According to United for Peace and Justice, 500,000 people marched in NYC to protest the RNC and the Bush agenda. The march, which passed by Madison Square Garden, site of the RNC, was the largest to ever take place at a political convention. The march was so long, according to the organizers, that it took nearly six hous for all the marchers to get to the finish point at Union Square. There were no reports of violence or arrests during the march itself and the police presence was very heavy. The majority of the protesters carried signs in opposition to the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Various puppets, drum/dance groups and street performancer were present and the crowd was very diverse . Notably absent were signs or t-shirts promoting John Kerry or the Democratic Party. After the march many participants went down to Central Park to gather, despite the Mayor's refusal to grant a rally permit for the park.
