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.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

When was the last time a protester changed their mind after seeing one of your booths?

I guess you're the Todd Beamer type.

LET'S ROLL!

[Jen]

I think you PWs and DC FReepers all did a great job. You get no complaints from me. I'm amazed that you were able to talk some sense into the heads of some of those lefties and even had some join you. Incredible! Keep it up FRiends!

[Jen]

Great job DC FReepers!

[antihippie]

If you look at the pictures that have already been posted all over the web you can see quite a few people without our white t-shirts on but standing with us. Some of them maybe 2-3 were defectors but a lot were tourists that saw what was going on and stopped to help. Best of all after we finally left the Washington monument we stood on the mall just talking for about an hour, during this time we ran into a few groups of 10-15 high school students from the National Youth Leadership Council. I have never seen anyone get as excited as they did when they saw us. Over and over we heard from them that they are the only conservatives in their schools and about the verbal and mental abuse they recieve from other students and teachers. To illustrate the difference I hope we made it has been posted that we have gained 52 new members in the last 36 hours. Those are people that saw our message and realized they are not alone. Us PW's and you FReepers may have been in a smaller group but we weren't given a free ride and in some cases "bus scholarships". We all came in our own cars at our own expense. Even our signs and t-shirts were bought and made with our private donations. I personally drove 10 hours from Michigan to be ther and I was nearly the farthest away, we had people from Texas and Florida who got themselves there also. I think this shows a commitment among PW and FR that the left just doesn't have.

[bvw]

I was referring to Bob J's comment about being willing to wade in, if such occassion arose. Not to what happened Saturday.

[tgslTakoma]

This bears repeating - loudly

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

Mama Valentine raised all her boys right!
:-)

[Jen]

Antihippie, you have restored my hope for the future of our country.

PING to some FRiends!!! Sharing some of post 284. The group he's referring to is Protest Warrior, which participated in the counter-protest Oct. 25 along with DC Freepers.

NOTE: you have NOT been added to any ping list. This is a one-time notification of a great post I think you'd like to read.

---

Best of all after we finally left the Washington monument we stood on the mall just talking for about an hour, during this time we ran into a few groups of 10-15 high school students from the National Youth Leadership Council. I have never seen anyone get as excited as they did when they saw us. Over and over we heard from them that they are the only conservatives in their schools and about the verbal and mental abuse they recieve from other students and teachers.

To illustrate the difference I hope we made it has been posted that we (www.protestwarrior.com) have gained 52 new members in the last 36 hours. Those are people that saw our message and realized they are not alone.

Us PW's and you FReepers may have been in a smaller group but we weren't given a free ride and in some cases "bus scholarships". We all came in our own cars at our own expense. Even our signs and t-shirts were bought and made with our private donations. I personally drove 10 hours from Michigan to be ther and I was nearly the farthest away, we had people from Texas and Florida who got themselves there also.

I think this shows a commitment among PW and FR that the left just doesn't have.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping Jen. Great job antihippie.

[JustAmy]

Reading about these young people, makes me feel our country is in good hands. Thank you, antihippie, for standing up for your beliefs.

Thank you, Jen, for calling this to our attention.

[deadhead]

"I think this shows a commitment among PW and FR that the left just doesn't have."

I agree!

Thanks for pinging me, Jen. Thank You, anithippie for being there.

[The Mayor]

Bump! Bump! Bump!

[deadhead]

anithippie should be antihippie. Sorry, typing too fast :-)

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thanks for the ping. I'm extremely proud of everyone. I even visited PW's site.

Intl A.N.S.W.E.R. needs to continually be exposed for who they really are. Amazingly, these people at PW are bravely trying to do that.

They are pretty amazing if you read what they are trying to do.

Thank God no one was hurt by the communist thugs from A.N.S.W.E.R.

I was also pleased to hear some of the mis-guided people who went to the anti-war rally had their eyes opened too!

FRegards to all.

[bluesagewoman]

That's exactly why I go out every week!

[antihippie]

Thanks and to tell you the truth it was one of the most fun days I have ever had, and also the most significant( besides marriage and birth of daughter). And if I came across as harsh in an earlier post about booths I apologize. I had just gotten home from D.C. and the first posts I read were all but accusing us of starting the fighting on purpose and pointing out over and over that we were not associated with FR. I have even on johnnypnews.com that a correction was submitted over his reporting of the event explaining in painstaking detail that FR has nothing to do with PW. This seems nitpicky to me when we attended the FR rally and even left almost an hour behind schedule to show support to your speakers and as soon as we become slightly controversial we are ostracized. Anyway that is just my point of view and I would like to once again say sorry anyone I may have offended and thank FR for an informative and motivating rally and all the voices of support. Thanks.

[Taxman]

Thank you (and all of your ProtestWarrior FRiends) for making the sacrifice to stand with us Saturday.

Taxman awards a "Bravo Zulu" to the ProtestWarriors!

[Jen]

You have FReepmail.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[tgslTakoma]

I have even on johnnypnews.com that a correction was submitted over his reporting of the event explaining in painstaking detail that FR has nothing to do with PW.

Whoever sent the "correction" is not revealed, so I can't even guess why whoever it was might have felt the need to step in so forcefully with that wording.

FWIW, I was happy to see the PW guys and gals at the DC Chapter's rally, and while you/they were with us - all the DC Chapter rules were followed.

Thanks for coming out to support the troops at our rally. I'm happy to hear that none of the PWs suffered any serious injuries at the hands of the peace rioters.

[Doctor Raoul]

Hey Bob, I got your document right here!

Your "documentation" won't show that you alienated them, which you did.

As far as put up or shut up, I'll give you $10 for everyone that wants me to shut up, if you'll give me 10 cents for everyone that wants you to shut up.