Part 3 of a three part series The Speakers Protest in front of the Plaza.
December 11, 2015. Noon. NY’s Plaza Hotel.
“Communities UNITED! Confronting Trump…“ “Say NO to Trump’s Racism and Hate” “Trump is a symptom of a white supremacist sickness that is rooted deeply in our political system. We are mobilizing this Friday to share a vision of communities beyond policing, beyond incarceration, and beyond detention.”
A “DUMP TRUMP” protest supported by these organizations:
Families for Freedom Black Alliance for Just Immigration- BAJI Queer Detainee Empowerment Project- QDEP Responsible Endowments Coalition Showing Up for Racial Justice- SURJ Council on American-Islamic Relations- CAIR BAYAN- USA Jews For Racial and Economic Justice- JFREJ Black and Pink Jewish Voices for Peace Arab American Association of NY
“A liberal activist group said that Pennsylvania Republicans should dump Donald Trump as the speaker at a party fundraiser after the mogul proposed a “total and complete” ban on Muslims entering the U.S.”
Game On: Trump was inside at the Pennsylvania GOP’s annual Commonwealth Club luncheon.
“The party is standing by its man.Donald Trump will be the keynote speaker at our Friday fundraiser in New York,” Pennsylvania GOP spokeswoman Megan Sweeney said. [And he was]
As I arrived, I saw a large crowd hoping for a glimpse of “The Donald”.
NO PRESS was allowed inside the luncheon, so the press and passersby (LOTS of “just plain folk”) were jammed at the entrance.
Also, in Grand Army Plaza, was the “Dump Trump” protest. A crowd comprised of Commies (young and old) …… Illegal Trespassing supporters [like Percy Lujan from Revolutionary Student Co-ordinating Committee) and lots of trend-setting white-folk.
Muslims (of course) —- many Muslimas actually—
A Christian Clergywoman, who held high her sign, “Love Your Muslim Neighbor”.
As though LOVE would have stopped Boston’s murderous Tsarnaev Brothers and their VILE, INSANE mother, Yeah. LOVE. That’ll stop ’em.
The ubiquitous Rabbi Michael Feinberg(Rabbi for Human Rights & Exec. Dir. Greater N. Y. Labor-Religion Coalition.) present as always…
Flickr Slideshow (place cursor on picture to access slide show)
The Speakers: At Noon, the Commies (and friends) began a lively “Dump Trump” protest with many speakers crammed into just one hour.
They preached, lectured, chanted and SCREAMED! (often) “ORGANIZE AND EDUCATE, THAT IS HOW WE END THE HATE”.
“Resistance to U.S. Imperialism. (War and Prisons.) We’re here taking Collective Action. We also want to build Collective Trust. Take a moment to get to know the folks around you.” [had a moment of “Meet and Greet” ] Then an Hispanic female from Families For Freedom led a ‘walk through’ of some chants, like:”We’re Gonna Bring Trump Down” and “End the US War Machine from Syria, to Iraq and the Philippines”. “We’re not gonna stand for Fascists like him and the Fascists he represents. He is the epitome of US Imperialism. How dare he slander all Muslims”
VIDEO
Playlist of all 11 short videos
However, I lost the video I took of the FAKE Republican. (My bad.) But, what a hoot she was! She was introduced as an EX-Republican! Now reformed. Enlightened. She sees the ERROR of her misguided days as a Repub. (ya think?)
What made her change? “It was the HIS-To-Ry of FASCISM!!” (twitter link)
[Video from Ash J on Twitter #NYC Anti-#Trump protesters across street from Plaza]
“Your assignment today, if you choose to do it” — CLAIM to be an ex-Repub who voted for GW — (yeah. That’s the ticket) FAKE REPUB WOMAN during her speech. (Do people actually BELIEVE her?) The crowd during the speakers’ hour was also entertained by professional protestor, Marni Halasa. Often dressed as an NYPD “BIMBO Cop” aka Babs the Bankster-Buster. Whatever the costume, always on SKATES and Camera-Ready.
Do people READ her coyly written signs? Or do they just want to take a picture with a pretty girl.
Once the speakers dispersed, a team of “t.RUTT” artistes paraded a guerrilla-bus painted with “t. RUTT” (t. RUMP) ’round and ’round the Plaza traffic circle.
Even though the press was in absentia, the bus team was quite pleased with their guerrilla-art bus “success”. [See alsoTwitter link for bus]
The woman who was interviewed by NY1 ( in video at 00:56) seemed to represent the artist(or was the artist) not quite sure.
“Trump is a Black Swan ” (so says she) “… a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.”
VIDEO
NEXT (after the t.RUMP bus) I found the Commies – a small group of Muslim, Arab, immigrant, and LGBTQ community members – at the south entrance to the Plaza regrouping after being THROWN OUT of the GOP Luncheon (See Part 2)
The GOP Banner-Nut Luncheon-Crashers was a small group of Commies, Muslim, Arab, immigrant, and LGBTQ community members – at the south entrance to the Plaza regrouping after being THROWN OUT of the GOP Luncheon. They were talking quietly to the press [“Muslim, Jewish, Queer, and Immigrant justice organizations joined together to pull off this critical action.
“Wherever Trump goes, whenever he has a platform to speak, the people will be there to resist and disrupt”. SO, they went into attack mode as soon as they saw the volunteer from the Pennsylvania GOP talking to the press. He had to be shut-down with SCREAMING and screaming and more screaming.
Twitter video of the obnoxious harassment of the GOP volunteer
“Tell us WHY. Why do people gotta to DIE?”, “TRUMP is trying to bring us DOWN, attacking people Black and Brown”. He was relentlessly harassed (mid-interviews).
The Commies CHEERED as the volunteer was forced back inside the Plaza (First Amendment be damned) Pictured from L – Zakararia(h) Ismail Kronemer and Jamela Hammami. Far right, Jorge Gonzalez. But, the GOP volunteer was NOT finished. He returned confidently and finished his interviews. (starting at 2:57 below)First part of my video is the very LOUD verbal assaults by the Banner-Nuts.
FYI: Leading the harassment was “Megaphone-guy”, Zakarariah Kronemer, who is of Egyptian descent, and the “Loud and Proud”, transgendered , Imami Henry [Staff Organizer at the International Action Center (IAC).]
Found more on the actual invasion. Seems the Islamophobia Banner-Nuts managed to invade the GOP luncheon INside the Plaza. (In spite of LOTS of security) Because….
“An ally inside the event was able to open a side doorallowing the four demonstrators to enter. The Arab and Latino protesters effectively disrupted Trump’s speech singing, “Mama Mama tell us why, why our people gotta die. Trump is trying to bring us down, attacking people black and brown.” A dozen security guards and some attendees of the event swarmed on the demonstrators and aggressively dragged them out. In the commotion, one of the members … an arab woman , Jamela Hammami, a demonstration organizer and Executive Director of the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, was thrown to the ground.”
Videos reveal how resistant and practiced they at NOT leaving when asked. When ever possible they THROW themselves to the ground and wail and moan. What matters is lots of copy. Which they got.
Jorge Gonzalez,who was injured while serving in the Iraq war, was thrown down a flight of marble stairs after disrupting an event where Donald Trump was speaking inside the Plaza Hotel, demonstrators said.
This video of their unceremonious expulsion is from Twitter
Without too much searching, I found the names and predictable background info of the ‘players’ who crashed the Pennsylvania GOP luncheon. (All “Loud and Proud”)
Jamela Hammami, is an Arab Muslimah, N African Tunisian and exec dir of the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project. Also a key protest organizer leading the activists interrupting Trump’s $1,000-a-head GOP fundraiser.Zakarariah Kronemer,is an organizer for the Virginia youth climate justice movement who is of Egyptian descent. He said, “The people must interrupt him (Trump) anywhere he is invited to speak. It’s leading to violence in the Arab community [in America]”.
Jamela Hammami, “(Trump’s) statements are completely steeped in levels of Islamapobia and Arabphobia…a symptom of being a part of american society still steeped in xenophobia reminiscent of the McCarthy era. We will continue to face hate and violence until we fight against it and demand safety and freedom for our people.”
2nd video of the expulsion from CBS News
“Mama, mama tell us why, why our people gotta die? Donald Trump is trying to bring us down, attacking people black and brown,” the mini mob chanted
The protesters had their own messages to impart and the press loved it. They are adored…respected…the “20-somethings” as well as the older Jewish contingent (who actually attended the luncheon.)
Jewish seniors, veterans, and white allies standing up to Trump’s hate and his manhandling goons. #StandUp4Refugees
They were protesting Trump’s call to close the United States to Muslim immigrants and visitors.
“It’s our responsibility,” said Sandra Abramson of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.
“We believe that this country has values and we need to uphold those values.”
Abramson, a Brooklyn resident, says she was allowed to take the elevator after being removed from the event.
Sandra Abramson, 69, one of the protesters, said she spent $3,000 to get herself and two friends into the event. She wanted to read a Bible passage, Leviticus 19:33, about the need to treat foreigners justly. She said security removed her, but Mr. Trump “just kept on talking.”
“He was talking about how terrible Hillary was, how terrible Obamacare was … and how terrible the world is except for “The Donald,“ Ms. Abramson said. Others said Mr. Trump also discussed his own strong polling, and the importance of Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry.
Of the check she signed to attend the event, Ms. Abramson said, ”It will be canceled immediately.“
Other activists were tossed out more forcefully. “Trump is trying to bring us down,” they chanted outside. “We have a room in the hotel so we have a right to be here,” said protester Jamila Hammami. “But those guards pushed us down several flights of stairs.”
Hammami says Trump is to blame for the recent wave of hate crimes against Muslim-Americans. “This is because of the hate coming out of his mouth and no one is checking him,” she said.
In case you are curious,more info on the people outside the Plaza being interviewed by the press – after the “invasion” – THEY ARE WAY TOO OFTEN PROFESSORS – of some sort – Educators. Our college tuition goes to their salaries – Our kids come home INDOCTRINATED.
There were eight older protestors who paid to attend the $1,000-a-plate luncheon, made loud statements during Trump’s speech” saying, outside the Plaza, that they were surprised and offended by their swift removal from the luncheon (Yeah. Sure they were)
“Judith Plaskow, 68, of New York, a Professor of Religious Studies at Manhattan College and a Jewish feminist theologian,said she bought a ticket at the door with a $1,000 check – a check she hoped to later cancel. She was among a group of women ejected from the ballroom when they stood and started singing, “We are kind and welcoming people.” Asked why she attended, Plaskow said, “I feel ashamed to be an American right now. The level of hate speech that I’m hearing in the country right now, I find deeply, deeply disturbing.”
Plaskow said she is a member of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and has many Muslim friends.
Another member, Jordan Wouk, said he used a ticket purchased by another activist and was driven to bear witness against Trump. “I wanted to try to let people know that not everybody approves of Trump’s hateful message,” said Wouk, 67, of Manhattan.
“… upstairs Jordan Wouk,a New York Democrat, along with his wife and two other protesters who had obtained tickets to the event, stood and started a disturbance by reciting a revised version of German pastor Martin Niemoller’s famous poem about the rise of the Nazi Party … The protesters recited the first few lines of their version, which began “First they came for the Muslims,” before being ejected by security.”
Jennifer Hirsch, a Columbia University professorwho focuses her research on gender, sexuality, and reproductive health, U.S.-Mexico migration and migrant health, the comparative anthropology of love, and the applications of anthropological theory and methods to public health research and programs, was also bounced from the party, said it took just seconds for security to descend on her as she tried to read a statement aloud to the crowd.
“I’m proud to be a Jew speaking out against Islamophobia,” she said.
Hirsch was among several protesters from a group called Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, who bought tickets, tried to interrupt Trump, and were ejected from the event.
Smith College Professor of Government Program for the Study of Women and Gender
Born in 1946 in New York City to Socialist Zionist parents, Martha Ackelsberg went on to earn a bachelors degree in social studies from Radcliffe College, and her masters and doctorate degrees in political philosophy from Princeton. She has been a political science professor at Smith College since 1972. She has written extensively on the topics of women’s community activism, gender and public policy, feminist and democratic theory, and women in Jewish communities.
A self-described “feminist/anarchist,” Ackelsberg believes that all Jews who are currently living in the Judea and Samaria communities of the West Bank should leave. She contends that until this occurs, the U.S. State Department ought to withhold financial aid to Israel. Professor Ackelsberg is a member of the editorial staff of Michael Lerner’s anti-Israel publication, Tikkun Magazine. She was a signatory to the LGBT-OUT (Lesbians/Gays/Bisexuals and Transgendered Of the University of Toronto) petition proclaiming the urgent need “to eliminate homophobia and heterosexism from the university,” yet she detests Israel – the only nation in the Middle East that offers civil rights protections and lifestyle freedoms to its gay population.
Martha Ackelsberg and Margery Fine are like most of the adult protestors, members of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice .
But, the speakers were not the whole agenda. There was a “pre-show” press event at 11 AM
Part 1 : Keystone Progress executive director Michael Morrill said, “We put a petition online, asking the PA Republican Party to dis-invite Donald Trump as keynote speaker.”After collecting over 10,000 signatures they attempted to deliver said petition to the Pennsylvania GOP. Predictably, Morrill and Keystone Progress board member, Mike Crossey, were firmly “escorted”awayfrom The Plaza Hotel entrance. (see Getty Images videobelow at 1:07)
2nd video– Morrill explains Keystone Progress and the petition
Busy, Busy, Busy. Cause—-America must be FIXED.
The following is a slide show of my pictures (please place cursor on picture to access slide show)
“Say NO to Trump’s Racism and Hate” 
… Illegal Trespassing supporters [like Percy Lujan from Revolutionary Student Co-ordinating Committee) and lots of trend-setting white-folk.
Yeah. LOVE. That’ll stop ’em.
FAKE REPUB WOMAN during her speech. (Do people actually BELIEVE her?) 
The crowd during the speakers’ hour was also entertained by professional protestor, Marni Halasa. Often dressed as an NYPD “BIMBO Cop” aka Babs the Bankster-Buster. Whatever the costume, always on SKATES and Camera-Ready.
[See also Twitter link for bus]
said she bought a ticket at the door with a $1,000 check – a check she hoped to later cancel. She was among a group of women ejected from the ballroom when they stood and started singing, “We are kind and welcoming people.” Asked why she attended, Plaskow said, “I feel ashamed to be an American right now. The level of hate speech that I’m hearing in the country right now, I find deeply, deeply disturbing.”
