victory

The NYPD has reversed its decision. From United for Peace and Justice:

WE WON!

In a stunning turn of events, the NYC Police Department has reversed its previous decision to deny us the right to march near the United Nations on Sept. 19th.

When the NYPD told us there would be no marches in the vicinity of the UN that day, we announced that we would march anyway, even if it meant we went to jail. We have just learned that we are being given a permit for a march and rally that morning to call for an end to the war in Iraq.

As President Bush makes his way to the UN for his speech to the General Assembly, we will be gathering at 6th Avenue and 37th Street in Manhattan between 9 and 9:30 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. we will begin our march, heading north on 6th Avenue and then east on 47th Street. We will end at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th Street between 2nd and 1st Avenue, across from the UN with a rally from 11 a.m. to 12 noon; Bush will be speaking at the UN sometime between 11:30 and 11:45 am.

Let's make this a large and loud call for an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq -- all the troops must be brought home, and brought home now!

We have agreed to march on the sidewalk for this demonstration. While it is certainly not as good as marching in the street, we had offered this as an alternative we could live with when we were negotiating with the police. They had told us this too would be unacceptable. It is clear that our determination to march with or without a permit -- our determination to be heard -- had an impact on the NYPD's decision to give us a permit for our protest.

. . . .

We have been encouraged by the widespread support we have received from across the country. We have been inspired by the strong numbers of people who have expressed their willingness to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience to defend our right to protest.

I'm so happy for them. I wish I could be there.