Posted on 10/31/2018 6:32:09 AM PDT by bert
For weeks ahead of the date, folks like me had to decide……. Do I really believe all this stuff we discuss daily on Free Republic? Should I scrounge up some money and set aside the time to travel to Washington DC to be a part of what is being called The March For Justice? The Answer is Yes!
There was to be a march with State flags. I bought a Tennessee state flag to wave in the gathering. To my astonishment, as I waved the flag, several Tennesseans in the crowd rallied to the flag and zap…..we had a Tennessee delegation present on the field.
There were lots of great speeches and general feeling of well being as we celebrated on the Mall in the literal shadow of the Washington Monument. What we said in our posts lacked an identity, but that day, we came together with more or less one very proud voice. The crowd faced the White House and in that one very loud voice shouted Impeach, Impeach, Impeach.
The night before, across from the infamous Water Gate complex, we took over the hotel. There were small groups and knots of people in every nook and cranny, on the stairs, in the conference rooms we just appropriated by strength of numbers. There were whoops of glee and recognition as we met and put a face to someone we actually knew well but had never seen. There was awe as Matt Drudge showed up and worked the crowd. A woman named Goldberg showed up also. I didn’t know her but she made a big impact. She called us Freepers. The name stuck to this day. There were several selling stuff to finance their trip. There was a table selling authentic March For Justice stuff to finance proceedings. My poster purchased at that table still hangs in my office. That gathering twenty years ago on the evening before Halloween changed my life. I knew that I must pay attention to try to be a better, active citizen.
It was apparent that rather than walk the long distance from the Parking lot to suicide, the body had been driven up a weed clogged road and carried a hundred yards or less and deposited in the park. Also of note, as we traversed through Fort Marcy Park, we noticed yellow post it notes stuck here and there. They had been left by other FReepers who made the visit around midnight the night before. I still have all those sticky notes.
That was twenty years ago today……… what a fantastic day it was
2 out 3 isn't bad.
Here are the 5 original coordinators in alphabetical order and their duties assigned after a meeting at Clinton's a Liar home one day.
1. A Navy Vet - Overall coordinator and Command Central. Some specific duties were security, porta-potties, stage, medical assistance, and more I can't remember. I was calling every day to get updates and advise the following:
2. Bob J - Financier and coordinator of after event townhall type meeting at a location I forget. Big attendance with a few known speakers, and pizza on his dime. He also directed the cleanup of the grounds while going back and forth with his after event. We left it spotless!
3. Clinton's a Liar - Main procurement of known political/pundit speakers and Master of Ceremonies. She did a fine job with both her duties;
4. Jolly - Probably the biggest promoter of the coming March on Free Republic and organized the Flag Parade after I asked her, being I was involved in everything. I so remember her looking a little scared to deal with so many out of state people (some big burly Vets) with their flags wandering around the grounds. She found her inner leadership and did an exceptional job of lining them up. I couldn't thank her enough for her job well done. I was just about to organize the flags parade, but Mojo-come-lately, was setting up the stage in a non-permitted area when the Park Police notified me. So I had to instruct the crew to break it down and re-assemble in the correct area.
5. Joy In DC - Procured out permits and helped with some speakers and kept me informed of park laws and Park/DC Police restrictions. Also helped Bob J with the after event location;
The night before, myself and my assistant, First Timer who is now my wife, had a line down the hallway outside the room for volunteers which we assigned specific duties. We had a long list from walking the grounds to assisting in the VIP tent to the information/assist tent. NO ONE balked at their assignments. They just wanted to help and all were gracious and thankful. I sill have the folder of those volunteers and their assignments.
Other than my Navy years, it was the best service I've done in my life for my Country. I was so proud of the professionalism and hard work of all the volunteers. If not for them, it would have been a futile mess.
If I'm forgetting duties for the main 5, please remind me. Or if you or others had specific duties, feel free to include them here. You dozens of volunteers made it happen.
BTW, CNN was there for a short time, but C-Span covered the entire event. Used to have a VHS copy, don't know if it's still available from C-Span.
Thanks for reminding me the official name of that tent. In my post above, I called it information/assist tent. You folks were wonderful and provided a central place for the crowd to get info and provided the on-site Doctor a place for his services. Or am I wrong?
Yes, the decency, courtesy, and comradery was amazing. After all was done, I later broke down in my room just thinking about what had just happened. Thank you for being part of it. It still chokes me up.
Bob Barr was there, also Drudge, Ann Coulter, Lucianne Goldberg, Alan Keyes, Gary Aldrich, Larry Clayman of Judicial Watch, Rev. Jesse Peterson and number of others I can't recall.
If this thread continues, guess I should pull our my MFJ file that includes every thing from speakers to volunteer names/handles to conversations with the private security guys to ordering port-potties, to invoices, et al. It's about 3/4 inch thick. Naw. Today is more important.
Yup. That was what some of us called it - The Hospitality Tent. We had water, snacks and later ordered pizza to be delivered. Went through all of it. There was a First Aid station set-up, too.
It was great to converse and take care of people like Lucianne Goldberg, Ann Coulter, Alan Keyes and others who spoke or worked at the rally. Truly an amazing event.
Yes, I know. I insisted on it. It was on my to do list. We also had a volunteer M.D. on grounds. He was in civies, but just a microphone announcement away. As I walked the event to make sure all was in order, I made sure he was still available. I also talked early on with the Park Police about the distance and time for an ambulance. All of us had it all covered. That was the purpose of the night before assigning jobs to you gracious selfless volunteers.
What I didn't know is you guys/gals ordered pizza. I checked to see if you had water early on (think you had jugs), but didn't know you ordered food. Was that out of your own pockets? You folks did a wonderful job giving a point of contact for the participants. I now remember I was informed by one of our roaming volunteers to report to your station because someone had fainted or something. Do you remember a small emergency?
There were jugs of water and cases of iced bottled water we purchased from CVS.
I ordered the pizzas. It wasn’t that big an expense and other volunteers chipped in. Was glad to do so after most of the snacks ran out. I should have doubled the delivery as many of the speakers and guests were pretty hungry by the end of the rally.
I do remember someone fainting. An older woman if my memory serves me. We brought her water and she got attention from a nurse and possibly the roaming Dr.
It might have been Clinton's a Liar since she setup the VIP tent.
Yes, I think she passed out close to your station and was carried or helped walk inside your tent. I forgot about the Nurse. Think the Dr. arrived shortly after. Anyway, all she needed was rest and your water and she was fine. Thank you again for that and buying some food at the end. Very, very gracious of you and the others. You did your duties in an exemplary manner.
You and all the volunteers should be so proud of your accomplishments that day. To my knowledge, not one volunteer missed a beat.
THE only problem we had is when some kid showed up with a long knife on his side just outside the VIP tent. I was heading up the stairs to the stage when someone threw something at my back to get my attention. Turned around and saw the problem and motioned to security who quickly walked him away with no incident. I also had to 86 a couple guys selling their wares in the middle of the crowd. They left peacefully.
BTW, in case your curious how I/we managed the entire event, certain key people had headsets with mics provided by our security. Guess you Hospitality folks didn't have one. My bad. Geeze, all these memories coming back. Thank you.
Now time to concentrate on the elections.
Oh, my goodness, I completely forgot about the knife guy!
Wish I could remember the name of the nurse. She was from Baltimore I think.
I just loved volunteering that day. And thank you for your help and organizational skills. As I recall, the March was put together very quickly and was a great event!
Mrs. jimfree wore a black beret. Goodness. 20 years ago.
There are certain events that are completely remembered.....
Graduating from high school, from college, first day first job
Getting married
March for Justice.
I have the poster on my office wall along with several Post it notes collected on Sunday morning in Fort Marcy Park. We were on a Vince Foster tour and I found the notes, also pinned to my office wall, at various locations as we walked along guided by Patrick Knowlton. The signed notes were left by Lurker No More, ByTor, Yankee and One Anomous Lurker who were on the VINCE FOSTER MIDNIGHT HALLOWEEN FIELD TRIP. One note said”Wrong Cannon FREEPERS-——>” another said “MIDNIGHT FREEPER RAID”, They were dated “October 31 at 12:00 AM FREEPERS WERE HERE”
As I reflect today on these notes, I see the word FREEPERS. I was of the opinion that the term was developed by Lucien Goldberg at the March For Justice. The use of the term would indicate it might have already been in use
Freep originally referred to hammering online polls
I made spinach dip for the hospitality tent. No one got the reference.
Monica initially thought the stain on the blue dress was spinach dip.
Never knew you did that. Thank you.
I heard Ann Coulter was grossed out by it (after eating it).
we went. Lots of fun!
Do you remember the small lady who helped organize the Flag parade? Her FR handle started with a J.
Me too! You & I drove up together from Florida. I remember you wanting to stop for a Starbucks. Are you still drinking that swill?...LOL
Gave up on Starbucks. I’m no longer “on the road;” stick to home mostly. Semi-retired, trying to stay busy. We make some pretty good coffee right here.
I seem to remember you as a coffee connoisseur.
Hope all’s well!
Bttt.
5.56mm
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