Anti-Bush protests planned

2004-08-24 07:19

New York - Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to descend on New York during next week's Republican convention to vent their anger at President George Bush over Iraq and a host of other issues.

As Bush ventures into the traditionally Democratic city to formally accept his party's nod to run for re-election against Democratic Senator John Kerry, demonstrators from across the United States will attempt to steal some of his thunder.

"I hate the Republican party. They use our city for symbolic purposes and to get more votes," acclaimed novelist and longtime New York resident Paul Auster, saying he would join those taking to the streets.

Bush administration is a "disaster"

Protestors may be united against Bush but the reasons for their dislike are many. Some are upset about the war, others over Bush's perceived use of the September 11 2001 attacks for political ends.

Still others will be massing in the Big Apple, as New York is known, to speak out in favour of the environment, human rights, gay rights and a myriad of hot-button political issues.

Rallies are expected throughout the week but the main protest is set for Sunday, on the eve of the convention, with 100 000 expected to gather for a demonstration called by anti-war group United For Peace and Justice (UPJ).

"Thousands of people want to protest George Bush's administration because it has been a disaster on the economic front, on the issues of foreign policy, on the environment, and so many issues," said Terry McAuliffe, national chairman of the Democratic Party.

The party has insistently denied any link to the rallies and so has UPJ, which noted that it also staged a demonstration at last month's Democratic convention to press the party to take a harder anti-war line.

"We were up in Boston protesting against the Democrats and putting pressure on Kerry, so they can't just dismiss us as some Democratic operation," said UPJ spokesman Bill Dobbs.

But the group has already clashed with the city of New York, and its Republican mayor Michael Bloomberg, after authorities denied permission to stage a demonstration in New York's famed Central Park.

Clashes

The group says its right to free speech is being infringed, and it has filed suit in the courts.

Bloomberg has countered that he has a responsibility to protect residents who live on the edge of the park and has tried to win them over with a proposal to give peaceful protestors a discount in city restaurants and hotels.

With the issue still not settled, the UPJ has yet to say whether it would try to get into Central Park anyway, and risk retaliation from the heavy police and security presence that will be on hand during convention week.

Meanwhile the Republicans have warned that their rivals could suffer in the eyes of the public if clashes were to ensue.

- AFP