News » September 3, 2004 » Web Only

On the Streets of New York: Opportunity

By Terry J. Allen

Chicks with Missile Dicks perform.

The New York protests were also peppered with bursts of humor and a spirit of satire from Chicken Hawks, Billionaires for Bush, Chicks with Missile Dicks, and a roving “Pants on Fire” float designed by ice cream king Ben Cohen, now of True Majority. Pasted on the dashboard of the Lincoln town car as it tooled around the city to gasps and giggles was the note: “Do not put the words Liar Liar on the POF-mobile. We’re trying to be a little subtle. It’s OK if some people don’t get it.”

As if on cue, some young Republican spotted the car and cheered the image of Bush. Then realizing their error, they tried to vandalize it, shouting: “If you’re a Kerry supporter, you’re a faggot.”

People sporting Republican Convention credentials passed through the city as if protected by a magic spell—and police escort—to attend cultural events, lavish parties and to shop. A few ventured out on their own. George Bush’s cousin Jamie Bush and his wife Sue, wearing a pearl necklace and diamond earrings, traveled with the common folk on the E-train down to Ground Zero.

In the end, the ability of protesters to encompass a variety of issues, ages, and protest styles was a testament to broad outrage and heartfelt commitment to social change through humor, song, defiance, outrage, lawful protest and civil disobedience.

On the Streets of New York: patriotism | compassion | courage | security | opportunity

• Help In These Times publish more articles like this. Donate today!
• Subscribe today and save 46% off the newsstand price!

• subscribe to print magazine

• stay in touch with our email newsletter

  Subscribe to our regular weekly e-mail newsletter. It's packed with updates on recent and upcoming stories, events, campaigns and things every progressive should be informed about.

   

• email this article to a friend

  Your Name Your Email Recipient Email

  Personal message Thought you might be interested in this article from In These Times.

   

  Please help us prevent spam by verifying the word you see in the image above

  Send to multiple recipients. Just separate each email address with a comma.

• Reader Comments

  There are no comments on this article yet. Start the discussion below.

• register a new account »Posting Security

  To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.

  Username Password

    Remember me
  

  Retreive lost password »

Also by Terry J. Allen

• Restless Vagina Syndrome
  It's not your fault, ladies (and certainly not your partner's), that you don't… morePosted on October 27, 2009
• Capitalist Health Insurance for All
  Here's what corporations know, but don't want you to find out: Private insurance… morePosted on September 15, 2009
• Zicam: Homeopathy Fails the Sniff Test
  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has caught itself in a trap of… morePosted on July 14, 2009
• More Drugs, Please
  Few actions so perfectly combine stupidity and cruelty as denying pain relief to… morePosted on June 23, 2009
• Confessions of a Terrorist
  Dear Senator Patrick Leahy: I write from my sleeper cell outside Hardwick, Vt.,… morePosted on April 26, 2009