Posted on 07/25/2004 1:06:17 PM PDT by No One Special
Hundreds of protesters have staged a rally and march ahead of the US Democratic Party convention in Boston.
Short-lived scuffles broke out among a few protesters - some of whom have radically different agendas - as they gathered on Boston Common.
The route of the march itself was tightly controlled by security forces, who have deployed warplanes and harbour patrols amid new threats of attack.
The four-day convention will see John Kerry anointed presidential candidate.
Tens of thousands of people have been arriving in Boston to attend the party meeting.
Protesters ejected
The confrontations took place as protesters gathered on Boston Common ahead of the march organised by the International Answer anti-war coalition, reports BBC News Online's Kevin Anderson at the scene.
A man wearing neo-Nazi-themed clothes was thrown out by members of the generally liberal crowd. Anti-abortion activists were also escorted from the park by police after arguing with other protesters.
Demonstrators marched a short distance to a fenced-off "free speech zone" designated by police concerned about security threats to delegates.
The zone, which is more than a block from the convention centre, is surrounded by concrete blocks, chain-link fencing and razor-wire.
Protesters have previously complained that it was unsafe and denied them their First Amendment right to free speech.
They had hoped the city would be forced to tear it down, but their hopes were dashed on Thursday when Judge Douglas Woodlock ruled - despite some reluctance, he said - that the zone should stay.
Bomb threats
Correspondents say the measures surrounding the gathering of 5,000 delegates, 15,000 guests and 15,000 journalists are unprecedented.
In addition to extra air, land and sea patrols, about 40 miles (65km) of roads are being closed for the duration of the convention and some subway stops are also being shut down.
Officials are concerned that al-Qaeda may be planning another massive attack inside the US to disrupt the elections.
Separately, the FBI is warning that a radical domestic group may try to disrupt the convention, possibly by attacking media vehicles with bombs.
Delegates are all to be brought to the venue by bus and will have to pass through security fences.
Campaign continues
Mr Kerry is expected to arrive in his hometown of Boston on Wednesday, before accepting his party's nomination to run for the White House at the climax of the convention on Thursday.
Before then, he and his pick for vice-president, John Edwards, are continuing to campaign elsewhere in the country.
Mr Kerry told a crowd in Sioux City, Iowa: "John Edwards and I are determined that we are going to be champions for the middle class, the folks who built this country.
"We go to Boston, to the birthplace of the revolution of America and the possibilities of the future. And from there we go to the White House."
The Democrat team will challenge incumbents George W Bush and Dick Cheney in the 2 November poll.
They showed some of the violence on Fox News earlier. A fight broke out between pro-abortionists and pro-gays.
Just goes to show the lack of entreprenuerialism in that crowd. The could have set up web cams around "free speech zone" and sold as PPV steel cage match ups!
What the.... what set those two groups against each other?
Is it just me or does this article make Boston sound an awful lot like East Jeruselem?
BTW, they're going to show it again on Fox News shortly -in case anyone missed it.
Ping lists if anyone's interested. Couple of good punches thrown. No word yet if anyone got fingernail polish poisoning.
It's all too confusing. Who's protesting what and why?
The security measures taken for the democratic convention are a waste of money and manpower.
THAT particular one was listed as pro-abortionists and pro gays fighting each other.
The others were probably anarchists, socialists, and the usual unwashed.
I hope that guy's pizza shop will be OK this week.
Well, the pro-aborts were wearing these atrocious outfits that just set the pro-gays off. And the pro-aborts are always mad at the gays because of how few abortions they have. I mean , the gays have got to start having more abortions to meet their quotas. /joke
I wouldn't get into a street brawl with pro-gays unless I was wearing a space suit.
Maybe it is not a joke.
"The zone, which is more than a block from the convention centre, is surrounded by concrete blocks, chain-link fencing and razor-wire."
"Short-lived scuffles broke out among a few protesters - some of whom have radically different agendas - as they gathered on Boston Common."
CAGE MATCH!
They sure don't make Bostonians like they used to...
Beantown Boomers welcome Partitag!
"Mr Kerry told a crowd in Sioux City, Iowa: "John Edwards and I are determined that we are going to be champions for the middle class, the folks who built this country."
Time for a Jaguar Commercial for the middle class sheeple voting for the super Rich al Kerry and Terezzzzzzzza!
It should be fun watching the commies, perverts, imbeciles, and thieves fight each other instead of real Americans for the next few days
Don't kid your self.
Just remember the Boston Tea Party.
One of my ancestors owned Coles Tavern, the first pub/inn in Boston. He was arrested many times for selling alcohol to Indians and shorting a pint of ale.
Unfortunately Boston is now a city of Girlie Boys, Kennedy's and Kerry's and their voters.
Gee, I hope they get a "bang" out of the efforts.
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