MDS Honk For Impeachment Protest
Movement for a Democratic Society sign calling for impeachment (Photo: Thomas Good)
New York, NY – July 13, 2007. About a dozen protesters gathered outside Staten Island’s borough hall near dusk on a very pleasant evening. Wearing black tshirts with “We Will Not Be Silent” silkscreened in white, the activists held aloft signs calling for the impeachment of Dick Cheney. The action, called and planned by Movement for a Democratic Society’s Staten Island chapter, was regarded as very successful by organizers.
Lining Richmond Terrace and facing the Ferry terminal, the demonstrators were flanked to their left by NYPD officers – the Staten Island Yankees were playing a home game in their ballpark opposite the 120 Precinct. Drivers passing by honked in support of the MDSers and friends – particularly taxi drivers, bus drivers and other working people – including one very supportive FedEx driver.
Organizers noted that the police presence appeared to cause many drivers to postpone honking while they waited for the traffic light. However, once the green light was given the honking commenced. The police did not seem inclined to leave their patrol vans as motorists chatted on cellphones and performed u-turns and other technically illegal maneuvers, however, an African American man on a motorcycle was pulled over. He had been revving his engine in response to the Honk For Impeachment signs, he later informed NLN. Several protesters noticed that the largely disinterested NYPD ignored numerous other drivers but focused on this one man. After examining his papers the police allowed the motorcyclist to continue on his way. The man later told NLN that the cops had told him he was “making too much noise”.
Response to the protest was very positive. A large supply of fliers was completely exhausted – passersby were very curious and receptive to the message. One man insisted on signing the petition calling on congressman Vito Fossella to support H. Res 333 (the articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney put forth by Dennis Kucinich) before he could be asked to do so. After 90 minutes of honking, cheering and chanting, the protesters declared victory and called it a night. More protests are planned according to MDS-SI.