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.

[JulieRNR21]

"Why are there so many more of them [ANSWER marchers] than on your side?"

"They're better organized and better financed. Also, traditionally, patriots and many on our side are reluctant to demonstrate. Plus, our side's policy is prevailing so many believe that demonstrating is unnecessary."

"It doesn't cause you concern that they have so many?"

"Not much. The American people mostly agree with us, not them. Our side has the White House and Congress. They just have the West Wing TV show."

He smiled when I make the West Wing comment.

---

Great comments! Hope they were played somewhere!

I definitely heard kristinn. I know his voice because I met him in DC during many freeps of Clinton.

[katnip]

Applause! You are all wonderful. Thanks for speaking for me and many other Americans.

[Pyro7480]

Stoned? Probably a meth user if he's rail thin.

I don't know.... you may be righter than you think. Check out this exchange on the PW forum

Montanaman:Not to launch an ad hominem attack or anything, but that red-haired dude was freaky-lookin'. But Johnny P. described him as 'security.' Let me get this straight--the protest 'security' guy was ripping up signs? Is he the alleged pregnant woman pusher, too?

This is starting to be the greatest story never told.

johnnyp16:I stand by my story and can say that I personally witnessed the Red-haired guy ripping up signs (while in the hands of PWs). I call them security as that was their apparent function at the rally, and were treated by police as such.
Additionally, the more pics I get, the more that will get posted, and I will be calling A.N.S.W.E.R. by tomorrow for comment on the story...stand by...developing....

Scott G: I saw it too. I was closer to the stage, but about 30 feet away from the action. You are right, the red-haired guy was freaky looking, and had blood-shot eyes. He did have the vest on, and all of the other security people came to call him off.

I was right behind the red-headed freak when it happened, about 5 feet. He pushed the pregnant lady, tried to take her sign, and then tore a good chunk off of her poster. It was a sight to see...

Here are pics of the punk:

International A.N.S.W.E.R. security person tells counter-protester to leave (She's the pregnant lady) Photo courtesy of Alexis Zoberg

Alan Davidson (Co-Founder, ProtestWarrior.com) argues with International A.N.S.W.E.R. security Photo courtesy of Alexis Zoberg

International A.N.S.W.E.R. security refuses comment Photo courtesy of Alexis Zoberg

[BillF]

I heard DC Chapter member, L Von Mises, on the local news on WTOP, the local all-news station. He made some great comments about supporting our troops.

[dsutah]

Sad but true! But all the counter-protestors did well; and went out for the rest of us who can't be there. Even though much of the media doesn't mention the counter-protesters, or only mentions them briefly; we know you're out there, and doing the best you can!

[Doctor Raoul]

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

Yeah Bob, they're just making up stories about you.

Look, when someone wants to do something and you're leading a VOLUNTEER organization, you wet your lips, pucker up and aim for the butt crack and lay on the the biggest ass kissing you can because a VOLUNTEER to actually do something are few and far between.

You lectured them and talked down to them about it. You made them feel as if they were doing somethimng wrong when they were doing something right.

And don't hide behind the term "Leadership Council" because I'm talking to you and nobody else here.

[Doctor Raoul]

BTW - Nice filthy and disgusting comment in #168.

Watching you stroke yourself with your assertion that "I do more in one week than you do in a month......" I consider that comment to be accurate.

Not all that long ago, during a discussion about costumes, I made a point about unnamed people you frequently cited as complaining about using costumes. My point was, what do they have to offer that is better than that which they want stopped. You and IT attacked me as if I was only interested in the credit for things. You really had to twist my words to do that, so now when you clearly were stroking yourself, I just called you on it.

I'm not one to get in a fight like this. I recommend you take stock of who you have alienated and who's still around. If the "former friend" pile is bigger than the "still a friend" pile, the problem may not be "them".

[Doctor Raoul]

We had a permit for the rally and on their route. Problem arose when PW went into their permitted area with a protest.

That's a fight you lose legally from the start.

[Doctor Raoul]

Spank me too Mistress tgsl, I've been a bad boy too.......

[Doctor Raoul]

I don't think there were even 5,000. It just looked like an awful lot.

This time it took an hour for them to pass and they had lots of gaps and frequently they were half the width of the street, sometimes much less.

[antihippie]

I can say that we at PW had excellent intelligence about what to expect. The pregnant woman was not in the middle of the answer crowd but on the fringes next to the sidewalk with her husband. We had only been there about 5 minutes when we were surrounded and she couldn't get out. Besides her husband was being assaulted at the time and she was trying to help him. Everything is on film and will be available at protestwarrior.com soon. Also I have seen some people saying that our efforts were misguided, I have to disagree. After seeing how we were treated by answer's yellow-vests a few of answer's supporters abandoned their side and came over to us and grabbed a sign. Even more just left in embarrasment, and I couldn't count the number of people who were writing down the website name so they could research it later on their own. I fully believe in what Free Republic stands for but I also believe that sometimes direct action is necessary to get tangible results. When was the last time a protester changed their mind after seeing one of your booths?

[RandallFlagg]

If any of you folks got pics or video (even better) of the assaults, would there be any way you can get them over to FoxNews?

[antihippie]

I have three rolls of stills personally that I have to develope to see what I have and there were many video cameras there. My tape shows me personally being assaulted by two different protesters ( one a yellow-vest ) but my tape went home with the PW founders to be rendered into digital format for posting.

[Bob J]

Yeah Bob, they're just making up stories about you.

I've had exactly one conversation with a chapter about the LI seminar since the last one in Los Angeles. I can document that conversation and it refutes your silly allegations completely. No, I think you're the one lying about this and it's time to put up or shut up.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

However, this was a cosponsorship, any downside will be felt by all.

BobJ,
You seem to think you know an awful lot about what did or did not occur in Washington, DC this last weekend.

I recommend that you got to The FreeRepublic home page to see who were and who were not the cosponsors of the Freedom Rally. I also recommend that you go to the DC Chapter home page and review the chapters rules for protesting. After that, I suggest you confine your comments to your area of expertise and refrain from kibitzing on the DC Chapter's activism which has resulted in a high level of visibility for FreeRepublic around the world.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

LB, the Minute Men from Massachusetts were present and accounted for.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

You need to look at the picture. The PW's were on the edge of the rally. The Park Police separated the two groups and the PW's were escorted accros the street by the LEOs.

[Bob J]

If you and a few others had read this thread you would realize this issue was addressed by Kristinn and I posted the following comment on #121.

"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."

If an apology over a reasonably made error isn't enough for you, fine. But please quit posting comments demanding action as if it hasn't already been addressed and corrected.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

The A.N.S.W.E.R. protests are not for American consumption. Their target audience is overseas. Did you not the number of attacks on Sunday in Iraq. Did you read the articles about the mommies wanting their reservist family members home.

It all about giving aid and comfort; helping the enemy to persevere.

The silent majority surrendered the streets to the commies during Viet Nam; this time by God I will not stand idly by.

[TaxRelief]

DU and ANSWER claimed that you organized without a permit. Sorry. Man, I can't believe that, even for a moment, I fell for their BS.

(Initiating self-flagellation, now.)