Posted on 06/06/2004 10:15:35 PM PDT by SeenTheLight
The fringe left was out in all its glory in San Francisco on Saturday (6/5), marking the anniversary of Israel's 1967 war. International A.N.S.W.E.R. organizers also managed to lump Iraq into the equation, with the blanket statement, ''End All Occupations!'' And just to cover their bases, the banner above the stage read, ''U.S. Troops Out of Everwhere!'' The banner also called for the U.S. to ''End the Torture'' and of course, there were many references to Abu Ghraib throughout the day. But all in all, it was a pitiful display and the best they could turn out was 4000-5000 people. Presumably the numbers will be exaggerated.
The usual speakers blamed the problems of Cuba, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Okinowa, and the Philippines, on the United States, while the rest railed on Israel and the plight of the poor Palestinians. There were repeated calls to ''change the system'' by speakers espousing communism and invoking the evils of capitalism.
Anti-Kerry sentiment was high, with the most common complaint being that he and President Bush are both ''war mongers.'' No doubt the Nader campaign should be thrilled, and Republicans can look forward to four more years in the White House if the left continues to abandon Kerry.
The large and lively group of counter-protesters, made up of members of ProtestWarrior.com and SF Voice For Israel, were waiting when the main crowd of marchers arrived at Justin Herman Plaza. The SFPD set up a row of police officers and motorcycles between the two sides.
As always, it was the ''peaceniks'' who were the most violent, screaming and shaking their fists at the counter-protesters. In the forefront were several Arab-Americans, wearing keffiyehs and leading the crowd in Hamas-style chanting. Hippie kids yelled, ''Free Palestine!'' while others chanted, ''Viva, Viva, Palestina!'' as if they were at a rock concert. A sign that said, ''Smash the Jewish State'' pretty much summed up the crowd’s attitude towards Israel. For good measure, an Arab woman spat on a Jew wearing a yarmulke.
The Protest Warriors, wearing T-shirts that said, among other things, ''I Heart Halliburton'' and chanting ''Four More Years!'' did their best to irritate the leftists. Judging from the red faces and the shaking fists across the walkway, it was an unqualified success.
At around 500, this was the largest turnout of counter-protesters in San Francisco. It is interesting that their ranks have risen as the left’s have declined. Now their rallies are attended by only the most fringe groups.
Setting the bar as low as possible seemed to be the order of the day, and late in the afternoon one of the A.N.S.W.E.R. speakers informed the crowd that he had ''good news'' to share. His gleeful announcement that Ronald Reagan had died brought a round of cheers from the crowd. In fact, this news got the biggest response in what was a rather lacklustre, dispirited affair. Perhaps even in San Francisco, the tide is turning.
My two cents on Saturday's counter-protest...
SeenTheLight
SeenTheLight's Mom
Rogue Yam
AmericanPreservative
bgcountry187
Anyone I missed?
But you guys have fun :-)
Luv y'all :-)
Keep up the good work
Thank you for braving the unknown (you deserve more medals than Kerry). 500 conservatives getting rowdy in San Fran is huge news indeed, especially knowing how they're outnumbered!
That John Kerry isn't communist enough for their sorry butts reinforces Lex Luthor's idea of buying up desert tracts before blasting the fault line.
This guy here...
Was all upset about Abu Ghraib.
I asked him if what happened to the Iraqi Terrorists in jail in Iraq was worse than sawing off the head of an innocent civilian. He said yes.
That is why I cropped the photo to show that Terrorist is what he supports, and therefore is.
The US economy is good and the "bloodbath" failed to materialize in Iraq. So I guess the democrats were all at their therapists being treated for depression.
Yep. They hoped for a bloodbath and they got was a panty bath.
She is an army of one
She is an army of one
I couldn't make the rally as I was getting equipment ready for Bio 2004.
I was at Moscone Sunday, saw a protest. About a dozen or so waving Palistinian flags.
A whole dozen or so, I would have been too embarased to join such a small protest.
Anyone going to Bio2004? See me at booth 5601 mornings...
Thanks for the post and thanks for confronting the leftists.
Their numbers are dwindling here on the east coast. The weather was dreary with rain off and on during their rally and march to Rummy's house on Saturday. An estimate of 500 from ANSWER is really a pathetic number of protesters in DC compared to the crowds during the lead-up to the war in Iraq. With each successive event, the number of people showing up goes down and the type of protesters in the crowd seem to be made up of further left fringe groups.
Kudos to the counter-protesters in San Francisco last Saturday.
"A whole dozen or so, I would have been too embarased to join such a small protest."
No you wouldn't, Nully! :-)
I've seen you at some of our small ones!
The counter protesters are brave people. I watched some of the videos that ProtestWarrior.com had posted on their website. The leftist goons lack all manners and at times were shoving and even hitting the counter protesters. Of course you'll never see video like that on the alphabet networks. They carefully edit out any violence committed by left wing protestors or even fail to point their cameras at it in the first place.
For your reading enjoyment - Ping!
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