Rendition Demonstration
April 14, 2006
Buffalo, NY
This was a one-hour picket/demonstration to raise awareness about extraordinary rendition, which is the illegal US practice of abducting people (US citizens and others) and, without charging them with any crime, flying them to countries where they are interrogated and tortured. The demonstration was in support of Amnesty's recent report on renditions entitled "Below the radar: Secret flights to torture and 'disappearance'. We chose the Buffalo International Airport on Friday, April 14th, because it is a high traffic area and a busy travel day due to Easter on Sunday.
The demonstration ran for about an hour and a half, from 10:30am to noon. We assembled at 4500 Genesee Street, on the sidewalk in front of the large Buffalo International Airport sign right next to the flags. It was very peaceful and many passers-by honked in support or requested leaflets, which we had on hand.
About 10 minutes before the end of the demonstration, the police arrived, followed by airport security. They tried to tell us that we needed a permit, but we had already checked with local ordinances and stated that only a demonstration of over 1000 people needed a permit. The police then told us that they "didn't know if the sidewalk was public property." We knew it was, and stated so. Airport security and the police had the main intention of having us leave and, although it was our decided-upon quitting time, we decided to stay. When security and the police left a little while later, we waited a few minutes and then called it a day. Victory!
