NEW YORK - In case their discontent isn't already clear, protesters are spelling it out. "Stop Bush Now" signs and other anti-GOP messages are appearing throughout the city well before delegates arrive for the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday.

A 25-by-75-foot banner that reads 'Save America Defeat Bush,' dwarfs pedestrians and vehicles where it hangs five blocks from Republican convention headquarters at New York's Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. The sign hangs from the offices of the Unite Here union, which represents 440,000 workers from various industries, including hospitality, gaming and textiles. In case their intention isn't already clear, hroughout the city, activists are plastering not-so-subtle signs, like 'Stop Bush Now,' to greet Republicans swooping into town for the convention, even before their airplanes even touch the ground. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Bright blue tarps, painted with glaring yellow letters, are going up on dozens of rooftops in Brooklyn, under the flight paths into busy New York airports. Thousands of delegates and convention guests peering down at the city might see messages like "No more years" and "Re-defeat Bush."

"We just hope that they'll look down and ask themselves, 'Why, why do they feel so strongly? Why is it that New York feels this way?'" said Genevieve Christy, who has painted more than 80 banners since thinking of the idea a few weeks ago.

The movement is so popular in her neighborhood that Christy, a 57-year-old consultant, is putting orders on a waiting list. She even brought supplies with her on vacation so she could keep working.

The banners and signs, Christy said, are a form of safe, silent protest that many New Yorkers prefer over the dozens of rallies planned throughout the week of the convention.

Five blocks from convention headquarters at Madison Square Garden, where President Bush is to be nominated Sept. 2, a 25-by-75-foot banner screams "Save America. Defeat Bush."

The sign hangs from the offices of the Unite Here union, which represents 440,000 workers from various industries, including hospitality, gaming and textiles.

It's not just the views from above that are being used. For months, protest groups have been slapping stickers and posters on subway platforms, train cars, traffic signs, park benches, light poles and anywhere else they can find space.

In case their discontent isn't already clear, throughout the city, activists are plastering not-so-subtle signs, like 'World Says No To Bush,' to greet Republicans swooping into town for the convention, even before their airplanes even touch the ground. Here, Lawrence Block, an employee of Brookllyn Industries in SoHo,tapes a sign to the store's window, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

GOP convention spokesman Leonardo Alcivar did not return calls for comment.

One group, called the No RNC Poster Project, has printed tens of thousands of posters to distribute throughout the city. Other groups have created Web sites advocating their poster movements.

"Let no Republican look anywhere in this city without seeing our message," says one site, promoting an image of a black "W" inside a red circle with a slash through it. "Let's make the entire city our canvas and let the RNC know that they've grossly miscalculated their choice of venue."

Thomas Gallagher, a 35-year-old graphic artist, printed 3,000 fire-engine-red posters with white letters that proclaim, "World Says No to Bush." Hundreds have gone up in parts of Brooklyn and Queens and throughout Manhattan.

"The Republicans have made a huge mistake in coming here, so the idea of the signs was to get these up all over the place so you create a buzz ... that New York is not with them and does not support this candidate at all," Gallagher said.

Norman Isaacs, who owns a record store on Cooper Square in the East Village, was eager to send that message to Republicans who might wander by.

"Hopefully," Isaacs said, "they'll get the impression that not all of America is with them."

© Copyright 2004 Associated Press

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