Rise Up Against the Evil Empire

September 19, 2006

Photos by Stanley Rogouski

Report by Joshua Daniel Hershfield:

Today, while George Bush stood before the United Nations and claimed to want peace, thousands of people converged in the streets of New York City to declare their defiance to the path of military dominance, corporate profit, and fascist control that the Bush administration is taking us on.

In an act of civil disobedience organized by the Bush Crimes Commission and the World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime, 16 people were arrested outside the UN.  The civil disobedience brought the verdict from the Bush Crimes Commission, released Sept. 13, that the Bush administration is guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity on five accounts.  Serious charges have been brought against two of those arrested (see full report below).

Despite the demonstration taking place on a workday morning, the crowd was significant and included students (including some who cut school to protest), veterans, religious leaders, unions, parents and children, and many others.  The message was clear: four years ago, Bush stood before the UN in a run-up to the attack, invasion, and occupation of Iraq; now he is displaying a repeat performance to justify attacking Iran, and it is up to us, citizens of the United States and the world, to prevent this recurring nightmare from continuing. 

This administration is illegitimate, having stolen not one, but two elections, and waging a war for their own profit against international law and opinion.  Today, thousands of people gathered in New York City to declare, once again, in solidarity with millions upon millions of people in this country and around the world, that this war must end and this regime must go.

Report from Civil Disobedience

From Bush Crimes Commission press release:

16 ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO SERVE BUSH COMMISSION VERDICT ON BUSH AT U.N.
"YOU ARE GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES."

Father Luis Barrios, World Can't Wait steering committee member, now charged with assault.        Geoff Mallard of Iraq Veterans Against the War

Shortly after noon, right as Bush stepped to the podium to deliver his speech at the U.N. General Assembly, a line of 13 anti-Bush activists stretched across 44th Street at 1st Avenue chanting "Arrest Bush," "Bush is a War Criminal", "Bush Step Down." Within minutes 16 were arrested in front dozens of press crews.

The civil disobedience action was organized by the Bush Crimes Commission (www.bushcommission.org) and The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime (www.worldcantwait.org). Protesters included a former State Dept. official, a priest, military families, Iraq veterans, students, humanists, and others. They were attempting to serve Bush with the Bush Crimes Commission's Verdict of GUILTY of war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Several protestors were assaulted by the police and are still in jail.  They stated:

"We have come to the United Nations today to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. We demand the war on Iraq end immediately. We oppose any attack on Iran. We declare to the world that President George W. Bush has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He does not speak for us.

"These crimes must come to a halt. As the Not In Our Name Statement of Conscience (Jan. 2005) said: 'It is our responsibility to stop the Bush regime from carrying out this disastrous course. We believe history will judge us sharply should we fail to act decisively.'"

Arrestees included:

* Ann Wright. one of three State Department officials to publicly resign in protest of the Iraq war

* Elaine Brower, mother of U.S. Marine stationed in Fallujah and a spokesperson for World Can't Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime (www.worldcantwait.org)

* Fr. Luis Barrios of St. Mary's Episcopal Church

* C. Clark Kissinger, convener of the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration (www.bushcommission.org)

* Beth Lamont, the American Humanist Association's UN representative

Their action follows the delivery to the White House on September 13 of the Verdict from the Bush Crimes Commission.  The Commission found the Bush administration guilty of crimes against humanity on five counts.  A few days later, Bob Herbert wrote: "One of the biggest concerns of the administration is the possibility of evidence emerging that could lead to charges of war crimes against high-ranking officials."  (NYT, 9/18)

Many of the CD participants are calling national protests across the country on October 5, which will be the subject of a full-page ad sponsored by World Can't Wait in Wednesday's USA Today.

The moral clarity at the civil disobedience and protest is exactly what is needed going into the Oct. 5 protests.
 

Stung by the fact that the protesters got through intense police security and that they were calling out Bush as a war criminal, two of the demonstrators were hit serious bogus charges:

Father Luis Barrios, a respected Episcopal priest, a tenured professor, columnist in El Diario, and long-time activist for social justice, was arrested yesterday in front of the United Nations.  He was held all night, and charged with 2nd degree assault, because a police officer says Father Barrios touched him.  Footage of Father Barrios being pushed to the ground by police was run all last evening.  Father Barrios today says "we did the right thing" in protesting, and to everyone: "The World Can't Wait!" These outrageous charges must be dropped.  We'll tell you soon how you can be involved. 

Geoff Mallard, a disabled Iraq war vet, was charged with resisting arrest went he fell down trying to board the police wagon.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE ON THE ARRESTS
 

Demand the Charges be Dropped by calling or emailing:
Mayor Bloomberg: PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)/FAX (212) 788-2460; E-MAIL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
Robert Morgenthau, Manhattan District Attorney: (212) 335-9000

Check out coverage of the civil disobedience in El Diario.