The People's Guide to the Republican National Convention has links to everything the thoroughly modern protestor might need: protest sites, accessible bathrooms, wifi spots, bailbondsmen, bike shops, and more.

[ UPDATE: Another RNC protest guide from the granddaddy of leftwing newspapers, the Village Voice. Plus fashion tips. ]

If the Penn Station travel advisory is too daunting, you can watch various New York street scenes from the safety of your own computer, via webcam at the MTA's Advanced Traveler Information System. How cool is that?

Of course, the media - mainstream and otherwise - are descending upon the street scene like flies on shit. If you want to make sure your dissent from the herd is noted, Protest Warrior and Communists for Kerry can outfit you with counter-revolutionary (or uber-revolutionary, depending how you look at it) signifiers. And MetroSpy has some unconventional pro-Bush items. Here's a guide to deconstructing Leftist bumper stickers.
Tim Blair should wear his costume at tomorrow's Communists for Kerry rally, as an example of unsuccessful political re-education.

My schedule, subject to revision.

The Munificent Creator of Worlds has really extended himself with many links to some proposed protestor tactics, and samples of the kinds of posters you're likely to see.
One of the official RNC bloggers notes a few pre-convention protests from earlier this week.
Another RNC blogger links to various protest sites.
Michelle Malkin has news links about anarchist disruption plans and the ups and downs of the Central Park rally site. More on what the anarchists are planning.

Some grownups within the anti-Bush protest community are counseling non-violence, pointing out that - duh! - violent protests will only work to the advantage of the Republicans. Perlstein invokes MLK:

The War Resisters League, like A31.org, cites a Martin Luther King Jr. quote that includes these words, offered as if a taunt: "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue."

It would have taken all of King's powers of Christian love, I think, not to laugh in these people's faces. King would never ever simply say, "We need to do what our conscience tells us is important to do," and somehow leave it at that. King planned his insurgencies with the strategic care of a military general, and with the characteristic obsessions of a top-drawer publicist: no risk of arrest, of violence�even when arrest or violence was welcomed, embraced for its communicative power�was ever left to chance. (Today's protesters revel in their embrace of improvisation, as if it were a good in itself.) And he never left the field of battle satisfied with mere moral victory, that his side had demonstrated more righteousness than the other. He always had a concrete political goal, that concrete goal but a step toward his continually evolving transcendent goals.

In Chicago in 1968, and in New York in 2004, these are lessons forgotten.

Here's is a clever and gentle protest idea. I wonder if it would be possible to come up with an ambiguous subversive message (since he won't accept pro-Bush messages)? Josh also founded Bluetooth Users Against Bush.

When you are in a crowded area, you can use your bluetooth enabled device to scan for other bluetooth devices. If you find other devices named "Bluetooth Against Bush," then you know other participants are within 20-30 ft. of you!

This event from last week is mildly clever, also peaceful, but ultimately dumb. I wasn't there, does anyone know if anyone actually vomited?

UPDATE: Charles reports that ISM activist Jaggi Singh is part of the anarchist provocateur brigade.

UPDATE: Roger linked to the "Zabar's Left" article - interesting comments, as always.

UPDATE: Next installment here.