Posted on 03/12/2008 6:49:47 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
I’ve received a warning from a couple of different sources, some military and some retail. (actual warning to follow)
It warns people (particularly those with stickers on their car that allow them access to military bases) to avoid the Tacoma Mall on Saturday March 15th from 12:00 to 5:30 PM due to protests.
It’s not a worry to me, because I loathe the mall and what it represents, and avoid it like the plague.
I believe in lawful protest, and I have myself protested this illegal and amoral occupation of Iraq, the lives being lost, the money being wasted and the permanent damage it’s done to our foreign relations.
But THIS protest pisses me off (for lack of a more articulate term)
You see, they not only want to target the recruiting station (one was recently bombed in Times Square, which is taking things way too far) but they want to “shut down business” (people who have nothing to do with this need to feed their families) and harass anyone entering the mall who may have “ties to the military”. (they’ll be looking for base stickers on cars)
So some poor mother, alone with her small children because her husband is deployed (just doing his job) is at risk of being harassed, her car vandalized and possibly injured by whack jobs.
I prefer the South Hill Mall in Puyallup.
That is the exact recruiting station I joined up for the Navy at, in 1985...entered service in 1986 and served until 1992.
I will need to travel to T-Town on Saturday and may need to make an appearance at the mall to show my support for the recruiters.
And no, my recruiter never lied to me once...gave me the straight dope on everything.
“I don’t even go into the mall area. It is infested with gangs.”
SouthCenter Mall is also infested with gangs and punk kids. See the News This morning about gunfire between 2 gangs last night.
http://www.komotv.com/news/16632866.html
1 Shot at Southcenter Mall
TUKWILA, Wash. — One person was shot at Southcenter Mall in the 3700 block of 126th Place SE around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, according to police.
Police said an argument between two groups of teens and young men broke out in the parking lot outside the mall’s north entrance near the Johnny Rockets restaurant. The fight escalated until one of them pulled out a hand gun and fired more than eight times, hitting the victim.
The victim, whose name and condition are not known, was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Several of the store’s exterior glasses were shattered and nearby parked vehicles were also hit. Inside the mall, meanwhile, the sound of the gunshots unleashed sheer panic among shoppers and employees.
“I heard ‘pop, pop, pop.’ Everyone got down. I got down,” said one witness.
“Scariest thing that ever happened to me,” said another.
In the minutes following initial reports of the shooting, concerned callers told KOMO 4 News that their loved ones were inside the mall, hiding inside various stores and scared, not knowing what was happening.
Two off-duty police officers who happened to be at the mall spotted a suspect leaving the scene and trailed him while calling for backup. A police chase ensued in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 as the suspect sped towards Seattle.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, finally pulled over near the intersection of 7th and Marion where police arrested him.
“There were at least 20, 30 cop cars here, helicopters flying around and everything,” said Brandon Miller, who witnessed the dramatic end to the police chase.
Police also arrested a man who was found hiding about an hour after the incident and, upon being found, began running from police. Investigators are looking into whether the man was connected to the shooting.
In all police have detained four people, some of whom are refusing to talk. Police believe one gunman is responsible for the incident, but they believe several people may have been involved. Police aren’t sure whether they already have the gunman in custody.
Investigators uncovered two handguns at the scene, one of which is believed to have been used in the shooting.
Officials locked down the shopping mall immediately after the shooting. At around 9 p.m. officials began allowing shoppers to leave the mall, but the man seen running from the scene of the crime sparked panic among the crowd. In an attempt to control the chaos, police locked down the mall again.
Police then began conducting a sweep of the mall, alerting people at each store of the latest developments. Officers patted down each person before letting him or her leave the mall in case additional suspects remain at large.
Police do not know whether the shooting was gang-related; it is not known what sparked the fight between the two groups.
The investigation is ongoing.
While you posteed a nice picture, I think bombing anti-war protesters is a bit over the edge.
I will fight and die for their right to protest the war, or anything else for that matter.
You my friend are a moron. I stated that I will fight to defend their right to protest.
And I will fight for my right to over throw an out of control government and restore a Constitutional government.
yeah, one trip to your homepage and we see who the moron is.
Protest at the Tacoma Mall
Posted March 3rd, 2008 by Anonymous
in
* antiwar
* corporate
* recruiting
Start: 2008/03/15 - 12:30pm
End: 2008/03/15 - 5:00pm
Location:
Tacoma Mall and Military Recruiting Center Parking Lot
Tacoma Mall Demo
Tacoma Mall / Military Recruiting Center Parking Lot
Saturday March 15 2008
12:30 PM
Why Protest at the Mall?
Because Tacoma has so few community spaces, the mall has become one of the key cultural, economic, social hubs of Pierce County
The Tacoma Mall is the single most trafficked site in Tacoma
The mall and the recruiting center on its property target youth: the mall for their allowances and the military for their lives
Make it impossible for business as usual to continue as the Iraq War approaches its 5th year.
Everyone is invited to bring literature to distribute and to be creative!
**Language changed from shutdown to demo to more clearly represent the intent of the demonstration, not to appease right wingers.***
“tacoma mall protest (massive anti-war anti-military protest)”
the revolution lives comrades!
Right on. Any jackass who makes the statement, “I will fight for my right to over throw an out of control government” is just repeating the loony-left’s mantra.
Free clothing, food, and electronics right?
The Tacoma Mall looting...
film at eleven....
I know this for a fact since I will be there bright and early tomorrow morning to open a store in the mall. I don't know if it is just propaganda or what but we are open for business tomorrow. Please do not empower this “shut the mall down” movement, local businesses, as well as working-class folks like myself rely on mall traffic to make a living. Do not be intimidated by this rally. You are Americans too and have the right to enjoy your Saturday without being harassed, threatened or intimidated. The mall security will be out in full force to insure that mall shoppers are not harassed. The Mall is private property and those who do not respect that will be arrested.
One of the greatest things we can have as Americans (to borrow from Norman Rockwell) is “Freedom from Fear”....So , please don't hide in your house on Saturday. Thanks for your support.
~A Military wife and Mall employee.
The News trying to give victory to the protesters before the protest even begins.
Welcome to FR! Please stop by the WA State board and introduce yourself! You will make many new (and good) friends).
And what a pathetic turnout the protesters had. They at best had 50 people, almost all college age punks, probably from Evergreen State Col. The Support the troops side had at least 3 times their number, including about 25-30 of the coolest bikers I ever saw.
The mall was business as usual, full of shoppers spending their hard earned dollars. If the protesters goal was to interrupt commerce, they failed miserably. And for the military being ordered to stay away? No Way! There were many many young men walking around with military haircuts, many of who walked over and thanked us for what we were doing. Many more of their families honked as they drove by our line. And the Police did a fantastic job keeping the ant-war goons confined to a small area near the recruiting station, making sure they could not block access, or march on to the mall property.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.