LOL!! Great sign!
Good work, everyone!
Phelps Post Ping
That Phelps cultist has a flag wrapped around her/his? waist? That's rude.
I don't know what god these people worship, but he is not God.............
Thanks for the AAR!
thats great.
Does anyone have a FReep Fred Phelps ping? I would like to keep informed as toe when he will be in the DC area.
Excerpt:< snip >Kook Kronikles : all kooks :: Fred Phelps FReeped at Bethesda Naval Hospital- Busy week for the DC Chapter posted by Soprano on 05/01/2006 at 10:10 .:. 13 times viewed .:. There are 3 replies. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1624574/posts Some very sad looking photos accompany this piece. I have not checked their signage for spelling/grammatical errors.< /snip>
Oh goodie! I have enthusiastically waited for the 3 threads. Yours in first & a wonderful one it is! Thank you.
I did get the "subtle hint" and will be getting mine up in groups. I dont know all the names so perhaps you can help me.
I will have my report with pix..
I took the opportunity to observe the various elements and parties involved in the event at Bethesda Naval Hospital and to note the part they played.
The dedicated Freepers of the DC Chapter decided it was necessary to counter the most egregious protest mounted by the Phelps Clan. They obtained a permit and planned the event. Several Freepers from out of the area responded to the invitation to come add to the weight of the DC Chapter.
There were two primary groups involved in the days events and a host of minor groups and individuals. The Phelps group were gathered at the end of the very long block as far away from the facility gate as could be and still be adjacent to the grounds. Their permitted area was against the iron fence, on the sidewalk and extended up the street to a line drawn by the police with yellow tape across the side walk.
Up the street , nearer but not right adjacent to the gate was another yellow taped line and three officers. This line marked the Free Republic permitted area. To my eye, it appeared to be at least twice the area of the protesters.
The yellow tape demarcated the assigned areas and also restricted pedestrian traffic up and down the sidewalk. Casual walkers were directed across the street so as not to get mixed up with either of the groups. There were several people who showed up and learning what was happening picked up signs or flags and joined out FR group for a while. The opportunity was just too great to resist.
It was also important to mark off the side walk because there was an even larger group to use the side walks that beautiful Saturday. There was a “Walk for Breast Cancer “ I believe sponsored by Avon that had many, many participants that lasted the whole time. They were directed by the police across the street to avoid both of the other groups. They were mostly all women and mostly all young women. There was a certain amount of consternation among some Freepers who were disturbed by the waving of hands and shouts of support coming from the pink clad walkers. Their path took them right by the bad guys. The shouting began at what seemed near the Phelps freaks. The approval waving and shouting continued as they past the Freep site and it was concluded that they began yelling approval as soon as they actually saw the Freep line and all the waving American flags. Their disgust with the obscene was replaced with relief and gladness when they saw all the flags and counter protest signs.
Then there was Rolling Thunder. Perhaps it is wrong not to consider them primary because there were a lot of them and the weight of their literal thunder is extremely impressive. They roared up and down the street a few times, stopping once directly in front of the bad guys and gave a fortissimo concert of full throated, ground shaking motorcycle engines. The police then told them to cease and presumably directed them to a parking place. The dismounted motorcycle cops then marched (escorted ) them across the street and up the block across from the Freep line. They then stopped traffic and allowed the Rolling Thunder brigade to cross to join us.
Another group with numerous members present was the police. I’m not certain exactly who they were. I think they were Montgomery County Sheriff’s officers but there were some vehicles labeled “Police” . They were present in Force. There were several regular officers who manned the yellow tape lines effectively preventing the opportunity for thee two demonstrating groups to converse. They also enforced the street and if someone ventured into the street for too long asked to get back on the sidewalk. There was a squad of riot police in full gear including lexan shields and batons that literally cadence marched from their assembly area to and area across the street form the Freepline. The area was chosen not because it was across from us, but because it was large enough to provide room for them all. There were some motorcycle officers who were tasked with Rolling Thunder. They dismounted and escorted the group on foot as they passed by the bad guys, crossed to the other side of the street and up to the Freep area where they crossed back across the street to join us. Across from the Phelps group was a mounted patrol of I believe three horses and riders. Some might say there was overkill. Some might say it was On the Job training. Others might and did say thanks guys.
Keeping in mind that the events took place on the street, the turf of Montgomery county, the back boundary was the iron fence, across which was the hospital, presumably a military reservation and the turf of hospital security. There was a lone hospital security SUV that patrolled the large grassy fields behind both groups. We were literally surrounded.
There was a freelance reporter there. He had been at the Walter Reed Hospital Freep the night before and was at the Correspondents dinner later Saturday as well. I’m not sure of his objective but he spent a lot of time observing and interviewing Freepers. I’m told his name was Kevin and a good guy.
There was a crew of 4 or 5 TV types. The arrived early on and took shots of the DC Chapter erecting banners and setting up. They then went down to get their footage of the bad guys. They didn’t stay very long. They came back to the American zone and stayed the rest of the day. The arrival of Rolling Thunder and their colorful individuals provided good TV and interviews. I don’t think they ere news types. I think they were doing a documentary for the Hospital.
I think there were other press people present but not major and certainly not bigtime TV.
So what was the point of it all? Was it worth all the time and energy and money?
That brings up the biggest group. These were the motorists who drove up and down the heavily traveled street. They were the primary recipients of the messages. The Phelps clan presented churlish faces and garish dayglo pink and green signs that offended both the eye and the mind. Graphic depictions of homosexual conduct are repulsive.
Freepers presented an overwhelming message of red, white and blue….. many many flags rippling in the good breeze. There were many positive signs and smiling faces. Some said “Honk if……” and the drivers responded. There were simple toot toots and many prolonged toots. There were lots of waves and thumbs up. It would be wrong to say that all who passed were in agreement, but there were several periods when the honking was near continuous. The motorists probably did not know what the Phelps clan was protesting but the Freeper counter message was abundantly Ameican and clear There are American Troops that need to be supported.
Lastly, there were groups who were not present. There were no Bethesda Naval Hospital patients present to receive the vile message from the Phelps Clan. Given the fact their area was far from the gate it is reasonable to assume practically no one inside the fence was even aware of the event.
Most importantly there was no Media. The event went unreported. It did not clutter the TV news. The vicious antiwar media establishment in DC ignored the Phelps Clan.
There was a lesson from the Bethesda Naval Hospital Freep of June 29, 2006. The Phelps had their 15 seconds in the spotlight and that time is over. The Phelps Clan is but a very minor footnote in American History..
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Good report.
I've wondered for quite a while if Phelps isn't in the closet himself. Regardless, God is watching and God doesn't approve of Phelp's actions.
thanks for representing all of us, yet again.
DC FReepers rock!
The bikers were great! But the police made them leave their motorcycles in a driveway, not far from the Phelps crowd, before they were allowed to join us -- and they had a police escort to do that!. They left just before the time limit for the protest was up so that they could protect their bikes in case the Phelpes crowd decided to do damage. But while they were with us, they were great! They chatted with our police escorts and one biker told them that they (the police) should take a 15 minute break -- that they (Rolling Thunder) would watch the place!!! LOL!
DollyCali - your narrative and pics adds a lot. Thanks
Bert - Your out-of-town narrative along with DollyCali's add a new perspective to what we encounter here in the D.C. area. There is so much going on that we can't rally at very event. We have to pick & choose.
It was good meeting you both this weekend and we're also glad both of you made it home okay.
[Mr] T
Phelps at WR in red/white/blue jacket & red cap in back ground.
This guy below looks like Phelps. The other guy in fore ground wearing blue shirt/gray sweats above wears glasses and is probably Phelps' brother devilishly conceived by his sister & another brother. Plus guy in glasses seems to have shorter hair.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/GunnNutt/Phelps/Phelps.jpghttp://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/GunnNutt/Phelps/Phelps.jpg
Y'all did a great job! Those Phelps creatures are sick puppies.
Wihs I could have been there, but I had previously arranged engagements all day. I'm glad to hear it went well.
Great FReep, report, thread and pics!
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