Freedom of Speech - NYPD Style
Anonymous
Issue date: 4/17/03 Section: News
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February 15, 2003 was indeed an historic day of all sorts when the people around the world organized together to strongly convey the message of Peace to their leaders. With the ongoing Iraq crisis, this shows the conviction of common masses who understood that across all borders, cultural and language barriers we are indeed all humans who love and respect freedom and humanity. And no place in the world other than New York city can perhaps boast the representation of people from all races, religions, ideologies marching in unison, braving freezing temperatures and raising themselves above greed, selfishness and apathy.
Along with some fellow ESU students, I decided to be a speak out for Peace, knowing that we might not be able to stop the killing of thousands of innocent people in another never- ending war. At least our consciences would not be burdened knowing we had stood by and just watched while a few people in the world controlled the lives of millions. We wanted to exercise our fundamental right of expressing ourselves. Also, as a writer for the Stroud Courier, I thought it would be a good idea to write a first- hand report for ESU.
In the middle of Action: Loaded with my camera, a backpack stuffed with food, sweat shirt and water bottle, I arrived in Manhattan around 2 p.m. and walked from the Lexington Avenue towards 49th Street. The gathering was supposed to take place at First Avenue. As we neared the venue we saw hundreds of people in the streets with placards, banners, T-shirts and anything else appropriate for delivering the message "Yes to Peace".
As we walked towards First Avenue through 51st Street, we found out from those turning back that the police had blocked the streets for the peace marchers, leaving thousands of people blocking the streets from 51st to 73rd. We marched forward and reached 3rd Avenue where we faced a crowd of thousands of men, women, the elderly and disabled, students and teenagers stranded and trying to find a way to reach the First Avenue. Traffic was blocked in the utter confusion where the peace marchers were unsure what to do.
Along with some fellow ESU students, I decided to be a speak out for Peace, knowing that we might not be able to stop the killing of thousands of innocent people in another never- ending war. At least our consciences would not be burdened knowing we had stood by and just watched while a few people in the world controlled the lives of millions. We wanted to exercise our fundamental right of expressing ourselves. Also, as a writer for the Stroud Courier, I thought it would be a good idea to write a first- hand report for ESU.
In the middle of Action: Loaded with my camera, a backpack stuffed with food, sweat shirt and water bottle, I arrived in Manhattan around 2 p.m. and walked from the Lexington Avenue towards 49th Street. The gathering was supposed to take place at First Avenue. As we neared the venue we saw hundreds of people in the streets with placards, banners, T-shirts and anything else appropriate for delivering the message "Yes to Peace".
As we walked towards First Avenue through 51st Street, we found out from those turning back that the police had blocked the streets for the peace marchers, leaving thousands of people blocking the streets from 51st to 73rd. We marched forward and reached 3rd Avenue where we faced a crowd of thousands of men, women, the elderly and disabled, students and teenagers stranded and trying to find a way to reach the First Avenue. Traffic was blocked in the utter confusion where the peace marchers were unsure what to do.