When I was in Bethel back in the late 70's there was a protest outside bethel by a large group of Hasidic Jews.
They were marching around in full garb (black hats, long black coats, long curled forelocks) marching back and forth on the sidewalk, on the Brooklyn Bridge and even up on the freeway overpass, carrying down with watchtower signs down. It was quite a sight to see from the factory windows. I'm sure it wasn't the first time it happened but in the past, events like that, never reached the congregation level. As far as the average JW was concerned, everyone in New York loved the watchtower and was thrilled to have them in the city.