Early 21st Century Protests

Iraq War

I knew it was futile to go to this big rally in union Square in New York, but the run up to this war under the presidency of George W. Bush was INSANE. It had nothing to do with 9/11, and the assurance that there were “Weapons of Mass Destruction” was flimsy. Thousands gathered to protest the inevitable, doomed, deadly war in 2003.

Union Square, Manhattan, protest against the impending Iraq War with sign of an elephant pooping bombs, 2003

Union Square, Manhattan, protest against the impending Iraq War with sign of an elephant pooping bombs.

Patriots against the Patriot Act 2004

It’s still a thing

Demonstrators dressed as 18th Century American Revolutionaries demonstrate in front of City Hall in 2003. They favored a resolution before the New York City Council supporting restoration of civil liberties curtailed by the government since Sept. 11, 2001. Despite the City Council passing the resolution in 2004--and more than 250 other cities and three states, provisions of the Patriot Act remain in effect in 2022. Objections are still relevant. See https://www.aclu.org/other/surveillance-under-usapatriot-act. Left to right: Kelly Moore, Stephen Duncombe, Sydney Railla-Duncombe (aged 4 months), Bob Lesko.  Photo by Pat Arnow

Demonstrators dressed as 18th Century American Revolutionaries demonstrate in front of City Hall in 2003. They favored a resolution before the New York City Council supporting restoration of civil liberties curtailed by the government since Sept. 11, 2001. Despite the City Council passing the resolution in 2004–and more than 250 other cities and three states, provisions of the Patriot Act remain in effect in 2022. Left to right: Kelly Moore, Stephen Duncombe, Sydney Railla-Duncombe (aged 4 months), Bob Lesko.  

Objections are still relevant. See https://www.aclu.org/other/surveillance-under-usapatriot-act.

Occupy Wall Street, 2011

Occupy Wall Street was a brave attempt to gain a voice for the 99 percent of us who have little power or money or justice. Tax the rich! Health care! Immigrant Rights! Anti-war! It was a big, raucous, spirited participatory movement. I thought the demands were too diffuse to have an effect. But it was grand during the many months in 2011 when people took over the block-wide Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan near Wall Street. People pitched tents and lived there protesting every day. I took pictures for some of the labor unions who participated in the marches and sometimes I just went down there and visited. Here are some of the photos.

  • Occupy Wall Street protester with sign, "When the system is stacked against you, never surrender. I am not afraid."
  • Occupy Wall Street marchers with signs, "The working class must unite (hey cops, that includes you)
  • TWU (Transit Workers Union) members with a Workers Rights are Human Rights sign at a Occupy Wall Street protest
  • "44 million on food stamps, millions lost homes" sign and American flag at 1 Police Plaza protest
  • Occupy Wall Street protester wearing a button, "I am the 99%"
  • Occupy Wall Street information table, Zuccotti Park, 2011
  • "Wall Street Stole My Pension" sign held by Miriam Cantor, a victim of Bernie Madoff's massive fraud.
  • "We are all the 99%" sign at an Occupy Wall Street protest, 1 Police Plaza, Manhattan
  • Cops harassing a photographer at 1 Police Plaza Occupy Wall Street demonstration.
  • Granny Peace Brigade at Occupy Wall Street march
  • Protester in an Occupy Wall Street March from Washington Heights, Nov., 2011
  • During Occupy Wall Street in 2011, protesters marched over to 1 Police Plaza for a demonstration.

More photos

Political Portraits

Politicians including Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu fundraising in Brooklyn between the times he was Prime Minister, former New York City Mayors Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Edward Kennedy and more.

Activists

Demonstrations, protests, marches, lots of signs. Does taking to the streets make a difference?

80 Faces

Take a scroll through a sampler of famous, infamous and other Interesting people. I took most on assignment 2008-10 in my labor union work. They include Hillary Clinton, Charlie Rangel, Sheldon Silver (politician/felon), Eliot Spitzer (politician/felon), James Hoffa Jr., Holly Hunter, Fred Armisen, Seth MeyersSteve Buscemi, Ed Koch, David Dinkins, David Paterson, Celeste Holm, LeRoy Nieman, John Stossel, Donna Lieberman (NYCLU), Randi Weingarten (AFT) and many more, all in a close-up view.

Photos from The Chief

Newspaper about the city workers’ unions, 2003-2008–the good side of some police, firefighters, and Mayor Bloomberg.

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