Operation Infinite FReep: Report from the front lines - Pieceniks in Grand Rapids

My Eyes | 1-29-03 | Myself

[Dan from Michigan]

Well, I found I had enough time to make it down for a counter rally. There wasn't many of us there, but they didn't mess with us anyway.

I didn't have time for my signs, so I just went and grabbed my "No Jackasses" pin and put it on my coat and left. I drove down and saw the Burger King on Michigan Street. I didn't see anyone there except the pieceniks. I know the busses were out for these people. There was a church in Grand Rapids(Congregational) that was there. Many came north from Kalamazoo which is more left wing. Lansing and Ann Arbor had their reps too.

I walked around and picked up a Mountain Dew from the local party store, and saw a few locals at the corner that supported our troops. I joined them for awhile, and the lefists started circling around the block in groups. One of the guys on our side(who served his country) was making a few enemies. "Let's Roll! Kick Ass! Go to Iraq!" Things got a little heating when one assclown anarchist too chickens**t to show his face was blasting a loud boombox and blasted out some Rage Against the Machine wannabe stuff calling the USA terrorists. Well one of the locals who joined us on lunch break from his work threatened to break his radio if he didn't turn it off. He left the area. Good. I wish I had a boombox of my own though...with Kid Rock(I believe he had a shirt that said "F - IRAQ" or Nugent on it - Two musicians that love this country.

The motorcade went by. I saw an SUV there with some of the Secret Service people inside. They looked like Gangsters. Dark suits and MP-5's(I think). Cool. Bush went by as well and went to his next event in town.

I thought things were about over then. Nope. They were just getting started. I saw a few big sign and a couple of US Flags there. A few others on our side were there. I saw signs that said "Bin Laden Thanks you(something like that)", "Saddam Thanks you". Their side all gathered up as well. I joined the other side, where freepers "Republican Hippy" and "freepersup" who came all the way from Central Illinois to give em hell. One of the locals that joined us there gave me one of the Freeper signs that were passed out. We started marching down one street about 200 yards in front of the protestors when a GRPD Police Crusier BLOCKED them from coming. They all just erupted and I wish I had a picture of that. I expected a riot. Things cooled down there.

The cops however put all of us in one area. We were surrounded(BRING IT!!) by the pencilnecks and company once we were all mixed it. Once I was surrounded I couldn't pass up having my arms out to my side in a "Bring It" type of gesture. A few were yelling at me "Killing is Wrong!!!", etc etc. Lots of yapping back and forth. Lots of oil references and Bush AWOL references.

There was guy up on the roof of one building(where a lot of people were at). He's a Marine who had a freeper sign and a big US Flag. When the pieceniks were chanting "F- Bush", he responded with "F- Saddam" There was the usual "Hell no, we won't go" chants. I saw one sign "No tax cuts for the rich." What the hell does that have to do with this?

Two assclowns deserves special mention. One was a guy with a "US Flag" and a "peace" symbol where the stars are at. That ain't right. Another was a bigtime dumbass. He told me that a plane didn't fly into the Pentagon. It's true. It's true. I replied "What the F*** are you are talking about? I saw the Pentagon(I was there at CPAC last year).

I know Freepersup talked to the media there. I avoided that since he is a more elequoent speaker than I am. I probably could have made some snide remarks there. He did an excellent job IMO with the speaking there, and may be on WLNS(Lansing 6) and Flint's Channel 12 and a few other stations.

Unfortunatly, I don't have any pics.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm actually a waverer on this war with Iraq(Although I don't like Pieceniks, and I HATE their backers). I'm not a pro-war person unless there is a damn good reason. Mike Rogers was one of the few that laid out a good case for me in his speech at the convention. Bush I know hinted at AlQueida(sp) being tied to Iraq. I also have a friend who was a cop. He's from NY and has a lot of NYPD friends. There's something there.

If there is a tie between Bin Laden and Iraq, then I back this.

[Dan from Michigan]

ping

[FourPeas]

Thanks for the report. I'd contemplated going down but with two small children, it probably wasn't the right place to be.

Do you happen to remember the name of the Congregational church? I have family in the area who are associated with that denomination and the info might come in handy.

FP

[Dan from Michigan]

UC I think, although I'm not sure. Someone mentioned where it was. (68? 86th st - something like that) Supposedly, there are a ton of anti-war signs on their lawn. I don't know, I'm not from the area.

If I was a parent, I would not bring small kids there. Lots of colorful language(I'd watch mine with small kids around(I'm bad but not THAT bad), but others wouldn't), bullying, and stuff like that going on.

[APBaer]

When you see "*Pieceniks* in Grand Rapids" 
You had better check into a:

before you wear a
"No Jackasses" pin on your coat"

[RepublicanHippy]

I can ad a little to what Dan from Michigan has told you. There were around 500 anti-war protestors, according to a local news station. A total of 10 people were arrested for trying to incite a riot, etc. and for trying to overturn a truck with someone sitting in it. I watched as one guy was thrown to the ground by police about 20 feet from me. Freepersup is a real trooper. He stayed up all night making signs then driving 360 miles to join us.
Photogirl (a new poster on FR) took photos today and will probably be posting them sometime tonight.

[Flyer]

One was a guy with a "US Flag" and a "peace" symbol where the stars are

I have noticed a new theme from the left - "It's our flag, too"

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Support Your Houston FReeper Chapter!

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[Indy Pendance]

Piecenik is a better word, since their protests tend to be anything but peaceful.

Good report Dan. Thanks for being there.

[RepublicanHippy]

Hey Dan, it was nice to meet you in person. Sorry I left without saying goodbye. Next time we need to have some Free Republic signs so we can get the word out.

[concentric circles]

Thanks for all your efforts. I don't think there are many pro-war people here or anywhere else. There are, however, countless legions who believe that liberty and self-government are ideals in need of champions; that those who cherish peace deserve protection from those who love tyrany; and that those who would lay waste to your home and parade in the blood of your children must be met and must be stopped.

Watch Colin Powell. He won't convince everyone but he will convince those who can still have an original thought and who have seen that there are barbarians abroad in this world.

[steveegg]

Great description of the loonies (they literally want the Islamists to have a piece of this, a piece of that). IMHO, they're ALL interconnected over there.

[Rebelbase]

Did you see any SUV signs?

[CharacterCounts]

drove down and saw the Burger King on Michigan Street. I didn't see anyone there except the pieceniks.

You didn't happen to run into Mr. Ritter trolling for teens, did you?

[eleni121]

Well, I am 100% behind my President. Period. It's unfortunate that Grand Rapids which I have always thought was a bastion against left wing loonies had to suffer through these idiots. Thanks for the report.

[BlueOneGolf]

Check out this Nov. 11 2001 article from Great Britain:

http://www.observer.co.uk/focus/story/0,6903,591439,00.html

It describes how Iraq sponsored terrorist training camps and taught them how to hijack airliners with boxcutters in a Boeing aircraft fuselage on the ground in one of these camps! Yeah it's an older article but it is compelling.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Thanks, Dan, for being there to give the pieceniks a piece of your mind!!!!!!! Excellent FReeping effort and thanks for this report! Glad to hear about the two brave FR souls who drove all the way to Grand Rapids from Central Illinois!!!

[Dan from Michigan]

That was an intentional spelling since they didn't want peace.

[tgslTakoma]

Good for you, Dan; especially because you are a waverer, as you called it. Most important thing for us is to get out in the streets and counter the communist-led money machine that is feeding the "anti-war" effort in the US - at the same time we voice our strong support for the troops who are on the line ready to assure we continue to have the right to assemble as we do now.

I'm sure there is proof, and very good reason to go get Saddam Hussein - and believe that if the proof is made public that we would lose our intelligence sources on the ground who are supplying it (either they'll get caught and killed, or they will have to be pulled out for safety).

I'm trusting my government on this one, this time. I don't think I could have said this if Algore was our prez, tho. I Know I couldn't have used the word "trust" while Clinton was in the White House. I guess we'll see for sure in a few weeks.

We'll miss seeing you at CPAC this year. I'll be splitting my time between SAS and doing DC Chapter stuff. Take care, Dan.

[exnavy]

Thanks for the report. I couldn't make the rally myself, maybe next time.

[rintense]

Nah. GR used to be pretty conservative. It's growth has caused a lot more grief, hence, more liberals. That's why I moved to the Lakeshore. ;)

Dan, thanks for your very detail report. Once again, the peaceniks prove all words and no thought or subtance.