They also vow to fill Broad Street, the main thoroughfare between the convention hotels and the convention hall, with thousands of marching poor people. A number of demonstrators are seeking volunteer jobs at the Republican convention to provide intelligence to protesters outside, according to a demonstrator who already has been offered such a position. Law enforcement agencies have been bracing for R2D2K for many months. The Philadelphia police sent officers to study the demonstrators' tactics during the protests in the District. Federal agencies including the FBI and Secret Service have been gathering intelligence and coordinating tactics.
Organizers accuse law enforcement of overly aggressive surveillance.
Reporters in Philadelphia spotted two men who refused to identify themselves photographing protesters gathering for a meeting. Protesters said the men had been taking pictures for weeks. It's really frightening because it's clearly meant to intimidate, and that shouldn't be the role of the police or any government agency. At a recent Unity 2000 news conference, according to Morrill, men with video cameras said they were with the FBI and the Secret Service. Spokesmen for those agencies declined to comment.