Million Mom March Hoping to Draw 5,000 to Washington

CNSNews.com ^ | 5/7/2004 | Robert B. Bluey

[bigsoxfan]

CNSNews.com) - The anti-gun Mother's Day rally being organized by the Million Mom March expects to draw about 5,000 people to the nation's capital, according to a permit from the National Park Service.

The crowd estimate is significantly lower than the organization's first rally in 2000, when about 150,000 people were expected to attend. The actual number who came to Washington was between 500,000 and 750,000 people, according to press reports at the time.

This year's rally, dubbed "Halt the Assault," will serve as the kickoff to a nationwide tour focusing on the so-called "assault weapons" ban, which expires in September.

The Million Mom March, which merged with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in 2001, has run newspaper advertisements this week targeting President Bush, even though it is up to Congress, not the president, to renew the gun ban.

A full-page advertisement that ran in the Washington Post declares: "On Mother's Day, May 9th, join thousands of mothers and others as they gather on the West Front of the Capitol to demand that President Bush and Congress save the assault weapons ban. Unless President Bush acts, these weapons of war will be legal again -- just as America's children go back to school."

The anti-gun marchers won't be alone in Washington when they gather Sunday. The Second Amendment Sisters, which has organized counter-protests in the past, has put together a slate of speakers for its Second Amendment Freedoms for Everyone Rally at Freedom Plaza.

A spokeswoman for the Second Amendment Sisters questioned whether the Million Mom March was losing support.

"It's amazing that the 'million' really is only projected to be 5,000," spokeswoman Maria Heil said. "Gun-grabbers math? Or have the political people realized that gun control really is an issue that dooms most campaigns?"

Even though the 2000 march may have approached the 1 million mark when events in other cities were taken into account, the enthusiasm didn't last long. According to a Reuters account of the 2001 Million Mom March event, barely 200 people showed up for the Washington rally.

The group didn't plan demonstrations in Washington in 2002 or 2003, instead focusing its efforts in other states. The 2004 rally has been in the works since May 2003, according to the Million Mom March website.

Officials at the Million Mom March and the Brady Campaign didn't return calls seeking comment. The group's website states, "With one loud voice, we will continue to cry out that we love our children and our families more than the gun lobby loves its guns!"

This year the Million Mom March is touting a slate of speakers, including Brady Campaign founders Sarah and Jim Brady, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. A host of celebrities are also planning to attend.

[bigsoxfan]

Hmmm ... the Million Mom March that wasn't.

[Izzy Dunne]

It would have been a million, but most of them were aborted some time ago.

[CaptRon]

You can bet they don't see the irony here.

[Numbers Guy]

the Million Mom March expects to draw about 5,000 people to the nation's capital

If they have the crowd-counters that the pro-aborts used a couple weeks ago, they'll turn that 5,000 into 1.5 million.

[an amused spectator]

Actually, it was about 75,000 or less. The 500,000-750,000 number was shown to be concocted.

[Redbob]

"... between 500,000 and 750,000 people, according to press reports at the time."

And considerably less than that according to the police, IIRC.

[Joe Brower]

[glock rocks]

[Spok]

So is this PC math, 5,000=1,000,000?

[ironwill]

[Servant of the 9]

So9

[pabianice]

The crowd estimate is significantly lower than the organization's first rally in 2000, when about 150,000 people were expected to attend. The actual number who came to Washington was between 500,000 and 750,000 people, according to press reports at the time.

Bullshit. Elevated photos showed approximately 25,000. In 2000, FIVE women showed up.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

To me, 'Gun Control' means using two hands.

[BlessedBeGod]

5-whole-thousand? ROFLMHO!

[cake_crumb]

"Million Mom March Hoping to Draw 5,000 to Washington"

Do they have any clue how stupid that sounds?

[Astronaut]

They just LOOK like a million because they're all a bunch of ugly fatass sweatpant wearing Rosie clones

[blanknoone]

They're only off by a factor of 20,000. Cut them some slack.

I'm gonna go take the 20,000 man dump.

[oyez]

Looks like ther is going to be a bigger number of counter marchers there.

[snooker]

Well it was actually a million before it became 5000,

Soon they will all be able to meet at a small house.

Everywhere you look the leftist whacko groups are disappearing

[Libertarianize the GOP]

From the start it has been closer to a Mono Mom March than to a Million.