http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-death-reaction
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-death-reaction> Osama bin Laden's death: reaction from New York Crowds flock to Ground Zero and Times Square in New York to celebrate the announcement of death of al-Qaida leader - Paul Harris <http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/paulharris> in New York<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/new-york> - guardian.co.uk <http://www.guardian.co.uk/>, Monday 2 May 2011 07.34 BST In New York <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/new-york>'s bars, where a TV in the corner is as much part of the furniture as a juke box, the news caused a city-wide outbreak of cheers and shouts. As the news headlines announcing the death of terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/osamabinladen>scrawled along the bottom of the screens customers enjoying a late Sunday drink indulged in an unexpected celebration. "Everybody in the bar cheered when the news came on," said student Brian Chan, 23, who had been drinking at the V Bar in the East Village neighbourhood. "The music stopped and everyone started watching the TV." For the local barman, Jack Barley, 32, it prompted thoughts of a close friend who had given up his job in finance after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and ended up as a Green Beret in the US special forces but was posted to Iraq, not Afghanistan. "After 10 years it feels we have been waiting for this moment," Barley said. Certainly one of his customers had, who burst into tears at the news and then fled the bar. The man's friends went on to explain that he had lost several people close to him in the terror attack. "I can't imagine what he felt. They said he had lost about 10 friends that day and had been waiting all these years for this moment," said Barley. Elsewhere in the city crowds of people flocked to Ground Zero<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/ground-zero> in lower Manhattan. Many of them carried flags and chanted "USA! USA!" and sang the American national anthem and God Bless America. Some carried candles and milled around the scene in silence, but others indulged in an impromptu party, effectively turning what is usually a very sombre place into one of celebration. By 1am several hundred people had arrived in the neighbourhood, which is now a huge building site where the office complex that will replace the World Trade Centre is being built. Many of them were interviewed by the cable news TV crews who also descended on the site. "I never thought this night would happen, that we would kill or capture Bin Laden. I thank the Lord that he has been eliminated," said Bob Gibson, a retired New York city policeman who lost colleagues in the attack. City officials welcomed the news and issued statements. "New Yorkers have waited nearly 10 years for this news. It is my hope that it will bring some closure and comfort to all those who lost loved ones on September 11 2001," said mayor Mike Bloomberg. That certainly seemed to be the case for some relatives of the victims though representatives stressed their continued feeling of loss. "This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or bring back our loved ones," said Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, named for the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. "It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread his evil," added Felt, whose brother died on the crashed plane. Many ordinary New Yorkers said that the moment had a historic feeling. But they also struck a note of scepticism that the killing of Bin Laden would alter things. "I imagine al-Qaida<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/al-qaida> will use it to recruit people and I imagine we will say that it's a great victory and then in the end it will all stay the same," said Barley. Others felt the news would at least provide a much needed boost. Musician Dave Archer said that the news would provide a vital fillip to a nation still struggling in the face of economic hard times. "It is good news. It is something that people really need to hear at the moment. When it came on the TV I was psyched. It made me feel good," he said. Archer had been across the Hudson in New Jersey when the terror attacks had happened. "I could smell it. That smell lasted for a long time," he said. Crowds of people also flocked to Manhattan's iconic Times Square where news of the death of Bin Laden was carried on some of the giant neon screens that line nearby buildings. They too waved US flags, sang, cheered and took photographs of the scene in an area that only a few days ago had hosted a watching party for the British royal wedding and was now holding a celebration for the death of a terrorist chief. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
