As The Saying Goes, "Fools Rush In..."
Vikram Parikh
Issue date: 3/21/03 Section: Baruch News
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Initially it was frightening to hear the helicopters hovering above and to see so many police everywhere, but upon closer inspection and after speaking with many of NY's finest, it soon became clear that many officers were supportive of the rally and its purpose, and that the large majority of them were new to the force and simply doing their best to maintain the peace, while at the same time allowing people to protest within limits considering the heightened terrorist threat to NYC. Let's face it, the NYPD stepped up on 9-11 and the weeks following, and they certainly stepped up on Saturday. Not to say that there weren't incidents of problematic members of the police force, for example at 2nd Avenue and 52nd Street there were many mounted police who were just itching to let loose.
It seemed that those who had joined the force mainly to acquire the power to intimidate peaceful members of society were all there. It was at that particular place that I and others in the area most felt afraid for our safety, and with good reason. We saw a small elderly woman get knocked down by a footman, and just after mounted police suddenly rushed the unbelieving crowd with their horses. Several people were arrested, and an image which will stay with me for a long time was a young gentleman being led away by police, his face covered in blood.
Clearly many people are against war with Iraq, people from all walks of life: bankers, barbers, lawyers, rich and poor, men women and children. In the days to come we will learn about the effect of Saturday's global rally.