Boston start

Boston is called the cradle of American freedom. It was in this city that the movement for independence originated and strengthened. In March 1770, there was a clash of citizens with English soldiers, which went down in history under the name Boston massacre. And in December 1773, the famous Boston tea party took place: protesting against the duty -free import of English tea, the colonists threw bales from English ships overboard, thereby putting the beginning of the American revolution.

Recently, the leaders of all kinds of organizations, whose activists gathered in Boston to participate in mass shares, have been recalled about these milestones. This year, the political atmosphere is especially intensified. In the history of the United States, there are examples of how the actions of protesters took on an aggressive character. In 1968, in Chicago, where the Democrat Congress was then held, protests against the war in Vietnam resulted in a real battle of demonstrators with the police and the National Guard. This time, the threat of large-scale terrorist attacks was added to the traditional fears of the authorities, which has repeatedly warned senior officials, according to which al-Qaida is determined to disrupt the elections in the United States.

The general practice of recent years is to take a special zone for protests. The authorities of Glinn in the state of Georgia, where the Summit of Eight's Leaders, took place in the innovative way. They allowed the holding of rallies and marches only to those groups that agreed not to subsequently make any police claims for an impolite handling of them. As expected, the court canceled this order. Then in Georgia they came up with another tool - to rent city parks to protesters. But nothing came of this venture. However, the dissatisfied did not achieve much sense: they arranged their shares in the city of Savannah, and the leaders sat on Si Alend, where they did not let anyone out too much.

The City Hall of New York, where the Republican Congress will be held, is still considering numerous applications for manifestations. One has already been rejected - for a rally in the central park. It is interesting on what basis: it turns out that demonstrators can ruin the lawn. The argument is familiar: for damage to vegetation on the Capitol hill, trade union activists were arrested and fined back in the 30s.

The city authorities Boston took a territory of six quarters from the Fleetcenter building for protests, where the congress will take place. The organizers of the manifestations immediately went to court, who decided that demonstrators can be removed only to the distance from which they will be visible and heard to those who are intended for protests. The fathers of the city found a new place, fencing it with concrete blocks, a metal mesh and barbed wire. This corral is located next to the parking lot for delegates, but no more than a thousand people can fit in it at the same time, there are many more protesting; In addition, they are insulted by barbed wire - it really turned out to be a "zone". The demonstrators again went to court, this time the federal district. Judge Dragles Woodlock recognized the corral “insulting the right to freedom of expression,” but agreed with the argument about the need to ensure security and order in the city. As moral compensation, he allowed demonstrators to conduct a procession on Sunday, which was done without much damage both for freedom of speech and for order. Nevertheless, on Monday morning, the case will be obeyed in the Federal Court of Appeal.

However, the main headache of the Boston city bosses was not rallies, but a labor dispute with police and firefighters. Both trade unions took advantage of the congress to present the requirements to increase the salary. On Thursday, an agreement was reached with the police - over the next four years they will increase the salary by 14.5 percent. We agreed with firefighters only on Sunday - their increase will be 10.5 percent for three years.

Boston’s daily life is practically paralyzed: the motorway near Fleetcenter is blocked, the metro station is closed under it, traffic jams are expected on the streets, they are not allowed into urban transport from luggles exceeding the size of the portfolio. Many companies invited their employees to go on vacation or work at home for the next four days. And directly to the congress hall, it is forbidden to carry not only umbrellas and electric lanterns, but also sewing needles. More than a hundred dogs are sniffing some dogs sniffing explosives at the Boston Congress. And the total safety expenses will amount to at least half of all costs for the congress - 50 million dollars.

The names of party candidates are already known, in this regard, the congress cannot present any surprises. Nevertheless, the Boston Forum is important for the democrats campaign. The access to John Edwards as a candidate for vice presidents did not revive the race to the extent that John Kerry’s political technologists expected. The duet of the Democrats does not manage to make a breakthrough. Boston is just such an opportunity. Kerry and Edwards will finally disassemble the public attention to the prime time undividedly-more than 60 percent of voters are going to completely and partially watch reports from the congress. In order to use this opportunity with maximum efficiency, candidates must ultimately explain to the Americans, nothing bad Bush and Cheney, and what they are good, Kerry and Edwards. The time of punching injections has passed - 100 days are left before the elections.