As a phalanx of mounted police kept protesters from marching on the Garden, officers on foot swept demonstrators toward the East River, making arrests along the way.

But anarchists, who hoped to provoke New York's Finest into a violent response, were frustrated by a strategy that countered their gathering with overwhelming force.

Protesters refused to identify any one group in whose name the action was staged. No official police permit had been sought for the gathering.

One protester suggested the action was well organized, explaining that 3,000 people had gathered at Union Square earlier in the day and then proceeded to fan out to different locations around the city.

Many seemed confused over why they were there, united only in their opposition to President Bush and their contempt for the GOP.

"I feel like he lied," one woman who declined to identify herself told NewsMax. "He says one thing and then he cancels it the next day. He keeps changing his story."

Another protester told NewsMax she hated the GOP for making New York City a terrorist target. "We've been a target and now we're more of a target," she complained.

Police swung into action as demonstrators attempted to block 36th Street around 7:30 p.m., with several radicals climbing the streetlights.

As protesters were dragged away, the crowd began chanting, "The Whole World's Watching." But several New Yorkers on hand to witness the altercation told NewsMax they overwhelmingly supported the police action.

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