Protests occur throughout ASU and Tempe with only a couple arrests

Nearly a thousand people joined in a march organized by the October 13 Alliance in Tempe on Wednesday afternoon. The march left from Daley Park and worked its way over to Mill Avenue where the procession filed by Gammage Auditorium – which was securely surrounded by two fences, the first topped with barbed wire. (photos)

Police escorted the march on bike, foot, horse and motorcycle. As of Wednesday night, only two people were arrested (as of this writing, only one was confirmed by the AzCLU hotline). The AzCLU trained about 50 legal observers to watch over the march, as well as staffed a legal hotline for arrestees to call. Christie and Marla, two members of the street medic team that attended the march, said the worse problem they encountered were thirsty protestors.

When the march arrived at the Hayden Square, they met a handful of Bush supporters and a CNN stage where a live show was being aired covering the debates. Protestors soon surrounded the stage and yelled at the panel of CNN anchors, including Wolf Blitzer (they especially made fun of them when their make-up artists came out to spruce them up.) Liberals and radicals clashed with groups like the protest warriors while the nude block formed a large dancing circle in the middle of the mayhem.

Mny more photos, articles and information will be posted to the site on Thursday as we can compile it.

Tempe will become a police state, AZ Indymedia to set up a newsroom

The final debate held before the November presidential elections will be in Tempe, Arizona on Wednesday October 13, 2004. The Monsoon Anarchist Collective is active in organizing against the debates and has issued a call to action inviting anarchists, anti-authoritarians, and radicals to join us in Phoenix to bring the real debate into the streets. (Phoenix Anarchist site, October 13 Alliance)

The debate will be held in Gammage Auditorium, located at the southwest corner of the Arizona State University campus. Nearly a quarter mile of the streets (Apache and Forest) in two directions will be closed from October 12th until the 14th. Gammage will be protected by chain link fence topped with barbwire along with an 8-foot high security wall that will also be used at the two previous debates.

Convergence Space: A convergence space has been set up at Gentle Strength Co-op (234 W. University, one block west of Mill Ave.) in Tempe. It will be open from the evening of Friday Oct 8 thru Thursday Oct 14. Arizona IMC will be setting up a small newsroom in the convergence center to help Indymedia Journalists to cover the debate actions. (more info & schedule) Also, all debate coverage should be posted to the O13 section on AZ-IMC.

There will be several events going on around the Debate including a kick-off concert, potluck and discussion, magickal activism training, electoral politics forum, a free (for all) market, discussion with Jim Hightower, a Know-Your-Rights forum with Eleanor Eisenberg (AZCLU) and Phoenix Copwatch, a "Support the Truth" Forum with music, a panel discussion, a LGBTQ action, demonstrations and a march. Check the October 13 Alliance Calendar, the AZ Indymedia Calendar, and the Phoenix Anarchist webpage for additional information.