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.

[Jen]

THAT - when 'peace' protesters attack - should be the focus of the news coverage of these anti-war (anti-America) events! But is it reported? Nah. Doesn't fit the liberal media's agenda.

[YourAdHere]

Yeah, Protest Warrior was supposed to join us at Pershing Park. God, we could have used them! Freeper turnout was pathetic. Anyone reading this, next time we have one, there's no excuse. Get on a bus, plane, train, whatever, and get your butts down here.

[Bob J]

BTW - I understand the rally had appropriate police presence, I was more concerned with things being thrown at them, like bottles, that the police might not be able to control.

[norton]

Who or what the hell is "Johnny P News"?

I do not agree that 'we' (I was not there) should go out of our way to avoid confrontation - it's part of the game and part of the risk. But I don't trust reports from sources no one (at least not I) has heard of, about things that are not corroborated, and on such a critical issue.

Are Johnny P a member of another organization standing to profit from citing FR as being part of something not yet reported by those in attendance?

[bvw]

You're taking a similar line of argument Ed Rendell gave, when he siggested that the union thugs in Philly did what was right and proper in beating up the diminutive Don Adams and his sister, Terri.

[diotima]

"when 'peace' protesters attack"

I know in LA our very own DavidDennis has enough footage to make an INFORMATIVE video (not suitable for children.) Interesting how they want peace in the world...but no peace for the people across the street opposing their opinions. LOL.

[Bob J]

Been down that road several times...ain't going to happen. Once the decision is made to create an event, we've decided to concentrate on larger numbers of smaller rallies close to where people live...and promote it to the local press (See "Rally for America"). The national press will almost always ignore us.

[FreedomPoster]

Peacefully documenting the event shouldn't result in threats and a beating. Period.

[YourAdHere]

Lord Kristinn of DCC would disagree with you on that.

[Jen]

Who or what the hell is "Johnny P News"?

A ProtestWarrior's personal site - and his first-person report from today's event. Found the report linked on the ProtestWarrior site.

[Bob J]

I do not agree that 'we' (I was not there) should go out of our way to avoid confrontation - it's part of the game and part of the risk.

Then go ahead and knock yourself out. Just don't ask children, mothers, fathers and pregant women to join you.

[Bob J]

Johnny P News appears to be a member of the Protest Warrior faction.

[Jen]

Peacefully documenting the event shouldn't result in threats and a beating. Period.

Or... worried that some nutjob (Cindy McKinney's daddy, perhaps?) might pull a knife on you for peacefully protesting in a public place.

[EternalVigilance]

There were no children with the PWs that I saw.

[norton]

Well now,
now I know who/what Johhn P news is: it's a guy posting and presumably taking action as part of the Protest Warriors. Who, in turn, seem to be a group more into direct action and more into a specific element of ANSWER's agenda, but generally not in conflict with FR.
I kind of stand corrected, but wish John P. would come up with a more representative alias.

[Bob J]

You're taking a similar line of argument Ed Rendell gave, when he siggested that the union thugs in Philly did what was right and proper in beating up the diminutive Don Adams and his sister, Terri.

Baloney. It appeared the rally itself was covered, but the march down to meet the ANSWER people was crazy.

[FreedomPoster]

From the Johnny P News site, we have this:

>>U.S. Park Police unofficially estimated the protesters attendance at 50,000.

If there were 50,000 people there, I'll eat this laptop. From what CSPAN was showing, I say 5,000, tops, and I'm probably being charitable by about 2X.

CSPAN was hardly doing any wide shots, the crowd was so weak-looking.

[Bob J]

Peacefully documenting the event shouldn't result in threats and a beating. Period.

Neither should attending a counter rally, but when you are dealing with violent crazy people, prudence should rule the day.

[Neets]

It looks like FReepers weren't involved.

But if you read the first dozen posts or so, other people besides Bob thought that might have been the case.

[AppyPappy]

I have to agree with you, Bob. These ANSWER people aren't stable enough to understand civil rights.