The Silent March site is publicizing two days of protests against gun violence and in favor of stronger gun-control laws. The group will deposit 40,000 empty shoes at the Liberty Bell on Saturday in memory of the thousands killed each year by guns. Refuse and Resist opposes the death penalty and plans an all-day series of events in Philadelphia on Aug. 1. On the Redirect 2000 site, protesters can download leaflets and fliers in Microsoft Word format suitable for distributing or posting during the convention. An online bulletin board helps match people driving to the protests with people seeking rides.
Some sites are simply vehicles for communicating a message rather than tools for organizing.
And should the mainstream media tell the story of the protests in ways that irk the activists, they have a Web site to report on events dubbed the Independent Media Center. Of course, law enforcement agencies will also be trolling the protest Web sites as they police the city during the convention in an attempt to prevent any flare-ups. Philadelphia's police force, which has a reputation for overreaction, will oversee security outside the convention hall. FBI and Secret Service forces will maintain security inside. More than 45,000 people are expected to descend on the city for the convention.