KATHLYN STONE -- World News Trust
The New York City Police Department has changed its mind and agreed to issue a permit for a march and demonstration Sept. 19 protesting President Bush's address to the United Nations General Assembly that day, a spokeswoman for the antiwar group United for Peace & Justice said Friday.
The NYPD this week denied the country’s largest peace organization a permit to march anywhere near the United Nations while Bush addresses the General Assembly.
In a departure from earlier national peace marches, UFP&J was going to organize the march without a permit in a mass act of civil disobedience, UFP&J spokeswoman Jessica McCoy said. UFP&J represents more than 1,400 anti-war groups.
UFP&J decided Thursday to go forward with the march to show its commitment to ending the war. “Fortunately, we’ll not need to go that route,” McCoy said. “There’s a lot of support for us out there.” Plans are for marchers to gather on 6th Ave. and 37th St. at 9:30 a.m. and march up 47th Street.
Bush is to speak to the UN General Assembly Sept. 19 as part of an extended speaking tour to shore up support for the U.S.military occupation of Iraq, despite polls showing more than half of the country is in opposition to continuing the war.
When told of the permit denial earlier, UFP&J issued a statement: “We are marching anyway. Permit or no permit, we will stand up against this immoral war and for our right to dissent.
“This protest will send a strong and clear message to Bush and to the representatives of the worlds' governments: The people of the United States want an end to this war now. It’s time to bring home U.S troops. It’s time for the Bush Administration to respect international law and the authority of the world community,” the UFP&J statement said.
UFP&J polled its members across the nation anticipating that the permit application could be denied. The results showed widespread support for non-violent civil disobedience in conjunction with a permitted event to allow maximum participation and to show the broad opposition to the war in Iraq.
Some of the comments forwarded to UFP&J:
“The evil behind this war has gone on for far too long. Now is the time to act for peace. At any cost. A march of absolute non-violence for peaceful removal of our troops from the Middle East is necessary. We must stand for human rights and for freedom. We must stand for America.” --Houston, Texas
“There comes a time when standing down equates to backing off. The people of this nation have been known as courageous in the face of oppression. It is time once again to stand up to the oppression from within.” – Nordland, Washington
UFP&J’s decision also found support on the Internet discussion board Democratic Underground. DU's Mountainsnake wrote: It’s about time that a few brave people like this get things going! People have to get off their arses and into the streets. This is very good and long overdue. I hope it gains momentum!”
