Convention demonstration zone is a dark, shadowy place
Boston.com
BOSTON
(AP) While thousands of delegates, journalists and dignitaries stream
into the FleetCenter, a shadowy, closed-off piece of urban streetscape
just over a block away will be the place protesters call home for the
next several days.
The maze
of overhead netting, chain link fencing and razor wire couldn't be
further in comfort from the high-tech confines of the arena stage where
John Kerry is to accept the Democratic nomination for president.
Abandoned,
elevated rail lines and green girders loom over most of the official
demonstration zone, sloping downward to a subway station that has been
closed for the convention that kick[ed] off Monday.
(more)
Activists Win in Boston – Tell Police “No Pen!”
A Behind-the-scenes Report from Charles Shaw of Newtopia Magazine
The
protest community came out [yesterday] in force to launch a week of
actions surrounding the DNC. We began on the Boston Common with a rally
co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Green-Rainbow party and the Black Tea
Society. Then, a two-hour march to the Fleet Center, where we
told the police “we will not go into the pen!!” We sat down on
the street and refused to be corralled, and through negotiation and
civil disobedience the Boston Police gave in and allowed us to amass
outside the Fleet Center, where we called out the Democrats and talked
to delegates with bullhorns and chants, holding them accountable for
the wars, the trade policies, and the police state.
Surprisingly,
the Boston Police have been nothing but professional, and the
demonstrators have been respectful, non-violent, and incredibly
effective given the draconian security measures around the city. But we
expected nothing less. Basically, the city is a locked down bunker, and
each corner has BPD, Mass State Trooper, National Guard, Secret
Service, and FBI.
We held
a rally on Government Center with David Cobb, Green Party candidate for
President, at 5pm, and at 8:30pm Andy Thayer and Don’t Amend.com will
be holding an equal marriage rally.
The
overarching point is that we proved all the media and the hype-masters
wrong, that we – even our dear Anarchist friends, whom the media and
police so want to demonize – were nothing but peaceful and
professional. Bravo to the Progressive community. We proved the
nattering nabobs to be just that.
Blog For Iowa 
A couple of footnotes to this ….
First, my experience with the Boston Police has been nothing short then overwhemingly positive. Last night while stepping outside for fresh air I chatted with three who were very friendly. The were talkative, polite and cordial and the only words of any dissatisfaction were about the 13 hour shifts they were all being asked to work. A couple of officers commented how tired they were. They seemed well trained to decline my offer to buy them some coffee.
Then there was yesterday afternoon. I had forgotten to bring my epilepsy meds to the Fleet Center, so I returned to a parked shuttle bus and asked if they would be returning to the hotel (they weren't scheduled to give return rides at that time). After explaining my situation, the police officer and the bus driver decided to invite me aboard the bus and gave me a ride right to the door of my hotel….I was pretty impressed with my own 60 passenger limo service.
Regarding the protestors…I obeserved no problems myself other then hearing some pretty offensive things being shouted with bullhorns, although I've heard reports of urine being thrown on persons and so most delegates are steering clear of the protestors area.
The entire fleet center is barricaded and double fenced just like the protest area. The protestor area is easy accessible (I accidently wandered into it.) the protest area is immediately adjacent to the entrance gate and Fleet Center….they could not have been allowed any closer without being inside the security line that surrounds the entire center….and frankly the large area where they are located under the old elevated freeway is the ONLY open area large enough to accommodate them.
Personally, I think the protestors have been very well accommodated and I am very appreciative of the security provided to the delegates.
Lastly, I saw nobody attempting to stop other persons all over the city who are passing out literature (some protesting in nature) on almost every street corner.
LikeLike