Protesters take to New York

NEW YORK -- Under the cover of hovering helicopters and in between the lines of New York's finest, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched the streets of Manhattan, voicing their dislike for President George W. Bush, the Republican party and the Republican National Convention. \nStopping traffic throughout their route, protesters shared their opinions about everything from the war in Iraq to the economy to John Kerry. \n"I'm here because I believe we can be a peaceful country," said Code Pink protester Jeanne Bassis, 49, from Great Barrington, Mass. "We need to focus on people instead of power and greed."\nThe thousands began congregating at 10 a.m. at the starting point of 24th Street and Seventh Avenue, just blocks from Madison Square Garden, for the noon start time.\nJust past 2 p.m., a small fire was set to a paper dragon float in front of the Garden on Seventh Avenue. There were about 100 arrests, though no significant violence was reported, according to a report from The Associated Press. According to protest organizers, more than 400,000 joined in the march, but the New York Police Department told the AP the group was only 120,000 strong.\nJoining the massive assembly were feeder protesters who walked the streets of New York earlier in the day making it to 24th and Seventh in time to join the main assembly.\nPace University sophomore and president of the Pace chapter of the Campus Anti War Network, Ashley Marinaccio helped lead a feeder protest consisting of her group, ANSWER (Act Now, Stop War & End Racism) and the RNC Welcoming Committee.\nAs the smaller protest marched through the streets, its ranks grew with every block the protesters walked. \n"It's great to see youth on streets and in the stores joining and getting involved," Marinaccio said. "This is what true democracy is all about."\nMarinaccio said her group's goal is just to get its word to whomever will listen.\n"We want Bush and all the Republicans to hear us," she said.\nJoining in the massive protest were people of all ages. \nOne protester, 22-year-old Lauren Turkel from New York, noticed the lack of college-aged students in the crowd. \n"I wish more people our age were out here," she said. \nTurkel was walking the route, protesting the president, the war in Iraq and the convention.\nFor Oscar Maren and granddaughter Emily Cahn, joining in the demonstration was a way for the two generations to connect. \n"(I'm out here) just having fun," Maren said. "I am against George Bush ... being re-elected president."\nCahn, 16, shares the same mind-set as her grandfather. \n"I'm just against Bush and his evil regime, his lies and his stupidity," she said.\nBut, with all politics aside, the family time was well-spent.\n"(It's) fantastic," Cahn said. "It couldn't be any better"\nMaren shares the same mind-set as many New Yorkers present at the protest Sunday: He doesn't think the protesting all week will have an impact on the presidential elections in November.\n"Absolutely zero," he said. "None."\nTwenty-four-year-old New Yorker Michelle Jonas watched from the sidewalk as the protesters continued walking by. She said what the protesters are doing, especially in New York, is a waste of time.\n"In New York, it's preaching to the choir," she said. "Things like this need to happen in places where it will make a difference."\nOne of the many issues protested was the convention being held in New York. Chants of "Shame" and boos could be heard for miles as protesters made their way past the Garden.\n"It's selfish (of the republicans) to come into our city and bring in any more potential terrorists," New Yorker Bianca Nejathaim said. \nThe presence of the New York Police Department was unmistakable, as officers lined the streets on the protesters' route. Security was heightened over-night in anticipation of the planned protest. Four levels of barricades were placed in front of the Garden. \nThe protesters weren't just a compilation of New Yorkers and Americans. The group had an international flavor, as well.\nCroatian Ivan Grguric arrived in New York Saturday, but once he found out about the protests, he jumped at the chance to demonstrate.\n"I just heard there was protests," he said. "I don't like Bush and I don't like Kerry."\n-- Contact senior writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.