston during the Democratic convention, wherein the concentration-camp-like 'free speech zone' created for protesters only served to embarrass America in the eyes of the world, you Mr. Bloomberg have the historic opportunity to demonstrate to the world that United States of America is truly the beacon of freedom that so many of us desire it to be both in word and deed. Irrespective of one's political views or party affiliation, Americans are constitutionally guaranteed the right to assemble free from intimidation and in full public view.
As you know Mr. Bloomberg, vast numbers of Americans oppose the direction the current administration and federal government have taken America and the world. By denying permits for Central Park and forcing peaceful protesters to march through razor-wire cordons, surrounded by gauntlets of thousands of heavily armed riot police only serves to empower the enemies of America. Security is an important element of the protest, but doing so in a manner that is respectful of our constitutional right to dissent is the only option in a truly democratic society. To do otherwise, jeopardizes everything we as a nation have struggled to build. I implore you to grant the permits for Central Park. It's the only right and just thing to do.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Starmail - 17. Aug, 18:58
