Support the Right to March in New York CityEmergency Demonstration
The Bloomberg Administration has refused a permit for the May Day March organized by the Troops Out Now Coalition and the Million Worker March. The march, which is expected to draw thousands of people from all over the region, will begin with a 1:00 pm rally in Union Square. In a Tuesday morning meeting between march organizers and police officials at Manhattan South, Assistant Chief Bruce Smolka told organizers that they would not allow a march anywhere, any distance, on any route, on May Day. Last year, organizers with the Million Worker March issued a call for a unified May Day demonstration in New York City. Since that time, both the Million Worker March and the Troops Out Now Coalition, a group of labor, antiwar and community activists, have been planning for a rally in Union Square, followed by a march. Organizers applied for a permit in November of last year, which gave the city ample time to prepare. Now, less than two weeks before the march, the Bloomberg Administration has said they will refuse to issue a permit for any march from Union Square. This is part of a pattern of illegal and unconstitutional political repression directed at antiwar activists and working people. Two years ago, when millions of people all over the world marched against the war, the Mayor refused to allow a march in New York City. During the Republican National Convention, he refused to allow a peaceful rally in Central Park. Throughout the week of the Convention, the Bloomberg Administration and the NYPD engaged in illegal mass arrests and detentions. In prosecuting those arrested, they used perjured testimony and altered videotape to press fabricated charges. Our basic rights--the right to free speech, the right to assemble, the right to express dissenting political views--are under attack. Please join us to defend these rights. Call, fax, or email Mayor Bloomberg and tell him you support the right to march on May Day. Then join us for an emergency demonstration on Thursday at 1:00 pm at City Hall. Working people have the right to speak out and to march for better wages, for education, for healthcare, and against the war--especially on May Day, which is International Workers Day. The permitted rally in Union Square is scheduled to go ahead as planned, and organizers are determined to exercise their right to march. What you can do:Contact Mayor Bloomberg Phone: (212) 788-3000 Fax: (212) 788-2460 E-Mail: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html Sign the letter to Mayor Bloomberg. Call the NYPD Nicolas Estavillo, Chief of Patrol for NYC Phone: 646-610-6734 Join us for an emergency demonstration at City Hall Thursday, April 21, 1:00 pm Donate to help with expenses Click here to donate. |