The New York Observer

Photos From NYC’s Pussy Riot Protest March

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By Jessi Rucker 8/17/12 5:29pm

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“Let our sisters go! Let our sisters go!” about 25 protestors in support of Pussy Riot chanted as they walked east on 91st st. toward the Russian Consulate on the east side of Central Park this morning at 10 a.m.

The Observer was waiting on the otherwise peaceful Upper East Side block as approximately 25 people cloaked in colorful masks and capes marched to the front of the consulate after the announcement of a guilty verdict and 2-year prison sentence being dealt to the feminist rock band. We witnessed the protestors’ songs and arrests at the consulate (six in total, a number confirmed by an NYPD spokesperson), their peaceful march down Madison Avenue and their closing rally in Times Square. See it all in the slideshow.

Correction: An earlier version of this slideshow said that protestor Ann Pettibone was arrested; she was not. The Observer regrets the error.
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Pussy Riot Protest

“This is just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to people being thrown in jail for speaking their mind against government and patriarchy,” Jill Soller, 30, an artist (left).
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Pussy Riot Protest

“How's my mask look?” Ann Pettibone, 63, an ESL teacher asked us.
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Pussy Riot Protest

The first protester to be arrested outside the Russian Consulate.
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Pussy Riot Protest

Unmasked, he was able to flash us a quick smile before being taken to the precinct.
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Pussy Riot Protest

Ellina Graypul was one of the few to refuse to move off the sidewalk and only strummed her guitar harder. Here she plays her original song, “We are the Birds,” in Russian.
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Pussy Riot Protest

The NYPD gave repeated warnings as they directed people: “Across the street! Off the street! Off the sidewalk!”
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Pussy Riot Protest

Despite a language barrier, 66-year old Natalia Mironov was able to tell us that her favorite member of Pussy Riot was Maria.
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Pussy Riot Protest

Two more women were arrested after Ms. Pettibone. The woman in pink looks like she's channeling Nadezhda.
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Pussy Riot Protest

The cops are pumped and ready. The protesters are updating their Facebook status.
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Pussy Riot Protest

The police shut down the entire block about the Russian Consulate.
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Pussy Riot Protest

Once things started moving down Madison Avenue, the crowd grew to around 40 and ranged in ages from 6 months to 62 years.
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Pussy Riot Protest

Ms. Mirinov and others led the caravan to their final stop at 46th and Broadway.
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Pussy Riot Protest

Masha Gessen's kids show their no wimps as they still hold their signs high after walking 45 blocks on the hot pavement.
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Pussy Riot Protest

After the sweaty and tired supporters amassed on the steps for one last song, they scattered. Our guess is they went to pick up a $2 Times Square Poland Spring. Where's the protest for that?