FReep of "Rally for Peace and Justice" Denver, Colorado after Action Report

Eye Witness | September25, 2005 | Jan in Colorado

[jan in Colorado]

After attending the “You Don’t Speak For Me, Cindy” rally at the State Capitol on Wednesday, I KNEW I had to do whatever it took to be there for the “Peace and Justice” rally on Saturday. In between taxiing kids to various activities and attending a funeral for a friend, I managed to spend a few hours with some of the most angry, hateful people I have EVER been around in my entire life! It is an experience I will NEVER forget and I am so glad that I was able to go.

I was very nervous about going alone, but decided I would just go for it. My prayers were answered two hours before I had to leave when I received a reply from Freeper Jenny Hatch and we ended up driving there together with her friend Ruth, who is the very proud mother of a soldier who served a year in Iraq.

As we drove around looking for a place to park, I saw a huge contrast between Wednesday’s rally and this one. First of all, there are people every where. They did a great job of advertising on Air America, and the hate America crowd came out in droves to protest the war, the Bush Administration, hurricane Katrina,the levees, the "TORTURE" at Abu Grab, and anything else that they can find to blame on President Bush.

Jenny Hatch and Jan in Colorado getting ready to FReep!

As we are walking towards the Capitol, we begin to discuss where we should position ourselves. As we were walking a lady came up to me and said” We support the Troops too”! I told her thank you for that and kept walking…Ruth had a few more things to say to her...

Military Mom, Ruth

[jan in Colorado]

I was disappointed that I hadn’t made new signs since the Freep I attended on Wednesday, but I quickly realized that MY sign saying “WE Support The Troops” did offend them. They got VERY defensive and many felt they had to come up to me and convince me that they supported the troops too! Every time I would say thank you, many were taken aback at my thanking them, since they expected me to argue with them. Some would walk away puzzled, while others would continue to try and convince me we didn’t agree. They would say, well, we want them to come back with all their limbs, and I’d say, me too…and then they’d say...well..well..we want them back alive!

This one guy who said that to me...I looked at him in disbelief as though he thought I DIDN’T want our soldiers to come back alive.

I tried to reassure them that once our mission is completed, they will come home. They have a job to do, and they are over there doing it, and they aren’t going to leave until the mission is completed!

One yelled, why don’t you send YOUR kids over there? Well, Ruth had some fun answering that one too! These people still don’t get that we DON’T “send them there, they volunteer to go and fight for their Country. Their kids don’t have to go if they don’t want to. ( I have a sneaking suspicion that many of their kids may be like Casey Sheehan, who enlisted with his mother’s disapproval.) That is the only explanation I can come up with for their anger!

We found "our spot" and we quickly realized there is no one else here from our side. Jenny and I are both very thankful that we met and went there together.

I was there less than a minute before a man got in my face and called me a liar and a hypocrite! Mind you, I’m holding an American flag in one hand and a “We Support The Troops” in the other when he yells this at me.

I very calmly said, “You don’t know me, you have never spoken to me, how could you say those things to me without even talking to me”?
It’s funny how much it disarms them when you talk to them calmly and rationally.
He hit his chest and said "I am the troops AND YOU don’t support me.” I tried to ask him what that meant, but he walked away as fast as he could. He was livid.

I decided I was going to go up the hill to where the rally was and take pictures.

I left my flags and signs with Jenny and Ruth and off I went into the “peace and justice” rally. I felt just like I did 20 years earlier when I worked undercover. No matter how hard I tried to blend in, I just didn’t. I took pictures of all the signs I could, and I overheard several people say things to the effect that “she’s one of them.” I don’t know if it was my flag/eagle pin I was wearing, my happy demeanor, or the fact that I was just taking lots of pictures while they were screaming “Impeach Bush,” but something gave me away,and I’m glad. These are very angry, unhappy people and I’m very glad I didn’t fit in with them.

Very angry people.

The only United States flags I saw within this huge group of “Americans” was at the booth of the Colorado Veterans for Peace. They had two large American flags, which they had leaning against a tree, but their rainbow peace flag they displayed very proudly.

Peace flag flying proud while the Amarican flag is leaning against a tree.

WHY do they hate this Country so much? I just don’t get it!

I spent maybe 20 minutes up there listening to “their” music and their “hateful speech. It made me appreciate even more how blessed I am to be an American who loves Freedom and understands what it costs to STAY FREE! These people really are clueless to reality.

As I was returning to our spot,I asked this man a question about his sign. He said we are torturing people over there. I acted surprised, and said really? He mentioned Abu Grab and I said,” You have to be kidding, right? You think that was torture? Are you going to compare Abu Grab to what Saddam Hussein did”? I asked in disbelief.
He yelled back “We are torturing little children, and you know it”!
I again repeated I couldn’t believe he was equating Abu Grab with Saddam Hussein and he turned back to the traffic holding his pitiful little sign.

I’ll share one more conversation before ending this report. It was quite enlightening to me. It was an elderly man holding the rainbow peace flag and he was stationed right next to us. I can’t remember what he said to me to start the conversation, I just remember saying to him,

“Isn’t it wonderful that the Iraqi people had the Freedom to vote and they did”?
He made a remark about how 120,000 people died voting (I didn’t have accurate facts, so I didn’t bother arguing his). I tried to explain to him how happy the people were getting to vote and to have a say in their future. He looked at me with disgust and said how could I think it was a good thing that that many people died just to vote? I said I questioned his numbers, but regardless, it isn’t good for anyone to die,but these people were willing to die for the right to vote. He just didn’t get it. He has no conception of what Freedom really is.

We talked back and forth and then he said,"I support the troops just not this corrupt Government". I smiled and said, "I agree, we need to have a much smaller government. The smaller the better sir, I agree with you" (I knew he would hate that!) He said "I don’t agree with you at all about anything".
“Oh, then you want bigger government”? I asked.
“Yes” he said
I laughed and said, "Oh, I see, you just want the Democrats in there instead of the Republicans".
“No”
“No”?
Rather irritated with me by this time, he said “I want progressives. I want thinkers”
”I see.” Was all I could come up with at the time . I attempted to ask a question and he put his hand up and said, "I don’t need to hear any more from you.” I had to laugh because I'm sure many people feel that way!

I thanked him for the conversation, and I continued to proudly wave my FReeper sign.

Lots of people asked, "What's A FReeper"?

Jenny and Ruth were awesome to FReep with. Ruth, being a military mom, had the answers to anything they threw at her. And Jenny, I don't know where to begin. What an amazing woman. She has 5 children, yet makes the time to go to these rallies to show support for the troops. Nothing intimidates her, and she is great being interviewd on camera.

Jenny spent a lot of time talking to this man. He seems to think everything that is wrong in New Orleans is Bush's fault. What a surprise?

Jenny Hatch's After Action Report

[AmericanArchConservative]

Up past your "curfew" again, I see.

I'm FReeping and watching LOTR/Fellowship of the Ring extended version dvd...what's your excuse?

LOL!

Good after-action report!

A.A.C.

[jan in Colorado]

LOL! No where to hide!

No excuse...taping the rebroadcast of the LIVE THREAD: Support Our Troops And Their Mission Rally (C-SPAN to Rebroadcast @ around 2:00 am EST)

Started watching it and well...

[Fred Nerks]

I'm keeping my eye on you too. Fantastic report.

[Puppage]

he said “I want progressives. I want thinkers”

Thinkers? Does the left have ANY ideas?

[StonyBurk]

IMO the "progressives" are attempting to lead the United States progressivly away from what was established.In other
words I Think They Stink.Do enjoy informing these edicated
idiots that they do NOT represent American Patriotism,and
do not reflect the best of what was established 1776-1791.SO happy to see this report-I am tempted to secure
my own UN ground cover but fear my luck is such If I stole one --as happened in Texas when the disaffected America Hater burned a stolen flag and ended up seeing the supreme
Court defend his despicable actions-I fear the Colorado
Courts would Not treat me kindly.And as Christian theft
is not a good idea. And I don't think I could justify spending good money inscribed with In God we Trust to
purchase such a godless Soviet Communist symbol-But I do
salute the symbolic gesture of these beautiful Colorado
Patriots... IMO that "peace flag" looks a lot like the one
the queer nation rallies around.That foreign flag is nearly as offensive as that of the UN -and the UN flag a greater offense only because our government has longer subjugated all Americans to service of that evil organization.

[Puppage]

IMHO, I believe "progressives" to be liberals who are afraid to call themselves as such.

[jan in Colorado]

Anti-America rally Ping.



"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

"It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

"It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

"It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

Sorry, I don't know who wrote this but I thought that in the midst of these Anti-America demonstrators, this was appropriate.

God Bless our troops and their families!

[ariamne]

LOL!! I stayed up watching Rome, and then The Return of the King -- extended version. Then I watched the c-span repeat of the Rally for the Troops. What's up tonight, "The Twin Towers?" I'm going to watch The Children of Beslan again tonight (keep reminding ourselves what we're up against). Not a toe-tapper, that one...Ok, I'm supposed to be working now...

[bmwcyle]

Hi from DC.

[just me]

WOW-- thanks for the ping.... You and your friends are awesome..

[jan in Colorado]

WOW! Now THAT is AMOAB. Great Job!

I watched the rebroadcast on C-Span last night (this morning). Thanks for being there and supporting the troops!

Rush just mentioned your banner and said a picture of it is posted on his website! Way to go DC FReepers! Looking forward to FReeping with you again.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

And now a word from our real Sponsors of Free Speech

The Men and Women who serve,
and have served, our country
are the ones who make sure that
the Politicans and Judges are free to do their job.

We would not have a US Supreme Court
without the protection of the Military.

Politicans and Judges are safe
because of the Military who protect them.

TEST : Call your Senator or Congressman's office
AFTER 5 PM, or on the weekend.
IF you speak to an actual person, ask who's in charge today?

Now look up the phone number
of your local military base.
Call that number 24/7
and ask the live voice you get
to speak with the person in charge.

Send a Thank You while you enjoy your Freedom also.

Click on a service emblem to send an online
Thank You to a service man or woman in any branch.

Army	Navy	Marines	Air Force	Coast Guard

[jan in Colorado]

Thank you Tonk, for that post and for ALL you do!

[Albion Wilde]

Terrific story and photos! Go, Jan! Looking forward to your next visit in DC.

[jan in Colorado]

FReeping the "clueless"... ping!

[USF]

"Some would walk away puzzled, while others would continue to try and convince me we didn’t agree."

Hey, I have a couple of points that I could use to find common ground with them too. Take for example:

Now, I may quibble slightly with the order of countries their list, but as long as they tack on Saudi Arabia, I think we'll have a sign that both sides can hold up with pride! ;oP

[jan in Colorado]

Now, I may quibble slightly with the order of countries their list, but as long as they tack on Saudi Arabia, I think we'll have a sign that both sides can hold up with pride! ;oP

LOL!!!!

USF...I took that picture knowing you would love it! You're right, though, how on earth did they overlook Saudi Arabia?

[Apple Blossom]

Sorry to be so late in responding to your post. Thanks so much for the info. What an outstanding report of the goings on at the Colorado capital! The three of you were so brave to stand up to the moonbats...and hold your own.

I can't imagine what it would be like to be so outnumbered! I'm sure you had protection from above as well as angels working overtime!

Keep up the good work! I hope to see you at Walter Reed again. It doesn't look like Code Pink is leaving any time soon.

[jan in Colorado]

Hi, Apple Blossom. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I wish we had more people turn out for our side, but I am glad that at least 3 of us were there!

I hope to return to DC next year with my two teenage daughters and we will plan to be FReeping at Walter Reed, or wherever else a FReep is planned!

Just finished looking at all of bmwcyle's pictures from the weekend. Looks like you had a huge turnout Friday and it was wonderful seeing all those Beautiful PROUD Americans.

God Bless All of You!