NEW YORK: Diaz Hate Rally Update

I just called the Bronx Borough Hall to ask about a location for counter-protesters to gather during Sen. Ruben Diaz' hate rally this weekend. As some of you may know, the Bronx borough president is Diaz' son of the same name, Ruben Diaz Jr. The younger Diaz has said that he will not be attending his father's hate rally as it coincides with the annual Bronx Week celebrations that will take place across the borough.

The young woman answering the phone at Borough Hall got a bit flustered with me and claimed that her office had nothing to do with the rally and that she had no information about police protection or counter-protesting areas. (This, despite the fact that tens of thousands of evangelical Christians are expected to descend on the area in just four days.) She then directed me to call Sen. Diaz himself, which I did.

According to a flack at the elder Diaz' office, a counter-protesting area will be set up outside the Bronx County Courthouse at 161st Street and Grand Concourse. If you are coming from Manhattan, that's the 161st Street stop on the 4 train (also the stop for Yankee Stadium.) The march starts at noon on Sunday at 149th Street and Third Avenue and will presumably reach the Courthouse within thirty minutes. I'll post more on any counter-protesting efforts as I get the information.