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 Peaceful march down broad pleases police and protesters Police decided to let the marchers, who did not have a permit, proceed. Broad Street traffic was halted. 07/31/00 - By David Zucchino, Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis - Philadelphia Inquirer From City Hall to the far reaches of South Philadelphia, police and protesters marched down Broad Street shoulder to shoulder on Monday, blocking traffic but moving smoothly to a peaceful and choreographed denouement near the Republican National Convention site. With officers clearing the way and Police Commissioner John Timoney following on a bicycle, demonstrators from the Kensington Welfare Rights Union achieved their twin goals: Marching on Broad Street and massing within sight of the First Union Center for chants about homelessness, poverty and economic disparity. Police commanders, negotiating with protest leader Cheri Honkala as her ragged caravan lurched down Broad Street, deftly but firmly herded hundreds of protesters into a fenced city park well away from the secured grounds of the convention center. The rally was the first large, illegal gathering in the city during the convention, and was considered a barometer of how police and protesters would confront one another in front of thousands of journalists. There were no arrests, although nine protesters were arrested at a separate rally earlier in the day. Another test will come Tuesday, when an alliance of death penalty opponents and supporters of death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal plan a day of protests - some sanctioned and others illegal. Organizers say the illegal actions may incorporate civil disobedience, including blocking streets or interfering with convention delegates. Monday's marchers fell into line, literally, after Timoney made a crucial decision: Let them march on the street, even without a permit. "I'm not happy that people went out on Broad Street and blocked traffic, but I can live with it," Timoney said at midday, standing in the middle of Broad Street. "We think the event went pretty good." The march streamed for three-and-a-half miles, shadowed by news helicopters and scores of reporters and camera people on foot. It included welfare-rights activists with children on their shoulders, disabled people in wheelchairs, mock plutocrats in top hats and tuxedoes, anti-death penalty crusaders, tattooed teenagers and younger protesters pierced in every facial orifice, and a few anarchists with their faces covered by black bandanas. Timoney estimated the crowd at 1,500 to 2,000 at its peak. A KWRU spokesman put the number at between 700 and 1,000. Almost four hours into the march, a punishing sun and oppressive humidity had left the demonstrators so fatigued that they managed only to raise limp banners and listen to a few weary speakers at FDR Park. There was barely a harsh word or cold stare between cops and protesters. "It's not about getting arrested" said Galen Tyler, a KWRU member. "Our message is: In the richest country in the world, we ought to be able to put an end to poverty and homelessness." Evelyn Allow, an 83-year-old Center City resident, joined the march for several blocks with a group of elderly friends. "I may be middle-class, by God, but I certainly understand the plight of millions of people - and I want to be supportive," she said. The days's only arrests came during a protest at 15th and Market Streets over U.S. training of Latin American army officers at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga. Nine demonstrators, dripping fake blood, blocked the intersection, forcing police to divert traffic briefly. Later yesterday, the scene at FDR Park offered a tranquil coda to a protest whose leaders had vowed to march without a permit and in direct violation of police orders to march only on the sidewalk. The potential for conflict was quickly defused at 11:26 a.m., when a dozen protesters stepped off the apron at City Hall and marched onto the southbound lanes of South Broad Street. Police did not intervene. Commanders "just decided to take the chance and let the march go on," said Deputy Police Commissioner Robert Mitchell, who is in charge of security for the convention. That seemed to satisfy Honkala, who has emerged as an incremental provocateur since her days as a fiery street protester specializing in clashing with authority figures. Honkala and police officials have been negotiating details of the march for weeks - and they continued to talk on the street Monday. ---------------------------------------- Sunday, July 30, 2000 POLITICAL THEATER AT 30TH STREET STATION The protesters played to few onlookers in the early hours at the train station but had fun, nevertheless. By Joseph A. Gambardello and Angela Couloumbis Philadelphia Inquirer Dressed as the Super Rich, dripping money in thrift-store tuxedoes and slinky gowns, Billionaires for Bush (or Gore) gathered today at 30th Street Station to spoof the growth and power of wealth in America. Part of the Unity 2000 demonstration on the eve of the Republican National Convention, the supposed "billionaires," with old-money aliases and fake money galore, waved signs at drivers passing by. "People don't vote, money does," proclaimed one sign. "Corporations are people, too," said another. The humorous protesters played to few onlookers in the early hours at the train station but had fun, nevertheless. Tom Godfrey from Boston, a.k.a. Winsom Bucks 14th, appeared in a blue and white pinstriped suit with tophat saying "we're out here to show that inequality is not growing fast enough and it's important that the rich get rich, even faster than they already do." Coming from around the country, the group has a Website: http://www.billionairesforbushorgore.com. Judith Karpova of New York City, appearing as Lovee Greenback in a golden ensemble of dress, slippers and socks, topped with a neon green boa, proclaimed she wants to break "the world's illusion of being equal and having democracy, dahling." "We've bought the candidates," she declared in her highbrow British accent. "We bought their fathers. We've been doing this for ages." ---------- Guests in the posh Four Seasons Hotel on Logan Square watched from their windows as the diverse group of protesters marched by in the heat and humidity of midsummer Philadelphia. Official estimates put the marchers at 5,000 strong, fewer than demonstration leaders had anticipated. As many as two dozen members of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade came from around the country. With red bandannas on their heads, they marched wearing black shirts adorned with a red star in a yellow circle with the silhouette of a guerilla with a raised machine gun. All around the Communist youth were diverse groups supporting convicted Philadelphia cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been on Pennsylvania's death row since he was convicted in the 1982 killing of officer Daniel Faulkner. And with them was a big, red-haired Philadelphia schoolteacher, Brian Vanderwoude, who brazenly denounced Mumia in their midst as he carried a sign urging "free your mind of Mumia propaganda." He endured taunts along the way. Vanderwoude walked beside the Mumia supporters, sporting a T-shirt that said "We honor his memory - Police Officer Daniel Faulkner." On the back of his shirt was the image of a hypodermic needle with this message: "Mumia, your day is coming." One agitated pro-Mumia supporter in front of him shouted back: "I'm sure your mother is (expletive) sorry she ever gave birth to you." The marchers were accompanied by large props and myriad signs. Some counter-protestors hoisted banners. One was a 4-by-6 foot, full-color poster of the mangled head of an aborted fetus. On one side was the message "Fornicators and drunkards will join Tupac in Hell," an obvious reference to slain rapper Tupac Shakur. "Obey Jesus," it continued. ---------- Peace Action sponsored an 18-wheel flatbed truck carrying a giant silver, black and red missile balloon. "Here we go again. More nukes, More Star Wars, More $$$$$ wasted," the float proclaimed as it was pulled by a red tractor. Marchers for Abu-Jamal and against police brutality joined those against the death penalty. Some shouted "George Bush, murderer," for the executions of 133 men and two women since Bush became governor of Texas five and a half years ago. International Action Center members raised placards with photos of accused carjacker Thomas Jones, whose violent arrest two weeks ago was videotaped by a Philadelphia television station and broadcast around the world. ---------- In front of a Philadelphia cheesesteak stand on the Parkway at 22nd Street, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals registered their protest. "Go vegetarian and nobody gets hurt," said one PETA placard. "No more tax dollars for animal slaughter," said another. Stand manager Todd Heibeck acknowledged the signs and said he had done a brisk business in $3 orders of french fries and $2 sodas. Not many takers for his $5 cheesesteaks, however. ---------------------------------------- Sunday, July 30, 2000 MCCAIN GETS TOO PARTISAN FOR SHADOW CROWD The keynote speaker grabbed attendees with his reform talk. When he began praising Bush, they heckled. Loudly. By Nita Lelyveld Philadelphia Inquirer The Shadow Convention taking place at the Annenberg Center this week calls itself "a citizens' intervention in American politics." And yesterday citizens did intervene - right in the middle of Sen. John McCain's keynote speech. As McCain, framed by columns of red, white and blue balloons, voiced support for his former rival George W. Bush, so many members of the alternative gathering's audience booed that the Arizona Republican paused and said, "If you'd like, I do not need to continue." "Get him off! Get him off! Grab him off! Gong! Gong! Gong! Gong! Gong!" shouted one audience member, loudly banging the floor in front of him with the wooden base of his Shadow Convention sign midway through McCain's lengthy praise of Bush. The heckling sent Arianna Huffington, the event's celebrity creator, rushing to the podium to defend McCain with the words, "You know this is the convention where we can hear everything with respect." The Shadow Convention at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg, which is free and open to the public, has advertised itself as a mostly serious, nonpartisan attempt to look at three issues - campaign-finance reform, poverty, and drug policy - that do not get discussed much at the actual conventions. Another version of the event will be held when the Democrats begin their national convention in Los Angeles on Aug. 14. Still, yesterday's audience of several hundred - which was mostly white and included one large group of college students - did not seem heavily populated by Republican supporters. Representatives of Funny Times, a monthly humor review, passed out seed packets labeled "Texas Homegrown Dope," featuring a cartoon image of Bush's grinning face sprouting from a flower pot, along with "Planting Instructions: Using a silver spoon, plant in shallow hole. Protect from draft. Feed with loads of family and soft money." A comedy Web site, http://www.modernhumorist.com, distributed a mock guide to Philadelphia, complete with a bogus letter from Mayor Street that read: "Dear Delegate, Welcome to Philadelphia! I'm glad you're here to spend your money in the Place that Loves You Back. Actually, 'loves' might be a little strong in this case - 'likes you as a friend because you're buying' might be more accurate." Tables set up outside the hall offered copies of books with titles such as Economic Apartheid in America, and free anti-drug-test bumper stickers featuring a drawing of a toilet. Audience members held up convention-floor-style signs produced by the event organizers that proclaimed "No Stock Options," "Not a CEO," "Disaffected," "Disillusioned," "Downsized." Many seemed perfectly happy to hear McCain talk of his push to "break the iron triangle of money, lobbyists and legislation" through campaign-finance reform and allude to his maverick tendencies. But while they applauded loudly during the opening of his speech - in which he joked, "I am of course widely known for my discretion, and I thought losing myself in this crowd of like-minded shrinking violets would be a good way to keep a low profile until the Republican National Convention begins" - the mood changed with his praise of Bush. "I believe still, despite our imperfections, that Republicans are the party of reform. And it would be dishonesty by omission if I failed to state my belief clearly to you," he told the audience. "Likewise, I am obliged, not by party loyalty but by sincere conviction, to urge all Americans to support my party's nominee, Gov. George Bush of Texas. I think it's quite clear that he's the candidate who offers change and that the vice president is the candidate of the status quo." Huffington, a former ally of Newt Gingrich and the ex-wife of Republican millionaire Michael Huffington, who spent nearly $30 million unsuccessfully trying to win a Senate seat in California, has transformed herself in recent years from a diehard conservative to a celebrity pundit bent on reform. The Shadow Convention, which will run through Thursday, will focus on campaign-finance reform today, "the failed war on drugs" tomorrow, poverty and the wealth gap on Wednesday, and the role of the media as well as a "call to action" on Thursday. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is expected to appear tomorrow. There are rumors that actor Warren Beatty may show up. Each night comedians Al Franken and Harry Shearer will appear in a "Shadow Cabaret," in which a group of panelists will watch the actual Republican convention on large-screen TVs and comment as they do. Yesterday, the Shadow Convention briefly previewed the themes. U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell (R., Calif.), who is trying to unseat U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.), won loud applause when he urged the country to move away from incarcerating hundreds of thousands of drug offenders and fighting futilely to eliminate drugs in society. Instead, he said, the focus should be on treatment. Audience members watched a brief video made by Camden teenagers showing how trash and drug dealing in the city's poor neighborhoods contrast with the spruced-up waterfront where a GOP gala was being held last night. Lydia Morency, 24, a Shadow Convention volunteer, said she was inspired by what she heard. "The media are always telling us how some politicians are doing things under the table, and it just doesn't seem equal in terms of each voter's power. You go to vote but your vote doesn't count as much as a vote of a corporate executive or big business," Morency said. "So many times people talk about problems but don't want to do anything. These people seem to have plans." |
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