police were everywhere: in front of the new york public library, blockading most of bryant park, they were escorting RNC delegates through crowds and designating streets solely for delegate shuttles to MSG. police were in low-flying helicopters and on surrounding rooftops. in front of Macy's in Herald Square (last 3 photos above), where Chris Matthews' MSNBC show Hardball was on-air, mounted police lined up horses between the show and the demonstrators' view. they also slowly cordoned off the sidewalks to block-in onlookers and protesters alike (including two photobloggers who got a tip from a guy in green-hat that they would be detaining us all within minutes.)

a subcultural side-effects of all this, two groups were in action to watchdog police tactics and protect demonstrators all night: both NYCLU monitors and National Lawyers Guild Legal Observers were out on the streets in blue and green hats. the NYCLU monitors were taping the police formations, tactics, and interactions with citizens. the National Lawyers Guild Legal Observers were more hands on, shouting to the arrested to get names and numbers, video taping their faces for reference and offering the advice to remain silent in police custody. both of these guardian groups were everywhere, too. more about the LOs and NYCLU monitors here: Lawyers Helping Protesters Learn Rights (abcnews.com), and here at monkey.org/~ethan/, a volunteer.

additional photoblogger street coverage at gothamist's link round-up: photoblogger infiltration (day 2) and photoblogger anarchy! (day 3).