Student's photo of war protest stirs controversy

The Oregonian ^ | March 22, 2007

[Lady J USA 1981]

Student's photo of war protest stirs controversy Posted by The Oregonian March 22, 2007 18:24PM Categories: Breaking News Apparently, "Portland hates America."

At least that's what conservative commentator Michelle Malkin of Los Angeles told the world on her Web site this week. Why?

Well, Malkin -- along with a Google-worthy list of her friends on the blogging right -- were goaded by the photos uploaded to Linfield College student Rachael Palinkas' online Facebook album.

An aspiring journalist, Palinkas snapped them during Sunday's anti-Iraq war rally and march in downtown. In one image, black-masked protesters burn a uniformed effigy of a U.S. soldier as a young girl cuddles up to her father and watches.

It didn't take long for the picture to explode in the blogosphere, with conservatives using it as reason No. 1 to oppose those who oppose the war.

"U.S. soldier burned in effigy," declared the Drudge Report on Tuesday. "What passes for an anti-war protest in Portland," huffed WhackyNation. "Brainwashing the next generation of troop-haters," said Shock & Blog.

Palinkas just wants them to stop.

"What they're doing is wrong," she said. "They're twisting my pictures and misrepresenting what happened on that day."

In the past few days, the 19-year-old mass communication major said she has learned the power of a picture. And the power of people with an agenda on the Internet.

Palinkas said she posted 240 photos from the peace rally and march that reportedly drew 15,000 people to her Facebook site. Almost all of them showed "people laughing, talking, dancing, marching" at what she called a "family-friendly" event.

"No one is linking to those photos," Palinkas said.

Palinkas attended the march with a group of college friends. Shortly before the march, she noticed that a group of about 30 black-clad people had broken away from the crowd in the South Park Blocks. Shocked to see them burning a uniformed effigy of a U.S. soldier, she started snapping photos. She also took pictures of them lighting an upside down flag afire.

Although she is opposed to the war, "I thought what they were doing was wrong," Palinkas said. "I had never seen anything like it. That's why I took the photos."

She said she has recieverd more than 150 emails about the photos. After the Drudge Report posted a link, she got hate mail from people who thought she was part of the radical group. Among other things, they said, she "should be tried for treason" and should be deported. In response, she told visitors to her Facebook page, "I don't support this."

Late today, Palinkas removed her Facebook album from public viewing so that people without permission could not use the photos.

Conservative Portland radio host Lars Larson posted three of the images on his Web site. "If you think recent anti-war protests are harmless free speech .¤.¤. let me give you a few more images to consider," he posted.

Larson, who supports military action in Iraq, gave no apologies.

He said he used the images because he felt they were the most newsworthy part of the protest. "I'm showing that some members of this community advocate killing soldiers," Larson said.

After spending months planning what was for the most part a civil demonstration, organizers say they are aghast.

Kelly Campbell of American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, was frustrated. "We had a massive, peaceful demonstration against the killing and destruction going on every day in Iraq, a positive experience for thousands of people from different walks of life."

-- Joseph Rose: 503-221-8029; josephrose@news.oregonian.com

[BuffaloJack]

The hooded jerks in the photos! Would they be members of Hamas or al-Qaeda?

[blinachka]

Ignore them and try to derive some sort of humor out of their antics, however hard that may be.

Good advice. I think the best way to counter these losers is to truly show support for the troops and this nation, in thought and in action. I do think that these dopes are stupid, ignorant and unpatriotic though...no matter how talented they may well be in their areas of expertise. I don't think these things are mutually exclusive. Once can be very good at making lattes & chai teas at Starbucks and still be a dolt. ;)

[longjack]

Manson Girl Sandra Good

Source: charliesfamily.tripod.com Hosted by: ImageShack®

Portland's belly-girl wannabe

Source: zombietimes.com

A Dead Ringer

[3AngelaD]

Found the link:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1804433/posts

[3AngelaD]

Here's the link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1804433/posts

[shorty_harris]

LMAO, they always claim "they are a separate" group!!

Yeah, but it's funny how these 'separate groups' always show up at liberal events, not conservative ones...

[editor-surveyor]

"Keep Portland Weird"

I'll have to try to get one for my brother, who is a Salemite.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Thanks a bunch for the links.