MARCH 20, 2004 --

At an ABM (Anti-Bush March), tens of thousands of leftists (old -- reliving their 1960's activism? and young -- to return for a curtain call in 2040?) gathered in Manhattan, March 20, obstensibly to oppose U.S. policy on Iraq. LPR went to march headquarters, March 18, and photographed posters for the march expressing opposition to the Republican National Convention in New York City this summer. LPR also photographed posters that, calling for an end to Israeli occupation in Palestine, were clearly anti-Israel. It appeared, then, this was to be an anti-Bush march, with anti-Israel undertones, among other issues. And indeed the March 20 march proved to be fervently anti-Bush and also rather anti-Israel (among other leftist causes).

The march, following a rectangle of about two miles -- from Madison Avenue and 23rd Street West on 23rd Street to Sixth Avenue, up Sixth Avenue to 40th
Street and east on 40th to Madison, then south down Madison to the starting point.-- was preceded by a rally where speakers denounced President Bush, opposed Israel, and supported, among other things, Cuba. One speaker, NYC Councilperson Charles Barron, opposed the very presence of the Republican National Convention in New York in such terms that LPR wonders if he would support the holding of the convention in any place at any time.

The mood of the assemblage, this first day of spring, seemed to LPR one of politically festive anger. In addition to the posters denouncing President Bush and calling variously, for his impeachment and defeat, there were drums and bands and young people dancing to the beat as they moved along this first-time demonstration rectangle in Manhattan. (Perhaps to be employed for the anti-GOP Protests this summer). The political groups, including Greens and socialists, were joined by the Raging Grannies from Rochester, NY. Bystanders included a few counter-demonstrators, and, at Herald Square, a troupe called Billionaires for Bush, as well as spectators, including some bundled against the chill of this first, sunny afternoon of spring, 2004.

LPR left the march at 40th and Fifth Avenue, near the midway point. There was considerable police presence, throughout, but it was not as overbearing as it had been at the demonstrations last February and March on White House Policy on Iraq. The demonstration last March included a considerable number of posters putting a four letter word next to the President's last name. LPR saw one young man on Sixth Avenue with that message on his bare chest. LPR also saw a poster saying "Buck Fush." By and large, poster content was civilly hostile to the president. There were, however, a large number of posters questioning the intelligence of Mr. Bush. (This tends to be a trait borne by the left towards Republicans, LPR believes.)

The music and dancing along the rectangle of march reminded LPR of the "happenings" in Central Park in the 1960's. At Herald Square, the Billionaires for Bush troupe drew smiles from marchers and spectators with gibes at the president that also played with the anti-Bush chants of marchers. Where marchers would declare: "The people, united, will never be defeated" -- the Billionaires tropue insisted: "The rich, united, will never be defeated." LPR also heard the Billionaires say, among other things: "What do we want?" Child labor. How do we want it? Cheap."

LPR left the festival of anti-Bush anger at the main branch of the New York Public Library. In front of the entrance, on Fifth Avenue, between 40th and 42nd Streets, a crowd gathered to watch some street gymno-dancers. A number of the spectators had left the line of march just a block south.

Not fearing to insult the president in Manhattan.

United for Peace & Justice says "YE$ to $elling!" at their Manhattan office on West 41st Street, near the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

A close-up of a UPJ t-shirt calling for the liberation of Iraq.