Protest Security Personnel/ Counter-Protesters Clash in Washington

JohnnyPNews.com ^ | 10/25/2003 | by John S. Pappas

[Jen]

Washington D.C. - 10/25/03

Counter-protesters were harassed, threatened, and some assaulted by security personnel of the anti-Iraq Occupation rally (International A.N.S.W.E.R.) before police appeared and relocated the counter-protesters in Washington D.C. today. No arrests were reported, but there was one unconfirmed report of a pregnant female counter-protester being injured in the fracas.

The counter-protesters, consisting of members of the web-based ProtestWarrior.com and FreeRepublic.com, arrived at the protest at approximately 1:30PM carry pro-America signs and positioned themselves just north of the stage area on Constitution Avenue, N.W. They had no permit to organize as a group.

The counter-protesters stood quietly holding their signs aloft. The signs, attempts at humor, had slogans such as; "Communism has only killed 100-million people, let's give it another chance, " and "Screw the Kurds, No war in Iraq."

Within 10 minutes of their arrival, security members from International A.N.S.W.E.R., organizers of today's Anti-U.S. policy protest, appeared and began to cordon-off the area occupied by the counter-protesters using yellow tape.

Within moments, members of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. security team began grabbing and destroying the counter-protester's signs, and aggressively shoving counter-protesters. A Johnny P News reporter was assaulted while trying to capture the event on camera. The reporter was struck in the head and his camera knocked to the ground and then kicked by a man standing with the International A.N.S.W.E.R. security personnel. The assailant refused to give his name or answer any questions.

All of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. personnel at the scene refused comment.

Police soon appeared and insisted all of the counter-protesters leave the immediate area.

Members of the counter-protest group began saying that a woman 5-months pregnant with the counter-protesters was injured in the scuffle. Police at the scene however, would not allow access to the area where she was reportedly receiving treatment.

Approximately 60 counter-protesters were on hand during the altercation. U.S. Park Police unofficially estimated the protesters attendance at 50,000.

[kristinn]

Protest Warrior was never mentioned as a co-sponsor of today's rally and counter-demonstration--nor were they. They had their own thing going. Get your facts straight.

As for "pushing and shoving", we've been doing this for FIVE YEARS covering HUNDREDS of protests, counter-demonstrations along with several formal rallies. NONE HAS BEEN HURT. NO PUNCHES THROWN at us or by us that I can recall. We have a good deal of experience and know how things work here.

My comment about sitting on the sidelines was directed at you. So spare me the rest of your petty innuendo.

[Bob J]

In my opinion, right now all our battles should start with the media. When we stage rallies, it's success should be determined by how successful we were in getting our message into the media.

Take the Rally for America for example. We escewed a large national event and instead concentrated on having hundreds of rallies in towns all across the country. The major media ignored us but we did well with the local media and people watch the local news as well as Dan Rather.

Second, we had a tremendous opportunity to make impressions on the people driving by. I believe there was over 200 events during March (not all these were FReeper originated). How many people saw that message at each one? 5000? Using that figure we had the opportunity to influence over 1,000,000 people. Coupled with the people attending and good local coverage and that number probably goes up by a factor of ten or twenty.

I think this propgram was well planned and executed and obtained the goals and results that were intended.

[Little Bill]

We fiddle with these bungholes like ANSWER while conservatism burns around us.

ANSWER is only back ground noise and a good training ground for those of us that hae been politically active for awile. For those young people among us ANSWER is irrelivent, ANSWER hates America and most young people dislike ANSWER.

People my sons age are fiscally conservitive, think that the cuetip bribe, Socalist Security, is BS, they ain't going to get any. Many are the products of broken homes and the present realtionship between men and women is BS and are searching for stable relationships, the times they are a changing, rat scum.

[EternalVigilance]

So what can FReepers do to help you in your crusade to affect the media?

[Doc On The Bay]

SO, OK, I "Get the Hint!!"

So you all come Here when the weather is Decent, so we can ALL "Get IT Together" Next Spring!!

OK.

We NEED a place to Congregate as a Group; I'm Not able to join You for many of your Activities. But I can Offer You a Place to gather & "Plot a Little Treason;" SO BE IT!!

Find a Date we can All congregate, & Our House is Yours!!

Honest!

We would be HONORED to host FR this Spring--Whenever!!

Start Plotting Your Worst--We can Handle It!!

Doc

[EternalVigilance]

I think this propgram was well planned and executed and obtained the goals and results that were intended.

As do I. As you know, I did my part.

I think the DC FReepers did a great job today, too.

[FreedomPoster]

<*golf clap*>

Well put.

[EternalVigilance]

It is the young people that give me hope. We need to recapture some of their fervor ourselves.

The ones I saw today that marched with PW are simply fantastic. You should have seen them.

[Bob J]

Much of my current effort is being put into RadioFR, which will be transformed into a national program early next year. The short term goal is to provide a conservative alternative to NPR and eventually...hmmm.

My suggestion would be to work with the CCRM, johnaly44's PAABAH, the MRC or AIM. The problem is there are plenty of organizations working the media bias issue, but they don't work together enough and their efforts are scattered.

Ideally, these orgs could work as the clearinghouse for a larger coalition of united conservative orgs and members whe on national efforts to influence media hiring and reporting, etc.

[Bob J]

BTW - I'd be honored to attend one of your events!

[Bob J]

I think so to and thanks for putting on the rally in Iowa!

BTW - I'm not trying to disparage the DCC efforts. I have concerns about the violence issue and think sometimes events and programs don't establish measureable goals to know if they are successful or not. If you don't know what success looks like, how will we know if we have succeeded?

[Little Bill]

Bob:

In my experience as a life long Conservitive Republican, we don't hate enough, to quote my Grandfather, 1886-1959, "The Democratic Party destroyed this Country..Billy".

[EternalVigilance]

At least the enemy met a challenge.

[kristinn]

We were successful today. I know we were, because I have seen The D.C. Chapter of Free Republic succeed over and over again.

Hi, how ya doin'?

[Bob J]

Ease up there a little Tex. I saw a couple references to the PW March here on FR and their website had the same location and time as your event. Seems like a reasonable conclusion and if I was wrong, I apologize.

As far as the violence issue, a post was put up (I think your posting to it) that indicated people were hurt at your event today. Once again, subsequent discussion on the issue would not seem unreasonable either. It was made clear several times the DCC has a good record handling this issue so I don't know why your getting defensive about it.

My comment about sitting on the sidelines was directed at you.

Might as well be to everyone. I do more in one week than you do in a month but if I don't attend your event, I'm sitting on the sidelines. Way to go Warlord.

[Bob J]

Ha! Hey, I got lot's of hate. I do try, however, to channel it into productive areas...heheh.

Captain Kirk - I need my hate! It defines me and gives me purpose!...or something like that.

[Bob J]

Tom, I don't want to get into a discussion about whether the event today was successful or not, how would I know? I wasn't there when they set their goals and yardstick by which they would estimate their success at achieving them.

For all I know the only goal was to counter the ANSWER crowd and get in their face. If that was it, they succeeded and I congratulate them!

[tgslTakoma]

Hey Kristinn and Angelwood!

Take a look at this.

We done damn good work today!

Thanks to those who donated for the rally, and those who came from near and far to stand proudly with us.

The manly men holding the MOAB (mother of all banners) in the AP photo are (l. to r.) L VonMises, GunsareOK and Doctor Raoul.

[EternalVigilance]

...how would I know? I wasn't there...

[EternalVigilance]

...they succeeded and I congratulate them!

Good!