'We hold NYC accountable'
RNC arrestees denounce mass sweeps
By Dustin Langley
New York
During the week of the Republican National Convention here,
New York police arrested more than 2,000 peaceful
demonstrators. They held some as long as 50 hours. Many were
held for hours at Pier 57, a former bus depot.
The floors of the pier were covered with a thick oily sludge
and, according to the Sept. 16 Newsday, conditions at the pier
posed a variety of health and safety risks, including the
presence of asbestos.
Many of the arrested protesters have joined an ad hoc
organization, RNC Arrestees Fight Back, to hold the city
accountable. They are determined not to be silenced by the New
York Police Department assault on dissent.
On Sept. 16 they held a news conference to denounce the
NYPD's tactics during the RNC. In front of a packed room,
protesters discussed the circumstances of their arrests and the
conditions at Pier 57.
Deepa Majmudar explained that she had been arrested "just
for shopping." She was coming out of a bookstore when she was
caught up in a mass arrest.
She explained that her experience had turned her from a
bystander to an activist. "I was not a protester then, but I am
one now," she said.
On Sept. 18, the RNC Arrestees demonstrated across the
street from Pier 57. They carried signs reading, "Dissent is
not a crime, occupation is not liberation" and "Killing Iraqi
children is a crime! Protest is not!"
They demanded the closing of Pier 57, complete amnesty for
all 2,000 protesters arrested during the RNC, and an
investigation into the NYPD's behavior during the week.
Gregg Ross explained that he was arrested and held for more
than 50 hours even though he had violated no law.
Imani Henry of the International Action Center spoke of the
need to stand in solidarity with the Arab and Muslim
communities and with communities of color "who face police
repression every day."
Alley Ernst, who was held for 48 hours, said: "After 9/11
they held noncombatant Arabs and Muslims without due process,
and nobody said anything. Now they are doing it again to
American citizens. It is a flagrant misuse of the Constitution.
Who are they going to do this to next?"
Reprinted from the Sept. 30, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME
:: U.S. NEWS ::
WORLD NEWS ::
EDITORIALS ::
SUBSCRIBE ::
DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page