No, they don't like to look up lest they might see a hawk.
Posted on 08/30/2004 12:00:26 AM PDT by NewRomeTacitus
Sunday at noon Wolicy Ponk, Wardaddy and I dropped in on the Nashville Coalition for Peace and Justice as they waged a demonstration just south of downtown Nashville. These activists busy themselves with a variety of projects for our mutual benefit.
Some of those projects include: returning voting rights to convicted felons, overturning Tennessee’s death penalty, opposing the marriage amendment, preventing law enforcement from using racial profiling (“He looked a like a man”), and promoting everyone’s favorite street performers, The Women in Black. They also wish to involve the U.S. (under UN supervision) in Africa’s ethnic cleansing problems.
Last week they had a fine time at the movies (from their site): Aug 24: Panel Discussion – “The Corporation”, Time: After the 6:30 pm showing, Featuring illuminating interviews with Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, Howard Zinn and many others.
This day they converged before Tennessee’s Republican Headquarters on West End Avenue for a “Peace Rally United for America “, described as “a call for all people, of all Political Affiliations - Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Libertarian, Independents; of all Faiths; to stand together on August 29th to call for peace.” Local liberal organizers Matt Leber and Christina Van Regenmorter had approximately 100 people from various groups standing on both sides of the street waving signs at passing traffic and generally behaving themselves.
The always-present Middle Tennessee Veterans For Peace were joined by the newer Veterans For Kerry on this outing. One of those fellows told me the troop morale in Iraq was very bad when he left a few months ago due to unexpected extensions of service. I wanted to tell him that we understood that could happen during a war footing back in my day, but I figured he already knew that.
Another new group named “Billionaires for Bush” roamed around passing out flyers while dressed in their finest apparel. They enjoyed putting on little verbal skits like those irritating anti-smoking “Truth” commercials. Their web site describes them as an independent 527 organization “using humor, street theater, and creative media to show how the Bush administration has favored the corporate elite at the expense of everyday Americans.”
The Protest Warriors were out in force! At least twelve of them were scattered through the crowd holding up their still-growing array of signs. A new one had a picture of Bin Laden captioned “Vote Kerry in 2004 So I Can Kill Your Family”, another cried “Help! I’m Surrounded By America-Hating Idiots!” Four Young Republicans were also present waving U.S. flags and pro-Bush cards. Boo-yah!
Even with no police presence everyone was very civilized for the two hours the event lasted. Wardaddy had to depart early but Wolicy Ponk more than made up for the loss with his handy stock of flags and signs. We were surprised and grateful for the excellent turnout from the other conservative groups, and decided we should try to coordinate with them whenever possible. Everyone’s departure was so civil I couldn’t help but be reminded of those Warner Bro. cartoons about Wile E. Coyote vs. Sam the Sheepdog. They’d go at it tooth and nail until the workday whistle blew, at which point they’d stop and wish each other a good night.
Signs of the Left:
“America Knows Bush Lied” (huge sheet)
“Bush Lies So 1,000s Die”
“Blood for Oil”
“Enough – Bring the Troops Home”
“Occupation Is Not Liberation”
“Bush Selected, Not Elected”
“Malice in Blunderland”
“God Told Me Bush is a Liar”
“’W’ Stands for War”
“Mission Nothing Accomplished”
and one that actually reflected the demonstration’s advertised purpose:
“We Stand in Witness to the Suffering Victims of Violence all Over the World”
Billionaires For Bush signs:
“Clean Air Can’t Sell It”
“Leave No Billionaire Behind”
“Widen the Income Gap”
“War is Peace”
“How Many Species Do You Need?”
Protest Warrior signs:
“Except for Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, War Has Never Solved Anything”
“Protect Islamic Property Rights Against Western Imperialism. Say No To War” (pic of burka-clad woman on leash)
“Believe in America, Support George Bush” (pic of Ronald Reagan)
“Saddam Only Kills His Own People, It’s None of Our Business”
“Hollywood Activism, Now That’s Entertainment” (with pics of Garafolo, Clooney & Sheen)
“Communism Has Only Killed 100 Million People. Lets Give It Another Chance!”
Free Republic member/Protest Warrior Dark Elf was there. ”Nashville PW thanks Freepers”
The "I'm Surrounded by American Hating Idiots" RULES!!!! Did they even notice what the sign actually said?
LOL!!!
No, they don't like to look up lest they might see a hawk.
ROFLMAO! Who is that on the right? Justin Timberlake?
FREEPS in Nashville will NEVER be the same again since the rise of the Protest Warrior chapter there!
These guys (and gals)are simply amazing!
Even though WE had low turnout, the PW's more than made up for it.
Thanks for attending. I would have loved to be there but didn't get the message until 4 p.m.
Nashville after-action report + lots of pics...
Your friends can apply to have their voting rights restored at least at the state level...Have them contact their state congress critters. I don't know about the federal level.
There's not a "metric" but a procedure: it's called a petition for restoration of voting rights, or some such, and any lawyer can inform you as to how it's done.
Whatcha wanna bet those lefty protesters were mostly Yankees? Oh sure, there are some scalawags scattered around, but it's the transplants who are usually the worst down here in TN.
Most states have a legal procedure for petitioning the governor for a restoration of civil rights. Usually it can be done 7 or more years after the end of the imposed punishment.
I've been trying to convince a friend of mine to do it, but he's been putting it off. You should talk to your two friends about doing it.
She's hot! Is she a FReeper?
Waiting for someone to Photoshop these pics...
I think that if they have truly shown that they've learned their lesson, yes, they should be re-instated. Example-a guy that robbed a bank while young and stupid, does 4 years and then 15 years after the crime is a church-going entrepreneur who donates to his community--reinstate his rights. A 4-time convicted rapist, hell no.
A friend of mine is in the same position. Last released in 1981 and went on to get edumucated and lead the life of an unassuming and producive citizen-type-thing.
He petitioned the state to get RKBA reinstated but was refused, I think that's what got his personal journey of Bush bashing started.
Actually, as indicated, they both have their right to vote already. They live in CT where a state law simply *gives* them the right (without having to petition).
I ultimately feel it would be pretty... unChristian... to not have a *any* system in place that forgives those that truly change their ways. Certain crimes, though - like murder - should never be forgiven. That person shall never be afforded the opportunity to vote again, why should you?
Those who commit violent offense should not be able to have their rights restored. As the parent of a murdered child I don't want these guys influencing who gets elected as judges we have way to many criminal coddlers on the bench now.
NAACP: Rally for Restoration of Voter Rights of the Disfranchised
Saturday, August 28th 11:00am; NAACP OFFICES – 1308 Jefferson Street, Nashville
TENNESSEE FACTS:
# of Tennesseans Disfranchised: 91,149
% of Total Tennessee Population: 2.2%
African-American Disfranchised: 41,759
% of African-Americans Disfranchised: 6.6%
African Americans equal 46% of the Tennessee Disfranchised
WE NEED YOUR PRESENCE
On Saturday August 28th, hundreds of Nashvillians, including dozens of disfranchised Americans, will gather at the Nashville Branch of the NAACP. There will be team of civil rights attorneys ready to sit with every disfranchised person (person who has served time in the criminal justice system and no longer has the right to vote) and process the paperwork to make sure they have their rights restored. If you have been through the criminal justice system or know someone who has, bring them and let’s bring justice to those who have served their time.
Bring signs and be ready to hear from a variety of civil rights leaders of Nashville community. Let’s make this rally and disfranchisement a part of history, and real democracy a reality.
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I interpret this as a push for all felons to have their rights restored without any regard toward the heinousness of their crimes. Most disturbing to me is the PJC people were only motivated by seeming imbalance of disfranchisement and are more concerned about the rights of people of color than the overall population. In doing this the PCJ try to perpetuate the perception that "the man" purposely focuses on specific groups for excessive punishment while hoping we disregard the higher rates of crime caused by those groups.
In short, I see this as a hypocritical sham to convince the general public that they retain the moral high ground while swelling their ranks with a new class of "oppressed victims". They don't really care about these people, they're just using them to promote their agenda. - NRT
Whew. I felt that slam-dunk from all the way 'cross the country. Bravo!
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