Just Another Thursday in Downtown Brooklyn: Wobblies, Immigrants, Civil Rights Groups, Judges and Falun Gong All Convene To Protest ... Everything

Police were out in force Thursday in preparation for not one, not two, but FIVE protest marches convening at almost the same place -- Cadman Plaza Park/Borough Hall -- and at almost the same time.

It was kind of confusing; each group you saw scurrying around the two block stretch was carry a different color flag or a sign protesting a different cause:

The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World, or "Wobblies") held a May Day march at Cadman Plaza to call for solidarity of the working class. (Red and black flags)

The Make the Road NY group marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Cadman Plaza in support of opportunity for immigrant families. Music, speeches and performances took place in Cadman Plaza Park. (Boom boxes)

Another set of demonstrators protested last week's verdict in the Sean Bell shooting case. One group gathered in Brooklyn at Cadman Plaza Park and then marched across the Bridge to Manhattan. (Signs: No Justice No Peace)

Next, came the Protest of the Black Robed Judges. Nearly 100 judges: "filed out of the doors of the Brooklyn Supreme Court on Adams Street; they walked over from the Brooklyn Supreme Court building on Jay Street; they came from the Kings County Civil and Criminal courts on Livingston and Schermerhorn streets; they walked down from the Appellate Division in Brooklyn Heights." (Brooklyn Eagle) Yes, even the judges held a protest Thursday at Borough Hall. (Black robes)

Think we're done? Uh uh uhh. A group, possibly the Falun Gong, marched to Borough Hall to protest Chinese atrocities and the Olympic torch. (Colorful flyers)

It was a beautiful day and everyone just got along swimmingly!

Photo by MK Metz