 Last
week along with thousands of Republican Delegates, protesters
from all over the country came to New York City. While the
Republicanscame for the anticipated nomination of President
George W. Bush andVice President Dick Cheney for re-election,
protesters arrived to express their anger with the Bush
administration's policies.Phrases
like "This is what democracy looks like. That is what
hypocrisy looks like." "Shut the FOX Up",
and "Put Bush Out" could be heardduring the RNC
demonstration, the Fox News 'Shut-Up-A-Thon', and the Early
Labor Day Rally. These were among many demonstrations occurring
against the backdrop of the Republican National Convention
last week.
The protest on the eve of the Republican
National Convention was the first and largest demonstration
this week, with an estimated 500,000 people marching through
lower Manhattan. These protestors assembled f rom many different
walks of life to peacefully protest on Sunday. "It's
not just about how many people are in the street,"
said Leslie Cagan of United for Peace and Justice "It's
about how many diverse groupsare there." Although protestors
gathered with the shared outrage against the war in Iraq,
they also assembled to bring change in domestic policy
.In a press conference prior to the
demonstration, a representative of the National Organization
of Veterans for Peace said that he was againstthe Bush for
taking away health care for veterans. "We will be marching
for military families, families of Iraq and Vets of all
eras," he said.Immigrants
were also a large group who demonstrated during the RNC,
seeking great change in the discriminatory policies against
them."All immigrants are seeing violence of all kinds
since 9/11," said Partha Banergee of New Immigrant
Community Empowerment. "After 9/11, 2,000 Muslim men
were put in detention camps here in America. Many of them
have been deported. Immigrants are looking forward to this
day when they can come forward against the lies of the Bush
Administration.
"Stella, Nina,
and John were three members of CWA, a New York union, which
rallied among thousands in the Early Labor Day Rally in
midtown Manhattan on Wednesday. Laborers from all walks
of life joined together on this day protest the Bush administration's
policiesin regard to job security, healthcare, and pay for
overtime. "They're not
for us," Stella and Nina said in regard to the Bush
administrations policies. They believed that necessary changes
in the government included "that a Democrat be in office.
The war should stop.Stop lying and sending children off
to Iraq. The cost of living should change." John added
that the government should stop spending on foreign affairs
and worry about domestic issues."Kids are starving
here; no kids should be starving in America."
Also on Wednesday, Amberly, one of
fifty protestors, picketed against the detrainment of one
thousand protesters arrested this week.Amberly came to New
York from Florida to protest during the convention. "Nine
of my friends were arrested. The conditions are bad. Theycan't
call anyone and there aren't even any sprinklers. What if
there's a fire?"Many people had been detained in spite
of the fact that most demonstrations this week were peaceful
and secure.
The delegates had not shown any particular
outrage against the massive protests in reaction to their
arrival in New York. "It's almost good to hear this
expression," said Republican majority leader, BillFrist
during the convention. During the RNC demonstration, newly
arrived delegates standing outside of Madison Square Garden
simply yelled "Four more years" in response to
the protestors' cry of "Four more months."
But while the protestors outside yelled for better conditions
here at home, speakers at the RNC emphasized need to re-elect
George W. Bush because of his foreign policy. It was apparent
that the war on terror, not national issues were in the
foreground.On the third night of the Republican National
Convention, speakers embellished the differences between
President Bush and Senator Kerry.
The crowed booed as Democratic Senator Zell Miller from
Georgia stated that Kerry would refer to theUnited
Nations for the use of weaponsin the war against terror.
Senator Miller also attacked Kerry
on his stance on U.S. occupation in Iraq. "No one should
be Commander-In-Chief is they don't believe that our soldiers
are liberators abroad. ”The
speakers also went to great lengths to attack Kerry on his
voting record in the Senate. Republicans in the crowd yelled
"Flip-Flop" in regards to his frequent position
changes. The crowd also yelled "Four more years"
within the walls of Madison Square Garden. And signs that
said, "Let Freedom Reign" could be easily spotted
in the crowd.
During Vice President Cheney's acceptance
speech, he presented a clear opposition between President
Bush and Senator Kerry's plan for the war on terror. "The
differences between George Bush and John Kerry are the sharpest
and the stakes the highest." He later added, "He
talks about leading a more sensitive war as though Al-Qaeda
will be impressed with our softer side." But Kerry's
acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention
was almost, if not just as hawkish as the Republicans'.
He showed no intentions of pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq.
Dick Cheney touched upon domestic
issues in his acceptance speech when he said, "The
Bush tax cuts are working." He did not expand by speaking
about the true nature of economy, the loss of one million
jobs, and the loss of the $5.8 trillion surplus. Protestors
and Kerry supporters may have also been skeptical when Cheney
said, "His healthcare is more affordable and accessible
to all Americans." With the number of uninsured Americans
at 45 million, according to the Census Bureau, many may
be attracted to Kerry's plan for universal healthcare, which
includes rolling back tax cuts for the rich.
The convention came to a close on
Thursday, but protesting will continue well into the fall.
The nation is wise to take note these events in New York
City. Perhaps Cheney is correct to call this a historical
election; this week is sure to be instrumental in its outcome.
It will not only determine the next leader of our nation,
but it will determine the future alignment of its people.
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