PHOTO GALLERY: March 12, 2014 Rally on Day of NYPL Trustee's Meeting, Plus The ILLUMINATOR Strikes!

Inauspiciously, the weather reports were for rain, a lot of it, right at the time the rally was to take place. . . .

Tweeted: Michael D. D. White- @WhiteMdd- This panoply of protesters was the scene NYPL trustees saw if they didn't slip out the back Wednesday evening. pic.twitter.com/AmGpCM4o44 Facebook. (click on highlighted links to share on social media)

 . . . .  It was the Tuesday after the City Hall budget hearing about libraries where we mobilized people to testify in opposition to the sale and shrinkage of New York City libraries, their deliberate underfunding of the diversion of library funds into real estate boondoggles, the same Tuesday sme of us went up to Albany to talk to legislators about the sell off of libraries and other public assets and the relationship of that to campaign finance reform.

The good news was that we’d done a good job of getting the attention of the press with media advisories and there were stories that the rally outside the NYPL’s trustees meeting was going to take place rain or shine:

•    New York Times: New York Today- New York Today: Let It Rain, March 12, 2014, by Annie Correal

•    ArtFCity: Tomorrow There's a Big Rally to Save the Libraries (Rain or Shine), by Whitney Kimball on March 11, 2014

•    Curbed: Rally to Save NY Public Library; Land For Sale in Bushwick, Tuesday, March 11, 2014, by Zoe Rosenberg

•    Daily News: 'Save Our Stacks!' Activists to protest proposed New York Public Library renovation, March 12, 2014. (Comments possible), BY Beth Stebner

The Daily New article was probably the most fun because, accompanied by a visual “courtesy of the Library Lovers League (identified below), was the first article to inform that “The Illuminator” had struck the night before:

Library Lovers League blasted several images on the landmarked Fifth Ave. Stephen A. Schwarzman building, blaring out messages like, "Save Our Stacks!" "Not For Sale," and another imploring Mayor Bill de Blasio to help save the public library.

For those who didn’t make it to slog out with us in the rain, and for those of us who did and want to reminisce here is a gallery of event photos.  Links are provided to where these photos were "tweeted" or on Facebook should you want to share them that way.  (You can also share this entire page.)

Tweeted: Michael D. D. White- @WhiteMdd- A soggy day in Gotham Town, but the age of miracles hadn't passed- We had a crowd and Bill DB too! pic.twitter.com/P4IijtMMMx Facebook.

Tweeted: Defending Libraries- @DefendLibraries- Bill de Blasio a rainy day (not fair weather) friend, at our protest yesterday against library sales and plunder. pic.twitter.com/cRcXtgVqdM Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  THE RIGHT TO YOUR LIBRARIES! http://saveNYPL.org/email-the-mayor  #NYC @midmanhattanlib @nypl pic.twitter.com/8xH6n0wccZ Facebook.

Tweeted: Michael D. D. White- @WhiteMdd-  Don't sell, shrink, underfund our libraries. Bring back the books and librarians!  Facebook.

Tweeted: Defending Libraries- @DefendLibraries- 42nd St: Bill de Blasio AGAIN joins protest on steps against library sales, shrinkages, underfunding, book banishment pic.twitter.com/nScpFFwFFr Facebook.

Tweeted: Michael D. D. White- @WhiteMdd-  Toss out the library trustees and administrators who shrink libraries while saying that that are "expanding" them. Facebook.

This is the picture of "The Illuminator's" work that the Daily News featured in its coverage in advance of the rally.
Tweeted: The Illuminator strikes to save the libraries!!!!! Save NYC's libraries from sale, shrinkage and underfunding! Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  SAVE NYPL FROM DEAL-DRUNK TRUSTEES #saveNYPL #SaveOurStacks JOIN US: https://www.facebook.com/notes/library-lovers-league/weds-312-5pm-rally-outside-nypl-trustees-meeting-150-million-in-city-money-at-st/811697052177576 … #nyc pic.twitter.com/HVGCAqNJI9 Facebook.

Tweeted: Defending Libraries- @DefendLibraries- S. Schwarzman, largest realty invest firm head w/ brolly carrier aft NYPL trustee meet: He picks new trustees. Yikes! pic.twitter.com/wiaxmYy1D0 Facebook.

Tweeted: Michael D. D. White- @WhiteMdd-  Real estate mogul talk after NYPL trustee meeting? S. Schwarzman (picking trustees) & Marshall Rose push the DEALS. pic.twitter.com/rGE1TR8Yoa Facebook.

Tweeted: The Illuminator strikes to save the libraries!!!!! Save NYC's libraries from sale, shrinkage and underfunding! Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  NOT4SALE @midmanhattanlib @Gothamist On the eve of the NYPL Trustee meeting w @illuminator99 pic.twitter.com/K3AjesHd0z pic.twitter.com/raVXCpqKBL Facebook.

Tweeted: Edward Champion ?@drmabuse Mar 12- "Bring back the books! Bring back the books!" #savenypl rally pic.twitter.com/7Vlkndkv2b.  Facebook.

Tweeted: Mayor de Blasio! Stand with us! NYC's world-class research library is at stake @deBlasioNYC http://saveNYPL.org/email-the-mayor  pic.twitter.com/SQve0oSIEd  Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Inspired by @illuminator99 THIS woman made a sign & showed UP! Rally in the pouring rain! http://saveNYPL.org/email-the-mayor  pic.twitter.com/YORjgXo3Kz Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Chill n rain n crowd gathers while trustees dither inside... #dealdrunktrustees #SAVEOURSTACKS http://saveNYPL.org/email-the-mayor  pic.twitter.com/8wtToDJ8C7 Facebook.

Tweeted: Edward Champion- @drmabuse- De blasio here in cardboard form. pic.twitter.com/ZthEGLr9hB Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Pretty big crowd in a rainy afternoon... Join us? http://saveNYPL.org/email-the-mayor  #dealdrunktrustees #weseegreed pic.twitter.com/aeJdbkelpC Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  The Right To Your Libraries. #unGoogleable @NYPL http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … @NYCCouncil @NYCMayorsOffice pic.twitter.com/C8vuQ33pZI Facebook

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Who's Using Your Money To Destroy Your Books? #NYPL #unGoogleable http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ . @NYCCouncil @NYCMayorsOffice pic.twitter.com/0t7xrchTni Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  "It's not philanthropy, it's a hostile takeover." #realestateshenanigans @NYPL http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … @NYCCouncil pic.twitter.com/YdwOnLnUHF Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Who Owns Our Books? #unGoogleable #books #realestateshenanigans #NYPL http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … pic.twitter.com/PCupL7hxkH Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  We Should Not Settle For This. Really. @NYCCouncil @NYCMayorsOffice #unGoogleable @NYPL http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ . pic.twitter.com/skXJ9otfyc Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  The Right To Your Libraries. #unGoogleable @NYPL http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ . pic.twitter.com/Jn1DyAIKOA Facebook.

Unveiled at the rally: Simon Verity's NEW BOOK!
Tweeted: Simon Verity's illustrated fable skewering NYPL available Crawford Doyle & Rizzoli, ebook 2: http://tinyurl.com/o78x9ln  pic.twitter.com/5vz6Mf9vvK Facebook.

Simon Verity was on hand equipped to sell his book

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Don't Gut 42nd St Stacks; Support Local Branch Libraries! @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCCouncil http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … pic.twitter.com/r6mHu2RgKp Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Don't Gut Our Libraries. #unGoogleable http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … pic.twitter.com/NmhZLImabm Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Support Our Local Branch Libraries! #unGoogleable #realestateshenanigans @NYPL http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … pic.twitter.com/kSayckmn69 Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  The Right To Literacy. Let's see Universal pre-K in our branch libraries! @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCCouncil @UFT #NYC pic.twitter.com/e7fBca9r4s Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  We have to wonder if the NYPL Trustees finished up early today to avoid us #justsayin #shameonthem pic.twitter.com/5feDhvWr1e Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  THE RIGHT TO THE COMMON GOOD! http://www.savenypl.org/email-the-mayor/ … @GREEDKILLS pic.twitter.com/ucKcmt0Swq Facebook.

Tweeted: Lisa Guido- @lisaguido- The Mayor joined us in spirit. Or cardboard. Have you sent him an email? http://saveNYPL.org/email-the-mayor  #NYC #nypl #libraries pic.twitter.com/AoSE5agvCM Facebook.

Tweeted: saveNYPL-  @saveNYPL- A BIG THANK YOU! To all our supporters who braved yesterday's downpour to rally to @NYPL's defense! photo:@drmabuse pic.twitter.com/VPzL6Fu5FD Facebook

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Via @NYTMetro: NYC today: Rainy, library advocates to rally 5pm @NYPL, http://nyti.ms/1g8ibbd  http://bit.ly/1cQ4TFJ  pic.twitter.com/oTKZHpWVxD Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  Heyyyy Rally to save NYPL WEDS 5PM http://www.artfcity.com/2014/03/11/tomorrow-theres-a-big-rally-to-save-the-libraries-rain-or-shine … http://on.fb.me/1oEXl8y  "Libraries not land grabs" @artfcity pic.twitter.com/OJR7uLRcfk
 Facebook.

 Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  #SAVEOURSTACKS #SaveNYPL Email @deBlasioNYC NO CITY $$$ FOR "CENTRAL PLAN" more info: https://www.facebook.com/notes/library-lovers-league/weds-312-5pm-rally-outside-nypl-trustees-meeting-150-million-in-city-money-at-st/811697052177576 … pic.twitter.com/GX6j1LlNr2 Facebook.

Tweeted: LibraryLoversLeague-  @LibraryLoversNY-  BAT SIGNAL OVER GOTHAM! @Gothamist @deBlasioNYC #SAVEOURSTACKS On the eve of the NYPL Trustee meeting @illuminator99 pic.twitter.com/K3AjesHd0z Facebook.

Tweeted: saveNYPL- @saveNYPL- MT: @GraysonEarle THE @MidManhattanLib IS NOT FOR SALE! Save the #NYPL Join us: http://www.savenypl.org/rally-at-the-42nd-street-library-wednesday-march-12-and-city-council-hearing-march-11 . @illuminator99 pic.twitter.com/AKXtpoE8eh Facebook.

Here is a “Reluctant Habits” (tweeted) write-up of the rally with some really fun embedded audios you can click to listen to, including some singing by the “The Raging Grannies”: Save NYPL: How an Organized Movement to Stop the Destruction of Libraries is Being Ignored by Mayor de Blasio,  by Edward Champion. . . .

. . .  I am not sure the title of the article correctly conveys the situation.  I think that Mayor de Blasio is paying attention to those of us opposing the destruction of libraries.  When he last stood with us on the steps of the 42nd Street Central Reference Library he called for a halt to the sales.  The day before the rally he said that he stand was the same as before.  The news is good so long as the mayor's spine stays stiff.