M22 6:41pm The standoff in Washington Park continues. Cops make
forays into the croud. In Union Square a splinter march broke off and
headed south one block then west. The group was most made up of younger
people. When they got to Broadway, the protesters scattered some of the
metal barricades. They have been followed on foot by cops.
M22 6:22pm The organizers are telling people to give their names
and not resist. There seems to be a lot of arrests that are imminent.
There are many in plain clothes. Cops are surrounding the protesters.
Legal observers are on the scene. Many people stand on benches to get a
better view, and are told to get off.
M22 6:15pm More arrests in Washington Park. People chant, "Go
fight crime!" Report of an arrest of an elderly woman. Many paddy
wagons arrive. The intent seems to be to arrest a lot of people. There
are many undercover police around. Still several thousand protesters,
chanting, playing drums, but not moving out.
M22 5:57pm Estimates of the numbers of cops is about 1000 to 1500.
It is getting chaotic. People are running from the cops. The people are
being asked to move away from the sidewalk. Cops are arresting people on
the sidewalk. Cops are using mace. Cops are photographing the
crowd.
M22 5:51pm People swarmed into Washington Square north to witness
the arrests. There are three paddy wagons at the scene. Lots of police
officers on the scene, many on horse. Dusk is falling.
M22 5:49pm People practicing civil disobedience are being
targetted for arrest. The people are not resisting. People are chanting
"Arrest George Bush!" Paddy wagons are filling up. No one is
resisting arrest.
M22 5:46pm Cops are saying over a loud speaker that the protest is
over and that all should disperse or face arrest. Arrests are happening.
People are yelling for Bush's arrest. The cops are arresting people who
are on the street on fifth avenue.
M22 5:06pm Police presence escalating. 200 to 300 cops in
Washington Park. 3-4 corners have been sealed off. 30 cops on horses seen
on Washington place, heading for the park on Fifth. About 1000 people
haven't finished march.
M22 4:48pm Undercover cops line inside of park. Outside regulars
at parade rest. Federal cops are present as well. Cops may be waiting for
dusk for action. About 500 cops.
M22 4:46pm Police are now removing people from Washington Sq. Park
propper. Tensions are rising within the park. They are also preventing
marchers and ordinary citizens from reaching the park
M22 4:13pm Hundreds of police have moved in to Washington Sq. West
from the south. All of Washington Sq. West has been barricaded off and
the police have brought in large vans.
M22 3:59pm #'s: AP is reporting 200,000 marchers. The police have
told protest organizers that the numbers are between at least 300,000 to
400,000.
M22 3:54pm Reports of more arrests at Washington W and Washington
Place, directly between Wash Sq. N and S. Photographers are also being
pepper sprayed. Rough numbers of police: 200 on each side of the
block.
M22 3:44pm Mass arrests in Wash Sq. Some are voluntary, some are
not. Protestors are chanting "the whole world is watching." We
hear that there are "wall to wall" bodies on Wash Sq.
South
M22 3:40pm Pandemonium in Wash. Sq. South. 1000's of protestors on
the street. Reports of 2 arrests, carried out byy undercover police.
Police and marchers formed a semi-circle around the two arrestees. NBC
and CBS are both on the scene. More reports of pepper spray being
used.
M22 3:34pm Confirmed reports of a police action at Washington Sq.
South. Police are telling protestors to go home or face arrest. Police
are pushing people out of Washington Sq. South to Washington Sq N. .
There is the smell of pepper spray.
M22 3:14pm We have initial reports that there is a steady flow of
people continuing to march PAST Washington Square on the north. No
estimates of size and no word of where they are going.
M22 2:44pm The front of the march has been at Washington square
for a while. The end of the march is still only at 35th street. There is
a giant police van at the park which is broad casting a message that says
"The march is now over. Please leave the area so others may
enter." Protesters have responded by chanting "The war is now
over. Please leave Iraq so people may live!" Riot police have just
arrived at Washington Sq.
M22 2:41pm Just south of Union Square., a group tried to move
west. The group is now surrounded by police at 13th street and Broadway.
The police are making arrests.
M22 1:55pm March Marshall just announced that the march is HUGE.
An IMC reporter towards the front third of the march at 9th street
reported that people are still filing in on 39th street.
M22 1:35pm Bick Bloc just sped by the NY IMC offices north up
Madison Ave. They are now at 34th and 5th. Intentions are unclear.
M22 1:22pm 23rd and Broadway: March still slowly surging forward.
NJ Peace Action feeder march just joined the parade at 30th St. Abraham
Lincoln Brigade vets saluting passers-by at 23rd and Broadway. Puppets
depicting Picasso's "Guernica" also drawing lots of
attention.
M22 12:30pm 41st and Broadway: The march is underway. Streets are
packed for many blocks. Beautiful, sunny day. March extends at least form
21st to 44th St. along Broadway. Police are chill so far. 5 choppers
hovering overhead.
http://warandpeace.nycimc.org/
