Thursday, March 28, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
United for Peace and Justice

MAY 14, 2004 --

The LPR proposal for the anti-Bush demonstration planned by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) in Manhattan, August 29 (UFPJ says it is an "anti-war social justice demonstration").

In a May 11 "Action Alert," UFPJ called on people from all over the country to phone and fax Mayor Bloomberg (The Finemeister at this website) and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe to get them to reverse their decision to keep Central Park's Great Lawn (roughly between 81st and 85th Streets in Manhattan) closed to the anti-Republican protest UFPJ plans to hold August 29, the day before the convention opens in Madison Square Garden. The UFPJ announcement noted that The New York Times has critiqued City Hall's decision barring a UFPJ protest on the Great Lawn.

LPR wonders if Republicans will issue a statement supporting a UFPJ protest in reasonable proximity to the convention. LPR suggests a march beginning on Central Park's west drive at 72nd Street (with West 72nd the staging area, between Broadway and Central Park) and going down the drive and around to the east drive and up to the North Meadow (at about 100th Street).

Apparently an offer of a park in Queens is unacceptable to UFPJ. LPR thinks Van Cortlandt Park would be cool, in the Bronx on Broadway above 242nd Street, where the opening rounds of last

NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe


Why are these men smiling broadly?


summer's archery world championships were held.

How about it, UFPJ and City Hall -- will you settle on the LPR plan for a Central Park march ending with a North Meadow Rally? And Republicans, will you support the UFPJ right to demonstrate (with UFPJ promising not to torment Republican delegates going to Broadway shows the evening of August 29)?