From: gerald_a_levy (gerald_a_levy@msn.com)
Date: Sat Feb 15 2003 - 18:07:59 EST
Paul C and Paul B: thanks for the reports on the anti-war demonstrations in Glasgow and London respectively. In New York City there was a *huge* demonstration on First Avenue on the East side not far from the United Nations building. A march had been banned and there was only a permit for a rally. The City put up (quite literally) other roadblocks to the demonstration as well and this caused groups to rally at many other nearby locations from 14th Street to well above 59th Street. The radio reported that demonstrators filled 20 blocks. It was very difficult indeed to join the main body of demonstrators as there were police barricades that prevented people from getting within an avenue of the main site. Buses with demonstrators were told that they wouldn't be allowed into Manhattan. Even subway stops nearest to the demonstration were closed down. Despite this, I would estimate that there were *at least* a half million demonstrators. Someone from the stage estimated the crowd at 2 million. The demonstrators who shivered in the freezing weather were of all ages. Some traveled a great distance -- I talked to some who traveled from Northern Michigan. I arrived early with the intention of joining the trade union contingent that was supposed to meet at 59th Street but couldn't find them and instead marched with a 15-year-old squatter friend of mine (who I've known since she was 8) and four of her high school friends. I'm sure that there were hundreds of people I knew at the demo but she is the only one I actually saw -- a good but subjective indication of the size of the demo. An inspiring and encouraging event -- made so not by the speeches but by the sheer mass of humanity and energy. Solidarity, Jerry
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Feb 17 2003 - 00:00:00 EST