Posted on 08/24/2002 6:25:54 PM PDT by DrewsDad
The false peaceniks descended on Crawford Texas to protest President Bush's warnings to Saddam and Iraq. There were roughly 150 protesters gathered in the parking lot of the Crawford Community Center(football stadium) when we showed up. We arrived a bit late thanks to taking the scenic route through Waco and were directed by law enforcement officers arround a series of roadblocks. After indicating that we were peaceful protestors instead of "hecklers", we were directed to a parking area.
We decided to scout out the area first and promptly found the Iraqi sympathizers. Someone in the group noticed a lone woman carrying an America Flag on the other side of a tree line behind some barricades. We approached this brave soul and found Txrangerette holding down the place set aside for the "hecklers".(Apparently, she didn't know the peaceful protestor password)
While we were debating rather or not to drive around to the "heckler" area, Blastus returned to the car, grabbed his sign and started toward the protestor crowd. I think Gracey was being interviewed by the Waco Tribune and others started heading back to their cars to join Txrangerette. Since I rode with Blastus who wasn't moving his car, I grabbed my sign and wandered back to the protestors. Needless to say, a few of them noticed our signs and started swarming around us asking questions. We informed them that we were peaceful protestors exercising our first amendment rights and enganged them in further conversation. For the most part they were courteous but extrememly mislead.
After a bit of discussion, we noticed that the rest of our FRiends had gathered on the other side of the fence in the "heckler zone". On the way back to the car, we saw that Gracey was defying the zoning restrictions a bit and had come a bit closer to the fence. We drove back out to the roadblock and around through a camping area and joined the others in the "heckler zone".
We scouted the area a little bit and were about to join the others behind the barricades when a local Sheriff car pulls up and threatens to "haul us in" if we don't stay in the right area. So we made it to the right place where PetroniDE and Jobshopper were making their presence known. PetroniDE had brought his megaphone and since we were confined to the "heckler zone", we decided to start heckling. Waco-k and her husband joined us and we had a great time in the "heckler zone".
Here is a picture of all our signs and another one of my New Democratic Party Planks sign.
After numerous shouts of "You're helping out the oil companies by driving your cars", "Where's your electric cars", and other chants, we took a group photo and headed back to town.
By that time TheSarce had arrived and we joined her in the coffee shop. President Bush(ok, just a cardboard cutout) was there and joined in the fun.
Overall, a good time was had by all(or at least me) and we gave numerous interviews and let the peaceniks know they won't go unchallenged.
Howz my little buddy?
Gracey is aptly-named....waving the flag with that big, beautiful grin...."Bravely" and "Disarming," too. (^:
LOL! Yeah, I can relate to that.
Isn't the Coffee Station with the cardboard cutouts and pictures a hoot? Did you eat there? The food is darned good for cafe food!
Valerie, don't feel bad. I'm the biggest heat wimp in the world and don't know if I'd have been able to handle it today for more than a little while even if I'd been free. If there's another summer Crawford FReep maybe you and I can do something on a consultant basis from the air conditioned Coffee Station.
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