February 1, 2003.
United for Peace and Justice continues to negotiate with the City of New York for permits to use the public space of the city on February 15th in order for us to peacefully exercise our constitutional rights to free speech and assembly.
We should see New York City's "reluctance" to issue march and rally permits for what it is -- an attack on democratic rights. February 15th promises to be an historic day, one that lives up to its name "The World Says No to War!" At least 4-dozen cities, including something like 20 cities in Europe, will witness mass demonstrations against the war on Iraq. That day the voice of the majority of humanity - a resounding voice for peace - will be unmistakably heard, just as the United States ratchets its "low-intensity war" up toward an all-out invasion of Iraq.
In this immediate context, and in light of many recent efforts to undermine the Bill of Rights, it takes no great leap to suspect that the decision to give United for Peace and Justice the run-around was made not in NYC but in Washington, DC.
Similarly, the Feb. 15th protest was initially banned from Hyde Park in the center of London. The Secretary of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport explained with a straight face that such a gathering might damage the grass. The Stop the War coalition mobilized protests and press conferences, in defense of democratic rights.
This morning the (U.K.) Guardian newspaper reports that "the government is facing the embarrassing prospect of reversing its ban on an anti-war protest at Hyde Park or allowing more than half a million to hold a rally outside Buckingham Palace." The latter, the authors add, "would be a PR disaster for the government."
New York's city, state and federal officials have sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution - including the Bill of Rights. However distasteful they may find it, we must remind them of this fact. We should help these 'representatives' see that this abrogation of democratic rights, at the very least, could precipitate a "PR disaster." Under the Bill of Rights, the government does not get to choose when and where the people can assemble or speak!
The February 15th protest "The World Says No to War!" represents an important event for the future of our planet. While it is not too late for Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly to choose to do their sworn duty and support democratic rights, we have no choice but to anticipate their further intransigence.
We have the right to march and rally against war in NYC! We should claim that right by helping to convince the New York City government to issue permits for the February 15th march and rally at an appropriate central site in Manhattan.
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