HIP HOP GENERATION GREENS BURY NOT IN KANSAS GETS POLITICAL, P.3 NADER, P.6 ANYMORE, P.15 THE INDYPENDENT ISSUE #52, JULY 1-20, 2004 • NYC.INDYMEDIA.ORG A FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE DEFEND NEW YORK FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN DEPTH COVERAGE INSIDE: *interviews, posters and analysis, DROOKER.COM grand plans and secret schemes WE CHOOSE THE WORLD he Republican Party couldn’t have picked sent legions of cops to stifle an undeniable By Jed Brandt a worse place to launch Bush’s re-coronation. moment. New York chose the world and TWith the army neck deep in Baghdad, it Bush ignored us. Just like he ignored the seems they have a hard time knowing where economy bottoming out while his fatcat they’re not wanted. friends made out like bandits. Just like he From his Pharisee fundamentalism to that frat used the pain of 9/11 to sell more war. And he The whole world will be watching New boy smirk, it’s like Bush was created in a lab just thinks nobody noticed. Bush made a big mis- York City during the Republican National to make a New Yorker’s skin crawl. Maybe it take coming here. Convention. Some are looking for a repeat of takes an enemy the size of Bush to bring this city New York likes to say it’s the capital of the recent summit protests. But if we’re scanning together. Out of sight of the TV cameras and spin world. Maybe it’s time to earn our bragging history for inspiration, perhaps this moment doctors, that’s exactly what’s happening. rights from the solidarity of everyday people will be more Prague Spring than Battle of New York isn’t just any city. It belongs as instead of commerce. Seattle. If the five boroughs come together much to the world as to the USA. Immigrants Hundreds of thousands are coming from with dignity, history will be made. from every continent and exiles from the heart- around the country to rain on Bush’s parade, On Aug. 29, hundreds of thousands will fill land share sidewalks with the Wall Street power but it’s the people of the city who are the wild the streets of Manhattan while over four thou- elite and big media honchos. New York has no card. Rabble rousers are already in the street, sand GOP delegates gangbang Reagan’s mainstream and the right wing’s cowboy bag of anarchists are promising anarchy and com- corpse inside Madison Square Garden. The tricks doesn’t play so well in Brooklyn. munity groups throughout the five boroughs city is playing games with permits, but come From Chinatown to the Boogie Down, New are getting the word out. the convention, the people will permit them- Yorkers have made it clear that Ground Zero isn’t “The disruption will be a little bit annoying, selves to send Bush back to Texas no matter looking to share the pain. On Feb. 15, 2003, over but minimal” – that’s what Mayor Bloomberg what “Homeland Security” has to say about half a million people tried to march for peace says. Remember those words. They think they it. The verdict is in: The Republican Nation- before the invasion of Iraq. Instead of listening to can get away with anything. al Convention is not welcome. the will of the people, crazy as that sounds, they VISIONS FOR THE RNC START IN THE CENTERFOLD SATURDAY, JULY 3 9 pm • $7 111 E. 59th St., 5th floor, MON JULY 12 2 pm • Free Rooftop Films: www.greenspeakers.org 8 pm • $5 suggested donation PGP/email security Un-American Films Movie Night: Discovering workshop “On this day, Independence WED JULY 7 Dominga Day, we are forced to ques- 7 pm • Free A hands-on training in High Times Activist Guide An Iowa housewife and sole encrypting emails and a tion our government, to survivor of a massacre of – Launch Party section of your hard drive. question what is done in to the RNC Mayan peasants returns to This is essential knowledge the name of Americans or Politics, war, and a her roots in Guatemala. for all activists. with our government’s sup- blowout party. Independent Media Center, 34. The Pioneer Bar, 218 Bowery ABC No Rio, port… In watching tonight’s E 29th St., www.nyc.indy- 156 Rivington St., films, you, too, question. In media.org 7:30pm • Free RSVP to: [email protected]. questioning, in watching, Independent Media in a filming, creating, we resist THURSDAY JULY 15 SUNDAY, JULY 4 the pull into consumerism Time of War: Video 5 pm • Free Noon • Free and complacency.” Screening / Discussion Still We Rise Meeting Declaration of The River Project, Pier 26 on A collaboration between Still We Rise, a coalition of Independence from the Hudson, Democracy Now and groups from low-income George II www.rooftopfilms.com Hudson Mohawk and underrepresented com- Independent Media Center. munities is having a RNC Greene Dragon has drafted MON JULY 5 a document listing griev- Speech given by Amy planning meeting. Sunset • Free ances against President- Goodman, host of St. Mark’s Church, 2nd Ave. Movie: All the President’s and 10th St. NEW YORK CITY Select George II and pro- Democracy Now!, illustrat- july claiming the people’s inde- Men ed by clips of mainstream Free movies on Bryant Park media juxtaposed with rare 7 pm • Free INDEPENDENT pendence from our current noRNC Clearinghouse corporate monarchy. There lawn at dusk, every footage from independent MEDIA CENTER Monday for the summer. reporters in Iraq. The noRNC Clearinghouse will be a signing wall for is a place for different people to apply their John Bryant Park, between 40th and Exit Art, 475 Tenth Avenue 42nd St. and 5th and 6th (corner 36th Street), organizations, collectives Hancocks, a statue of Avenues, www.bryantpark.org 212.966.7745, and groups organizing Phone: George II riding a WMD to www.exitart.org against the RNC to share 212.684.8112 pull down, and more. TUE JULY 6 resources and ideas. Washington Statue, 6:30-7 pm • Free SUN JULY 11 St. Mark’s Church, 2nd Ave. 26 Wall St., Email: 1st Amendment Mob 12:30-2:30 pm • Free and 10th St. www.greenedragon.org [email protected] Every Tuesday, gather at Ice Skating SAT JULY 10 & 17 Web: 3 pm • Free the WTC PATH station to Free ice skating at Chelsea Patriot Games Party recite the 1st Amendment Piers every Sunday for the 2-5 pm • Free NYC: www.nyc.indymedia.org Community Reporting Declaration of Independence into your cell phone (real or summer. GLOBAL: www.indymedia.org afterparty. Beer, BBQ, music imaginary). The Sky Rink, Workshop 23rd St Hudson River, and games. NE corner Ground Zero, Church Interested in journalism but Office and Mail: St train entrance, 212-336-6100 Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Fort don’t know how to start? NYC Independent Media Center www.revbilly.com Join award-winning journal- Ticonderevel, 141 South 5th 7 pm • Free 34 E. 29th St. 2nd Floor St. between Bedford and ists from The Indypendent 7-9 pm • Free Time’s UP! RNC Event NY, NY 10016 Driggs, www.greenedragon.org and Democracy Now for a Public Speaking Workshop Planning (BIKES!) two-part series that covers Public speaking is a critical Time’s UP! is planning a the basics of research, WHAT IS INDYMEDIA? 4-6 pm • Free skill for activists. Whether series of positive actions dur- writing, interviewing. Be the With autonomous chapters in more Anarchist Soccer you’re new to public speak- ing the RNC entirely on bikes. media! For applications call than 100 cities throughout the world, Fun, supportive pickup ing or experienced at it, New volunteers welcome. 212-684-8112 or email the Independent Media Center is an games for all skill levels. Greenspeakers workshops Times UP!, 49 East Houston, [email protected]. between Mott and Mulberry international network of volunteer Every Sunday. can give you knowledge, prac- Independent Media Center, 34. times-up.org/rnc_2004.php media activists. Tompkins Sq. Park by Ave. B tice and supportive feedback. E 29th St. www.nyc.indy- The IMC seeks to create a new Green Speakers, media.org media ethic by providing progressive, in-depth and accurate coverage of COMMUNITY CALENDAR issues. We are a community-based organization using media to facili- tate political and cultural self-repre- sentation. We seek to illuminate and analyze issues affecting individ- uals, communities and ecosystems by providing media tools and space to those seeking to communicate. We espouse open dialogue and placing the means of communica- tion and creativity back in the hands of the people, away from the drive of profit. The Indypendent is funded by bene- fits, subscriptions, donations, grants and ads from organizations and indi- viduals with similar missions. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET INVOLVED? The IMC has an open door. You can write for The Indypendent, film events and rallies, self-publish arti- cles to the web, take photos or just help us run the office. As an organ- ization relying entirely on volunteer support, we encourage all forms of participation. HACKERS ON PLANET EARTH The print team reserves the right to edit articles for length, content and clarity. We welcome your participation BY ANDY HARRIS well-meaning hackers actually hackers are active in social and political in the entire editorial process. improve computer security. issues, especially as they relate to tech- VOLUNTEER STAFF: ackers are usually painted as a Hundreds of hackers will come nology, and groups like the Electronic Chris Anderson, Silvia Arana, Bennett menace to society, but they together at the Fifth HOPE (Hackers Frontier Foundation combine technol- Baumer, Jed Brandt, Mike Burke, Leigh Hplay a big role in publicizing on Planet Earth) conference July 9-11 ogy and civil liberties advocacy.