Israel Matzav

Protesters to block New York's 1st Avenue on Tuesday

The New York Board of Rabbis will conduct a protest on First Avenue in New York City on Tuesday morning against the arrival of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The organizers anticipate that some participants will be arrested.

"The New York Board of Rabbis (NYBR), the largest interdenominational rabbinic body in the world representing over 700 Rabbis from the New York metropolitan area will protest and voice their condemnation of the madman of Tehran, Mahmud Ahmadinejad being granted a platform at the United Nations. Members of the Interfaith community will be participating as well."

The message continues:

"VERY IMPORTANT: Please meet us at 9:45 AM this Tuesday at the southwest corner of 1st Avenue and 40th Street. Please bring with you your lulavim, tallisim, tehillim and protest signs.

It is also extremely important that you bring Identification. After linking arms and forming a chain, we will then block 1st Avenue in protest.

Police will be present and ask that we leave at a given point. Those who choose to remain will be subject to arrest.

It would be extremely helpful for the NYBR to know if :

a) if you are participating in the rally and b) your intentions regarding arrest.
Please contact Karen Dubrow at kdubrow@nybr.org with this information."

At least in New York, if you're peaceful, they're not likely to bash your head in because they don't expect to be let off. In Israel, the cops get let off for beating 'settlers,' but not for beating criminals.

The picture at the top is from the 2007 protest at Columbia University against Ahamdinejad.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:56 PM