Posted on 03/15/2006 9:24:54 PM PST by tgslTakoma
FAYETTEVILLE) - Fayetteville is known as a town that supports the military, but there are some there who support bringing the troops home now.
The city has had an anti-war rally at Rowan Park every year since the war began, but that almost didn't happen this year.
The park might have been quiet Wednesday afternoon, but by Saturday, crowds will fill be filling up the park. Just like in previous years, protestors will stage an anti-war rally, marking the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion into Iraq.
This years event would have looked a lot different if members of a pro-war group had been able to keep their reservation for the park.
"We had the park and we wanted to do something positive to support the troops families, but that wasn't as important as an anti-war protest which hurts the troops' families," said Lynn Huber, a member of the North Carolina chapter of the Free Republic.
City officials said politics had nothing to do with their decision. They said a member of Free Republic made the application for a 200-person picnic, but that person did so as a private citizen, so city officials didn't know the organization was involved.
Officials added that because the anti-war group is expecting thousands of people, officials decided it would be easier to secure that crowd in the park.
The rally is still expected to end up at Rowan Park, although marchers will be taking a different route to get here. Organizers said they are expecting fewer people this year because there are more events planned across the country. The police department said these minor changes don't affect what they plan to do.
"We're still going to have about 100 of our Fayetteville police officers out there. And, we'll also have officers from other agencies like the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Wilmington police, Gaston County police, and other agencies like the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office will be assisting us with crowd control and making sure everyone's got a nice safe outing, said Sgt. Steve McIntosh, a member of the Fayetteville Police Department.
Members of Free Republic, along with other supporters of the war, said they still plan on coming out to make their voices heard.
Protestors have extended their permit this year to start at 7 a.m. instead of 12 p.m., so people will have more time to set up. Police officials said they plan to be out there before then making sweeps with their bomb dogs.
Why do cops always crash these "peace marches"? That's a lot of cops, unless of course, peace protesters really are not peaceful at heart...
Peace rioters.
The leftist lunatics are about as peaceful as the despots they admire and seek to emulate.
Code Pink and Chuck Fager need to reimburse Fayetteville Police, let's call it "Doggie Reparations" for the overdose the drug sniffing dog suffered being exposed to their followers.
Three weeks in the ICU at the vet hospital and that little fella now has PTSD. You mention "Peace Protesters" and he hides under the DARE police car and won't come out.
It's gonna be years of Puppy Psychiatry before he's fit for duty, and it's Chuck Fager and his hippie friends' fault!
If they made some sweeps with drug sniffing dogs, no one would show up.
"City officials said politics had nothing to do with their decision. They said a member of Free Republic made the application for a 200-person picnic, but that person did so as a private citizen, so city officials didn't know the organization was involved."
If the decision wasn't a political one then why would it matter? Two hundred people is two hundred people....
Be green. Carpool with Freeper friends.
exactly who do they suspect of planting bombs???
Why not one of our own?
Well, certainly not these kids, of course...
Too bad the RINO's won't allow the "white flag" ad to be run again on TV
Pass this "white flag" ad around on the internet
http://www.gop.com/Media/120905.wmv
Thanks fo rthe ping.
We'll have to miss this one -- headed for WDC in about 30 minutes for Mrs. Taxman's AORN convention.
Y'all FReepem good for us! And, stay safe.
See you on the 24th at WRAMC.
Woof, woof, my last hippie tasted like stale bong water.
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