Sep 23

Sep 23 Outside the UN

Demonstrations, Donald Trump, New York City, Performances, Protest, Public Declarations, Signs and Posters, The Age of Trump

The last few days have been rough ones for me. While in New York City, my lower back seized up, which meant excruciating pain and spasms. Typically, these incidents last less than a day, but today I am on the fourth day of discomfort despite using a muscle relaxer.

I was moving slower and with a grimace on my face, but I was moving. With the UN General Assembly in session, I headed north this morning from my 27rd Street Hotel—fittingly, The Evelyn—to 47h Street and 2nd Avenue. I had heard that a group opposing the Iranian regime was staging a protest against the regime. My preference would have been 1st Avenue, but given that it is immediately adjacent to the UN, 1st Avenue was closed to the public. Apparently, the New York Police Department (“NYPD”) had determined that the location on 47th Street met the judicially-developed “within sight and sound” standard used for testing whether people’s First Amendment rights have been honored.

Somewhere around 44th Street, I encountered a caravan of cars heading south on 2nd Avenue with tent-like signage attached to their roofs, calling for the end of the Chinese Communist Party. I also saw a large LED panel truck with signage that spoke out against A.I. I suddenly was optimistic about the day’s prospects.

When I reached 47th Street, I saw that the NYPD had erected a series of parallel pens using the now familiar bicycle racks. In the center pen, which ran from 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue, about 200 Iranians demonstrators were '“listening” to speeches in opposition to the existing regime. I place the word “listening” in quotation marks because most of them could not see the makeshift stage. For the most part, the Iranians were preoccupied with each other, standing in small groups chatting and smoking.

While the crowd size was not impressive, the signage was overwhelming. Lots of placards filled with photographs of people who the existing regime had executed. I was quite startled to see a 16-year-old boy staring back at me, with the lettering below his image giving his execution date. I also liked the use of red roses throughout the elaborate signage and memorials.

Although the Iranian demonstration was relatively small, it was color coordinated. The organizers handed out yellow vests with”Free Iran” inscribed on the back. They also handed out yellow caps with “#FreeIran” inscribed on them. At the end of the demonstration, people returned the yellow vests to the organizers, presumably for future demonstrations. I asked is they had extra caps. One of the organizers honored my request, which means I can now add a yellow cap to my growing collection of protest memorabilia.

Meanwhile, demonstrators from Guinea marched into the area reserved for demonstrations, but they occupied a ‘pen’ just to the north of the Iranians. I would put their number at 50 to 75. They supported the existing government, which is led by President Mamadi Doumbouya, who came to power after staging a coup d'état on September 5, 2021. The group was enthusiastic and loud, but I could not understand what they were saying.

At the time, I didn’t realize that the much larger group just to the south of where the Iranians held their demonstration were also Guineans. They were quite vocal in expressing their opposition to President Doumbouya. The NYPD did an excellent job of keeping the two groups separated. The opposition group eventually spilled onto 2nd Avenue, shutting down traffic at 47th Street.

Finally, about 100 individuals of Chinese descent occupied part of the space separating the two Guinean groups. They were members of Falun Dafa (aka the Falun Gong). The Chinese government has banned the Falun Dafa since 1999, imprisoning many Falun Dafa members. The group practices spiritual discipline, combining meditative exercises and a moral philosophy based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The group was largely silent as it appeared to be engaged in some sort of tai chi exercises.

As I was leaving, I noticed representatives from a Jewish group who not surprisingly opposes antisemitism. I asked when their demonstration was scheduled to begin. They refused to disclose that information, responding to my question with some suspicion. I would have stayed, but I had a plane to catch.

Once again, these groups made me proud to be an American because they were taking advantage of our First Amendment to speak their minds. Certainly, the Chinese couldn’t do that back in their homeland. I suspect the Guineans who oppose the current president would also run into trouble if they staged large demonstrations in their homeland.

Now having experienced the protests that accompany the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly, I will be back next year. I may stay in one of the hotels in the area, so I can take in the full spectacle.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]