A who's who of convention protesters

A roster of groups granted protest permits by the City of Boston

Hear comments from protesters at the scene.

GROUP	THE BASICS	REASON FOR BOSTON PROTEST	BIGGEST PLANNED EVENT
A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition www.answerboston.org Fights racism and war nationally and internationally	Founded: Sept. 2001 Mass. members: Dozens US: 1,000s*	Oppose the Democrats’ role in Iraq war; bring troops home; spend money on jobs, housing, and health care instead of defense.	March and rally, noon July 25, at Boston Common, corner of Charles and Beacon St. Expected turnout: 1,000s



Alternatives for Community and Environment ace-ej.org Roxbury-based environmentaljustice campaign	Founded: 2001 Mass. members: "a growing coalition"	Showcase their opposition to the proposed bioterrorism lab at Boston University on "the national stage."	Fair, 3 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. July 28 at Blackstone Square, Washington and W. Newton St., followed by march to the proposed lab site Expected turnout: Expected turnout: 1,000



American Friends Service Cmte. www.afsc.org "Peace, justice and action" group run by Quakers won Nobel Peace Prize for helping rebuild Europe after WWII	Founded: 1917 Mass. members: dozens working next week	"We wanted to call attention to the Democratic Party that this is the cost of war, this is the human cost of war."	Candelight vigil for casualties of the war in Iraq, including Iraqi civilians, 7:30 p.m. July 27, in Copley Square Expected turnout: 100s



Billionaires for Bush www.billionairesforbush.com Street theater group poses as rich to expose "Bush administration’s disastrous economic policies"	Founded: Dec. 2003 Mass. members: 168* US: 6,000*	"We’re going to be there to protect President Bush and all the progress he’s made for the wealthiest 1 percent in America."	March , 6:30 p.m. July 27, from Rowes Wharf to Massachusetts Republican Party Headquarters at 85 Merrimac St. Expected turnout: 150*



Bl(A)ck Tea Society www.blackteasociety.org Unofficial host committee works to facilitate and support the right to protest during the convention	Founded: July 2003 Mass. members: 35* US: n/a	"Because this came to our back yard."	Really, Really Democratic Baazar, noon to 8 p.m. July 27. Free festival and concert on Boston Common, at Boylston and Charles St. Expected turnout: 1,000s



Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights www.bcpr.org Bring awareness of Palestinian issues to the DNC delegates.	Founded: 1999 Mass. members: 50 US: n/a	Recognition of Palestinian rights, an end to Israeli occupation, and press US to "act in accordance with international law."	Rally, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. July 26 in Free Speech Area outside FleetCenter. Expected turnout: 1,000



Buddhist Peace Fellowship www.bpfboston.org Buddhist group working for social justice, equality, and global concerns	Founded: 2001 Mass. members: n/a US: n/a	Advocating for peace	Meditation vigil, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. July 24-27 in Holocaust Memorial Park at Union and Congress St. near Boston city hall. Expected turnout: 10



Christian Defense Coalition christiandefensecoalition.com Antiabortion group	Founded: July 2003 Mass. members: 400* US: 10,000	To "expose the radical pro-abortion position of senators Kerry and Edwards."	"Life chain" 1 p.m. July 25, Faneuil Hall Expected turnout: 100s



DNC2RNC Democracy Uprising dnc2rnc.org Grassroots political group marching from Boston to New York	Founded: 2001 Mass. members: n/a US: n/a	"We believe that both political parties do not have the interests of regular people at heart."	Rally, noon July 29, at Copley Square before walk to New York begins Expected turnout: 100*



Falun Dafa www.falundafa.org Meditation and religious group suppressed in China. Also called Falun Gong	Founded: 1992 Mass. members: n/a US: 10,000,000s	Draw awareness to the severity of repression of people who practice Falun Dafa in China.	Parade and education rally, 3 p.m. July 25 from Copley Square to Chinatown Expected turnout: 1,000



Kucinich Campaign www.kucinich.us Campaign staff is still working on the causes Dennis Kucinich featured in his run for president.	Founded: Feb. 2003 Mass. members: 3,800 US: 550,000*	"Most of us have agreed that it’s important to rally around Kerry to get Bush out. But that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our issues."	Progressive Democratic Convention, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. July 29 at Roxbury Community College Expected turnout: 1,000



Rubie’s Foundation no web site Healthcare-focused side project of Kucinich campaign	Founded: July 2004 Mass. members: 4 US: n/a	Arguing that health care "should be about people and not dollars."	Wheelchair roll starting at 10:30 a.m. July 28 from Copley Square to Liberty Mutual office at 175 Berkeley St. Expected turnout: 25-50



Run Against Bush www.runagainstbush.org Grassroots group motivates people to run to show dissatisfaction with the Bush administration.	Founded: Oct. 2003 Mass. members: 250 US: 7,000	"While we are not a Democratic organization, we want to defeat Bush and therefore we support Kerry."	Rally, 6:30 p.m. July 27, in Christopher Columbus Park, Atlantic Avenue and Long Wharf, Boston Expected turnout: 100s



September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows www.peacefultomorrows.org Family of 9/11 victims, pushing for pacifist terrorism solutions	Founded: Feb. 2002 Members: 130 families	"The feeling is that the policy makers are not taking into account the impact military combat has on civilians."	"Stonewalk," starting at 1 p.m. July 25. Participants will drag a 1,400-lb. stone from UMass Boston to Copley Square. Expected turnout: 100s



United for Justice with Peace www.justicewithpeace.org Advocate economic and social justice alternatives to so-called "war on terrorism"	Founded: Sept. 2001 Mass. members: 5,000* US: n/a	To encourage convention-goers and candidates to adopt strong civil liberties positions.	"Close Down Guantanamo" rally, noon - 2 p.m. July 28 in Copley Square Expected turnout: 1,000-2,000

* = estimate
SOURCE: City of Boston; Protest groups
NOTE: All membership and crowd figures based on groups’ own estimates.
Compiled by Globe Correspondents Katie Nelson, Emily Anthes