September 6, 2004
The Spirited RNC Smart Mobs
Some inside information on the actual text messages sent by dispatchers last week during the Republican National Convention.
"Evelyn Fitzgerald for nyc.indymedia.org writes: "The constant stream of text messages that I received on my cell phone from Friday, August 27 to Friday September 3 contained updates on each day's bizarrely complicated agenda of pro- and anti- RNC activities that would not have been available otherwise. Things were so confusing that it was difficult to stay informed, especially on Tuesday. Since anyone with a cell phone could join a mob and transmit messages, the text streams offered a continuous alternative to other live news media such as radio and TV.
Here are the messages I received. Since I was present, I can confirm their accuracy:
----- 17:06:57 Tue, Aug 31 ----- Bryant Park near Public Library- lots of police gathering, and waiting
----- 17:51:07 Tue, Aug 31 ----- arrests being made a public library, large # of police there
----- 18:29:08 Tue, Aug 31 ----- lots of people getting pushed into bryant park, police chasing and closing in w/ nets
On Thursday morning, someone from the New York Police Department was quoted on WNYC radio stating that protestors were being released from detention in a reasonable amount of time (or something like that, I have yet to find the transcript). I knew that this statement was inaccurate, since I had received the following messages from COMMS_DISPATCH:
----- 22:59:55 Wed, Sep 01 ----- Legal support update: Court ruled that those held for <24 hours must be released by 1AM tonight. 100 Center St
----- 23:04:33 Wed, Sep 01 ----- Correction: Those held for greater then 24 hours must be released by 1am tonight. 100 Center St.
----- 23:39:28 Wed, Sep 01 ----- Legal update: previous court order to release arrestees stayed: unclear if ppl will be let out tonight
----- 00:46:35 Thu, Sep 02 ----- 100+ people doing support at 100 Center St, court will be going all night.
Related articles:
--T-Mobile blocked TXTmob messages during a portion of the RNC
-- Upoc's Ruckus RNC 2004 and TxtMob
-- Political protesters hear call with text messaging
-- Text Messages for Critical Masses
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