On August 31, 2004, during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, around 1,200 anti-RNC protesters were arrested and sent to a makeshift detention/processing center at Pier 57. Over 1,800 were arrested during the entire event.

Medical activists reportedly treated many people held at Pier 57 for chemical burns, rashes, and infections that resulted from direct, prolonged exposure to the motor oil, asbestos, and other contaminants. The Pier 57 NYPD Officer Medical Reports, which were filed with the NYPD's own medical division by 40 of the NYPD's own officers shows that they were exposed to various harmful substances - including "asbestos, carbon monoxide, unidentified fumes, and an unidentified black liquid" - while assigned to Pier 57 during the convention.

The building had previously been used as an active bus garage until the New York City Transit Authority vacated the space in 2003, and thus explains the health issues of those who were held there. Pier 57 was condemned by the city of New York and was closed down until the NYPD decided to use it as detainment facility.

More information can be found here:

NYCLU Releases RNC Documents NYC Tried to Conceal
http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/republicannationalconvention/29249prs20070321.html

Operation Overlord II: NYPD Planned RNC Arrests
http://www.nysun.com/article/47754


Please, check out more information about this on your own before this happens to you.


(Below is a picture taken with a cell phone from
inside the "detention center")