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.

[Doctor Raoul]

Yes we did meet. This is one of the few times my memory works. You drove in quite a ways I recall and had just arrived?

That was an interesting day due to the winds.

[dsutah]

And I didn't see any mention of a counter-protest for that rally in D.C.! Typical ol' slanted AP article I guess!

[Doctor Raoul]

There were some DUh members in the march. I saw them.

Walking by on all fours.....

[Doctor Raoul]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what good does protesting do?

We get a counter point into the media reports so that when the general public hears it or reads it or sees it, the other side isn't assumed to speak for America just because they are the only ones out there.

In addition, in talking with the press, we get our case before them and slowly over time, someone reports what should be reported. Like the local FOX report that hit the communist ties to the anti-war march sponsors.

[JulieRNR21]

Could it be that many supporters only attend when there is free bus & free lunch....afterall this is the 'it takes a village' crowd who love 'nanny government'.

Also money they would get is now going into DNC coffers to defeat GWB and therefore weaken the war on terror.

Whatever the reason...good to know that there are less of them; even if the biased media won't admit it.

[AGreatPer]

Excerpt from the Washington Post.

--------------------------------------- "Not all groups out yesterday were against government policies. Rallies coordinated by the D.C. chapter of Free Republic, a national conservative group, served as a vocal counterpoint to the day, as did two small groups of counter-demonstrators who waved signs along Constitution Avenue denouncing the protesters. Tempers were heated, but there were no major incidents.

At a park a block west of the White House, about 50 people voiced support for the administration at a Free Republic rally and held signs saying, "We gave peace a chance, we got 9/11." The group drew jeers and cries of "Shame, shame" as antiwar marchers passed. One of the counter-protesters, Doug Landry of Baton Rouge, La., a 19-year-old junior at George Washington University, held a sign saying, "Go home you commies."

----------------------------------

As you can see, we are getting coverage.

[Freee-dame]

Like the local FOX report that hit the communist ties to the anti-war march sponsors.

Today's Washington Times ran three pictures. The antiwar protesters look like a scruffy group hiding their faces behind bandanas, burning an American flag. One person was wearing a shirt clearly showing the hammer and sickle. Jon Alverez, with us, is carrying a sign saying 'Patriots support Prez Bush. No compromise with evil. God Bless America." Which group do most Americans want to be associated with? The side of liberty must be represented to show that not all Americans are with the antiwar protesters.

[Bob J]

Pod,

Just to let you know I never criticized the DCC for the rally nor did I trivialize what you did. The thread was about the potential for violence and it's downside. My views on that have not changed and are well known to anyone who knows me.

Good work on Sat.!

Bob

[Bob J]

We must be reading different threads. No one criticized or trivialized the DCC rally, the discussion was about the potential and downside of violence when the groups are put in each others faces.

I happen to oppose close contact with ANSWER, from a strategic and liability standpoint.

[Bob J]

I don't know where you're getting your information from about the Leadership Council, but it is incorrect.

The FRN devised a specific curriculum with the LI for a one day seminar on Activism and is available to FRN affiliated chapters and can take advantage of a special pricing policy we set up. We also offer our credit card services to chapters if they need it and arrange payment to the LI.

If that is what you call "having to go through the FRN", oh well.

The LI has a wide variety of other courses, and anyone who wants can take advantage of them. However, most of these are centered around election committees and don't translate well inot what we do.

[Taxman]

Ping

[Bob J]

BTW - Nice filthy and disgusting comment in #168.

[RonDog]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what good does protesting do? - Voice in your head

We get a counter point into the media reports so that when the general public hears it or reads it or sees it, the other side isn't assumed to speak for America just because they are the only ones out there. - Doctor Raoul

Precisely.

See also:

Washington demonstrations for, against war
[UPI plugs Free Republic, DC Chapter Patriot Rally!]
The Washington Times ^ | October 26, 2003 | Dar Haddix and Andrew Moisan [UPI]

Posted on 10/26/2003 9:43 AM PST by RonDog

Washington demonstrations for, against war

By Dar Haddix and Andrew Moisan
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The largest anti-war rally in the nation's capital since President Bush announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq was greeted by an equally boisterous, if not as large numerically, group of the president's policy supporters.

The groups gathered Saturday in generally peaceful protests, with minor confrontations -- such as the throwing of eggs and plastic bottles and verbal exchanges -- marking the short period when the anti-war and pro-Bush groups converged near Pershing Park. Police had established a strong presence ahead of the marches and had installed additional surveillance cameras to track both gatherings.

Antiwar groups expected a turnout of up to 30,000 people, while war supporters expected as many as 1,000 to attend. An exact figure for neither group was available. Antiwar organizers United for Peace and Justice and ANSWER scheduled the protest to coincide with the second anniversary of the Patriot Act.

The Patriot Act was passed shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington in which some 3,000 people died. The measure gave the government additional powers, which it said it needed to stop future attacks. The act's detractors say it represents an infringement on basic rights in the United States.

Kathryn Wood, co-leader of the DC Chapter of the Free Republic, which supports the war, said the group had a counter-rally because "the ANSWER people came to town -- we can't let them be the only voice."

-- snip --

Way to go, Angelwood!

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[tgslTakoma]

Our fight isn't with ANSWER...
...our enemy is the established liberal institutions that propagandize and pollute the minds of good intentioned people.
... we lose because our enemy controls 80% of the means of information dissemination in this country

Bob, if we simply throw up our hands in defeat and say, "Well, the liberals control 80% of the means of information dissemination, so let's not even bother to get out there" - we will most assuredly lose.

A Google News search on "DC Chapter" Free Republic reveals 141 references to news articles across the country and around the world, that mention the DC Chapter of Free Republic's rally and counter-protest:

Arizona Daily Sun, AZ - Beckley Register-Herald, WV - Helena Independent Record, MT - Idaho State Journal, ID - Frankfort Times, IN - The Ledger, FL - Middletown Press, CT - New Britain Herald, CT - New London Day (subscription), CT - NapaNet Daily News, CA - Lorain Morning Journal, OH - Billings Gazette, MT - Albany Times Union, NY - Carlisle Sentinel, PA - Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, FL - Milton Daily Standard, PA - Toronto Star, Canada - Diario Digital Juárez, Mexico - Arizona Republic, AZ - Dunn County News, WI - Topeka Capital Journal, KS - Times Picayune, LA - Rocky Mount Telegram, NC - phillyburbs.com, PA - Fredericksburg.com, VA - Washington Times, DC - NBC5.com, IL - Dayton Daily News, OH - Huntsville Item, TX - Henderson Gleaner, KY - Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA - News Journal, TX - The Porterville Recorder, CA - Munster Times, IN - Rapid City Journal, SD - Santa Maria Times, CA - Guardian, UK - Times Daily, AL - Wilmington Morning Star, NC - Appeal-Democrat, CA - Tuscaloosa News, AL - ABC News - Boston Globe, MA - Huntsville Item, TX - Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Milton Daily Standard, PA - Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - Richmond Times Dispatch, VA - Dunn County News, WI - San Jose Mercury News, CA - WDRB, KY - WIS, SC - Washington Post, DC - Montgomery County Record, PA - Fredericksburg.com, VA - Appeal-Democrat, CA - Munster Times, IN - Rocky Mount Telegram, NC - The Porterville Recorder, CA - News Journal, TX - Rapid City Journal, SD - Santa Maria Times, CA - Guardian, UK - Dayton Daily News, OH - Grand Forks Herald, ND - Duluth News Tribune, MN - Wilkes Barre Weekender, PA - Wichita Eagle, KS - San Francisco Chronicle, CA - Aberdeen American News, SD - Belleville News-Democrat, IL - Macon Telegraph, GA - Centre Daily Times, PA - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - Akron Beacon Journal, OH - Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN - Biloxi Sun Herald, MS - Appeal-Democrat, CA - MSNBC - Salon (subscription) - KFSN, CA - KABC, CA - Montgomery County Record, PA - News 8 Austin, TX - Nzoom.com, New Zealand - CNN - CNN International - WCIV, SC - The Porterville Recorder, CA - Santa Maria Times, CA - Boston Channel.com, MA - KATV, AR - Newsday - KOTV, OK - Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - KFSN, CA - San Diego Union Tribune, CA - Boston Globe, MA - Reuters, UK - The Olympian, WA -

Further, a Google News search on "Kristinn Taylor" reveals 261 references to news articles that quote him as the spokesman for us, regarding the DC Chapter's rally and counter-protest.(Don't worry, everyone. I won't list all those.)

Not bad work, for the "few dozen" of us who attended the rally and/or the counter-protest. I think the point is clear that, if nobody steps up and stands up for our side - the media is not going to come looking for us to report on an opposing view to the "peace" protester.

As it is, a "few dozen"

[tgslTakoma]

Oops...I hiccupped...

As it is, a few dozen people managed to send a message to readers and viewers of "major media" across the country and around the world, that there is support for our troops and our president.

And I salute those who worked on the rally, those who drove long distances to attend, and those who refuse to follow the "failure is pre-ordained" mantra. Salud!

[maica]

Nice post! And Very nice work yesterday!

[Bob J]

You will never get it because you don't want to.

No one that I can read, including me, has criticized the DCC or the rally, in fact you have been praised. The question was whether or not it is responsible to put people in a position of danger with regards to the close proximity of the ANSWER types, and this was more in response to the PW's than you, as it was their people who got shoved around.

Instead of reasoned opposing opinions I get hissy responses on unrelated media issues and filthy comments.

[Bob J]

Tell that to the people with the Kuchinich signs.

I think you misread Dio's comment. She was saying that Congresscritters don't necessarily give much weight to protestors in DC...they see that stuff everyday. They care what the voters back home think. A valid point IMO.

[Arpege92]

This is shocking, just shocking! NOT!!!

[commiewatch]

I notice a Democratic Underground poster has put up a picture of the ANSWER security marshalls locking arms and driving back the Protest Warriors. It's here, third from the top. With regards, Greg / Commiewatch