Unhappy Hosts Awaiting the Republicans (GOP convention )

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-newyork28jul28.story

Unhappy Hosts Awaiting the Republicans
The GOP convention will find a city of displaced merchants, protesters and residents angered by inconveniences.
By Josh Getlin
Times Staff Writer

July 28, 2004

NEW YORK — Even the hot dog vendors are complaining. As they stood in front of Madison Square Garden recently, Lamin Contu and other street merchants protested their eviction next month from the site of the Republican National Convention.

"Do we lose our right to make a living?" Contu asked, noting that police had ordered him and other vendors to clear the area for security reasons while the Republicans are in town. As motorists honked in solidarity, he waved a picket sign and raised his fist.<snip>

More than 50,000 delegates, guests and reporters are expected to flood into the city, along with thousands of political protesters, when the bash is held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.<snip>

Along with vendors such as Contu, the ranks of protesters in New York will be swelled by members of local police, firefighters and teachers unions, who plan to picket at Madison Square Garden to focus attention on long-standing wage disputes with the city.<snip>

Bloomberg and police officials denied the (United for Peace and Justice) request, saying the park could not handle the 250,000 or more people expected, so organizers reluctantly agreed to an alternate site — the Westside Highway, miles from the convention.<snip>

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. 250,000+ protesters expected?

Why, that sounds like news! :think:

[DODI]

2. How many protesters where in Boston?

150? I plan on going to NYC for the 29th and I don't think it is going to be pretty. Is there any group not protesting the RNC?

[nostamj]

3. "when the bash is held"

interesting choice of words... 'bash' indeed. on many levels.

they are going to be SO unwelcome here....