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Who are the protesters?
Compiled by Elizabeth Foley
August 4, 2004, 10:45 AM EDT
Thousands of protesters are expected to descend on New
York City before and during the Republican National Convention,
which is slated for Aug. 30 through Sept. 2. Here is a rundown
of most of the groups expected to take to the streets to get
their messages out:
A31 Coalition: A loose group dedicated to direct action
and creative resistance. Through their Shout Heard Around
the World, groups are expected to spontaneously yell "no"
where ever they are in the city and commit various acts of
civil disobedience and creative protest to show their disgust
with the Bush administration and Republican National Convention.
ACT UP or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power: A diverse
group of individuals founded in 1987 who are committed to
direct action to help end the AIDS crisis. They are part of
Still We Rise.
Artists Network of Refuse and Resist: A loose grouping
of artists and arts presenters who promote art that contributes
to a culture of resistance. During the RNC, the group is hosting
an awards show and performance event honoring average people
who have resisted the status quo, especially in regards to
protesting the war in Iraq.
Axis of Eve: A coalition of women who express their
disgust with President Bush by publicly wearing bright colored
underwear that "exposes" him and calls for his removal
from office.
Billionaires for Bush: One of the better known of
the theatrical protest groups whose snappily-dressed members
picket Republican events shouting slogans like "Blood
for oil" and "Corporations are people too!"
They are hosting a march on August 29.
Buddhist Peace Fellowship: Founded in 1978, members
practice contemplation and social action to help spur a socially
engaged form of Buddhism.
Christian Defense Coalition: A group of anti-abortion
activists who protested against abortion at the Democratic
National Convention and who intend to show their "spiritual
support" for President Bush through two prayer vigils.
Code Pink Women for Peace: A women-initiated grassroots
anti-war group that seeks social change through protest.
DNC2RNC Democracy Uprising: A group of approximately
200 social justice activists representing a myriad of concerns
and organizations left Boston, the site of the Democratic
National Convention, on July 31 and are walking 258 miles
to New York City where they are scheduled to arrive on August
26.
Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE):
A women-led, multi-racial organization of low-income and non-working
families who are struggling for greater economic possibilities.
They are part of Still We Rise.
Food Not Bombs: Self-styled revolutionary movement
dedicated to non-violence and the distribution of free vegetarian
food to all those who want it. The first group was formed
in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1980 by anti-nuclear activists
and has since spread throughout the country.
Greene Dragon: A light-hearted New York City based
group of "life artists" who promote radical self
expression and often dress in colonial-themed red, white,
and blue. Earlier this year they began their American Revel-ution
that they describe as, "a fun and freewheeling independence
movement from President-Select George II and his corporate
monarchy."
Green Party Office Committee of Manhattan: A group
of local Green Party members who work to promote grass roots
democracy, environmental preservation, non-violence and a
more decentralized government.
Hip Hop Action Network: Founded by Russell Simmons
in 2001 and counting Sean 'P.Diddy' Combs and Jermaine Dupri
as members of its board of directors, the group is focused
on promoting literacy, equal access to public education, as
well as, repealing the Rockefeller drug laws. The HHAN as
also launched an offensive of registering young people to
vote.
Live Music Research: A group that works to promote
social awareness and responsibility through live music. They
seek to reinvent the concert-going experience as an art, rather
than a commodity. The group is hosting a two-night anti-war
concert during the GOP Convention and will donate all proceeds
to Not in Our Name.
NARAL Pro-Choice America: A national organization
that works to defend and safeguard a women's right to choose.
National Immigrant Solidarity Network: A coalition
of national and local protest groups that was formed at the
School of America protests in November 2003. The group calls
for greater immigrant rights and an end to bias attacks against
immigrants.
National Organization of Women: Founded in 1966, NOW
is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United
States. The group's key focus is promoting equal rights for
women and protecting reproductive rights.
New York Central Labor Council: A chartered body of
the AFL-CIO that consists of nearly 400 local unions who work
together to safeguard the civil and legal rights of working
men and women.
New York City AIDS Housing Network: A membership organization
that works to find low-income people living with HIV/AIDS
affordable housing. The group is part of Still We Rise.
Not In Our Name: An anti-war group that has protested
repeatedly against the war in Iraq. They also are concerned
about protecting civil liberties and the detention of immigrants
since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. There is no set location
for this protest and organizers expect demonstrations to "spontaneously
erupt" in the boroughs and surrounding communities.
People for the American Way: A liberal group that
works to preserve democracy and extend legal and social justice
for all in the face of the radical right.
Picture the Homeless: A group of homeless people formed
in 2000 who work to assert the civil and human rights of the
homeless as well as change the root causes of homelessness.
They are part of Still We Rise.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America: National
organization founded in by Marget Sanger in 1916 and dedicated
to the belief that a woman has the right to choose when and
if to have a child.
Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign: A group
of poor people of all races across the country who work to
abolish poverty in the United States and around the world.
The Rainbow Family: Loose knit community founded in
1972 that is dedicated to the hippie-esque values of peace
and love. Protecting the environment and drug legalization
are also key issues.
Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC NY):
Group of restaurant workers who are concerned with improving
the working condition of city restaurant workers. They are
part of Still We Rise.
Ring Out: Local group that plans to hand out hundreds
of small bells as a symbol of protest against the Republicans
and their Convention on Aug. 28. The group also plans circular
demonstrations, or ring outs, where participants will ring
their bells enmasse as a protest.
RNC Not Welcome: Anarchist group that is organizing
various civil disobedience acts and guerrilla street tactics
to disrupt the convention.
Sept. 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: A group
of more than 130 family members of 9/11 victims will undertake
a Stonewalk from Boston to New York, pulling a 1,400 pound
granite memorial honoring the "unknown civilians killed
in war." A non-violence, anti-war group, participants
hope to call attention to the large numbers of civilian casualties
that result in armed conflicts. Since the group's founding
in February 2002, its members have made contact with a host
of other civilian victims of terrorism and war around the
world.
Still We Rise: A coalition of more than 35 New York
groups who are concerned with homelessness, HIV/AIDS treatment
and outreach, poverty, the Rockefeller drug laws and the criminal
justice system.
Suffolk Progressive Vision: Long Island group dedicated
to the ideals and goals of presidential candidate and Ohio
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich. The group is holding a walk
across Long Island to coincide with the start of the RNC.
Time's Up: A New York City-base bicycling and environmental
action group that aims to create a more sustainable and "less
toxic" city. The group is holding their annual Bike National
Convention from August 20 to Sept. 2 including a bicycle lending
library for those who will be in town for the convention but
are not able to bring their wheels.
United for Peace and Justice: An umbrella organization
of more than 800 groups nationwide whose members oppose the
war in Iraq and what they call President Bush's policy of
empire building.
War Resisters League: Protest group that rejects the
use of violence for civil defense or revolutionary change
and is committed to eliminating both war and its causes.
Young Communist League of New York City: An inclusive
group of local socialists and communists who oppose the War
in Iraq, President Bush, the Republicans and capitalism in
general.
Copyright (c) 2004, Newsday, Inc.
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This article originally appeared at:
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc-protest-bios,0,6742534.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-queens
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