8/16/04

Anti-Bushites: Ready, aim, satire

RIOT GRRRL hopes President Bush is ready for the rage.

Pagans, anarchists, actors and bicyclists (yes bicyclists) are all set to cause some trouble during the Republican National Convention, which starts in New York City on Aug. 30.

Riot Grrrl got activism dirt from the greasy-haired protest crew at a gathering in an NYC church last week.

Probably the biggest event of the week will be an anti-Bush march sponsored by a group called United for Peace and Justice on Aug. 29. Organizers, who predict as many as 250,000 could show, have been trying to get permission to conclude the march with a rally in Central Park.

So far, city officials have said no way. Stay tuned to see if they stop being jerks.

But a lot of smaller - and weirder - groups will be causing trouble throughout the week. Here are a few examples.

(Note: The selection is based only on Riot Grrrl's personal whims.)

Greene Dragon

Riot Grrrl likes this street theater crew because it features a guy who calls himself "Jonny America" and wears a red, white and blue spangled suit.

Sequins are funny.

"We are modern-day patriots taking our county back from the Halliburtons and Enrons," he tells me. They'll be staging a crossing of the NY Harbor on Aug. 27 to symbolically liberate the city.

Nothing like a symbolic liberation to show the oppressors what's what.

The Pagan Cluster

"We're a group of Earth-based spirituality activists," 25-year-old Deborah Hollingsworth says of the pagans.

Riot Grrrl holds back a giggle because Hollingsworth is not kidding.

Along with several other groups, they'll be holding a nonviolent demonstration on Aug. 31 , or as the flier puts it, "occupying a space nonviolently with our bodies, our courage, our wild creativity, our untamed spirit and solidarity."

So what, a group of hairy do-nothings will sit around playing old Bob Dylan songs for the afternoon?

Can't wait.

Anarchists

What will the anarchists be doing during the convention?

Riot Grrrl has no idea.

"Anarchists don't speak for other anarchists," a young man with glasses and dirty feet says.

(Like they'll get their act together anyway.)

Billionaires for Bush

More actor types. They like to dress up in thrift store evening wear. They'll be at protest events throughout the week of the convention.

"It's an organization that likes to show our appreciation for the Bush administration. Everything is done for the upper 1 percent," said a member who goes by the name Owen Dwight Howse.

"It's a satire," he adds.

Riot Grrrl appreciates his condescension.

Manhattan Libertarian Party

The head of this group, Jim Lesczynski, is wearing a T-shirt that reads: "Unauthorized Protester RNC 2004 New York City."

The back says: "Permits? We don't need no stinking permits."

Lesczynski says his following plans to enter Central Park on Aug. 29, whether the anti-Bush rally gets a permit or not.

"Do you think you'll get arrested?" Riot Grrrl asks.

"No," he says.

"Will you be wearing your Unauthorized Protester shirts?"

"Yes."

In that case, how about a shirt that says: "Shoot me with rubber bullets, blind me with tear gas, RNC 2004."

Oh well, so some of the protesters are dummies. Riot Grrrl is still excited.

Grrrrrr.