Holy Mary Mother of God, NYPD GESTAPO!

national | miscellaneous | news report

Saturday February 15, 2003 22:24

by Vince

Started out at Israeli embassy at 11:00. Tried to march to 1st and 49th. Got stuck on 49th and Second. Not allowed further.

Many barricades, all over the place. People who started later did not get anywhere as close as we did. Police pushing overflow crowd onto curbs. Got claustrophic and left at 1:30. Elderly woman grabbed harshly, and pulled by cop on to curb. Is this democracy?

Not sure when, but at some point, about twenty cops galloping full speed on horses, nostrils flaring, rounded 48th and up 2nd. Cops on foot with snarling mad dogs straining leashes. Dogs did not seem intimidated by crowd size. Police grim and twirling blackjacks and billyclubs. Many cops each had a dozen plastic handcuffs.

I ran in street and snapped a few pics of the charge of the horse brigade. I will try to post after I develop and scan. Police twirling batons. Paddy wagons lined up for blocks. Police helicopters buzzing all around. 9 out of 10 cops grim, not willing to chatter. Extremely controlling and provcative.

While we were in front of Israeli embassy cops had us pushed us up against the building. Could not move further than a foot or two from building despite no pedestrian at the early hour and in front of the embassy on 42 and 2nd. Basically, prevented from handing out literature to passerbys, as we could not go near either corner where pedestrian traffic was.

Thank you everyone who showed up. God Bless America.