Dueling rallies for war, peace (NC Patriots' Rally mentioned in Raleigh N&O)

The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC) ^ | February 14, 2003 | Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Staff Writer

[Constitution Day]

Friday, February 14, 2003 6:12AM EST

Dueling rallies for war, peace

By MOLLY HENNESSY-FISKE, Staff Writer

RALEIGH -- Organizers who hope to draw thousands to an antiwar rally at the Capitol on Saturday must deal with a pro-war rally that will be just around the corner at the same time.

But they said Thursday that they aren't worried about any friction.

"All voices need to be heard on this, despite what side you're on," said Mandy Carter, co-emcee for the antiwar rally, being advertised as a rally for peace and timed to coincide with similar events in more than a dozen major cities, including New York, London, Paris and Rome.

The real challenge could come from a third group, organized by N.C. State University students who plan to march down Hillsborough Street several hundred strong early Saturday -- possibly through the pro-war rally -- to join the protesters at the Capitol in their stand against war with Iraq.

Freshman Jared Milrad, 19, of South Brunswick, N.J., said he and other organizers knew about the patriotic rally. "We see it as a nonviolent action, and we're really just trying to organize young people," he said. "We plan to just be peaceful and respectful."

Susan Eaton, vice president of the state chapter of freerepublic.com, said she organized the "patriotic counter-rally" to support troops headed to the Middle East after hearing about the antiwar protest, but she said she was unaware of the students' march. She said she is nervous about aggressive behavior she has seen in televised footage of some recent antiwar protests but is counting on police to provide enough security.

"I have been told there's going to be a strong police presence," she said.

Raleigh Police Maj. John Kramer said no additional officers will be added because of the rallies, beyond the normal contingent for crowds that size. He said he spoke with NCSU police Thursday about the student rally and does not expect a conflict.

Kramer said the pro-war group is expected to be small -- about 30 people. State Capitol police plan to add 15 officers Saturday to a normal patrol of about five officers, said Maj. W. F. Etheridge. NCSU police also plan to add officers for the student rally, said Sgt. John Barnwell.

Because students did not apply for a city permit to march from the Bell Tower on campus to the Capitol, Kramer said they will have to stay on Hillsborough Street sidewalks. With a Hillsborough Street bridge closed for repairs, they will likely avoid the pro-war rally by detouring onto Morgan Street to get to the antiwar rally, he said. The antiwar rally is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. and end about 3 p.m.

Carter, director of Southerners on New Ground, a Durham-based lesbian and gay rights group, said she spoke with Raleigh and State Capitol police about security concerns. The antiwar rally's organizers also plan to provide several "peacekeepers" to watch for disturbances in the crowd, she said.

Antiwar groups in some cities, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem, are sending contingents to Raleigh, while Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Morehead City, Pittsboro and Wilmington have scheduled protests of their own.

There is a 70 percent chance of rain Saturday, but both Carter and Eaton said the Raleigh protests will go forward, rain or shine.

Staff writer Molly Hennessy-Fiske can be reached at 829-4884 or mhenness@newsobserver.com.

[Constitution Day]

Note the writer's characterization of our rally as "pro-war".
After being mentioned on Jerry Agar more than once yesterday, I think we will have more than just 30 people show up.

[Constitution Day]

NC FREEPERS: Patriot Rally, Feb 15th, Support Our Troops

Don't be a FINO (Freeper In Name Only)!
Come out and support our President and our troops!

[Constitution Day]

FYI

[dei23]

I think it is amazing that despite MKM's notation that this is a Patriotic Rally they refer to it throughout the article as "pro-war". Do you think there might be a little bias???

[Constitution Day]

Let's remember, it IS the News & Disturber.
This is about as fair as it gets for them.

[Constitution Day]

BUMP

[wimpycat]

bump!

[Constitution Day]

Back atcha

[CanisRex]

My Wife just got this email at work (She works for Duke U) and she is livid about the use of their email to further the unwashed agenda (oh, and we and our Jack Russell will make the "pro-war" rally):

This is complete B.S.!
----- Forwarded by XXXXXX/MCDev/MCAdmin/mc/Duke on 02/14/03
09:09 AM -----

XXXXXXXX
To: MCDev-Diamondview
02/13/03 10:38 AM cc:
Subject:




NC RALLY FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
Saturday, Feb 15, 12 noon, rally and march
Assemble at the Old State Capitol at 11:30AM
West Morgan Street @ Fayetteville Street Mall

Location: Old State Capitol West Morgan Street @ Fayetteville Street Mall
Raleigh North Carolina
Contact: Andrew kangaroo@email.unc.edu
Sponsored By: NC Peace and Justice Coalition, formed by over 200
individuals and organizations to oppose the war on Iraq and build long term
movements in NC for peace and justice http://www.ncpeacehub.org

[wimpycat]

I got an e-mail from someone I don't even know with some leftist "anti-war" (I put that in quotes because these people don't give a damn about Iraq, this is all about their anti-capitalist leftist agenda) propaganda on it and info on some so-called "peace" demonstrations. I e-mailed her back and told her not to send me any more e-mails.

[Lee'sGhost]

It's times like these that really make me hate the fact that I work for state government. If only I were financially independent.

I wish you guys the best.

[Gopher Broke]

2 comments:

First, I would be LIVID if I worked for Duke and got their via their email system...I would complain first to the President of Duke, then my Congressman and Senator in the state.

Carter, director of Southerners on New Ground, a Durham-based lesbian and gay rights group, said she spoke with Raleigh and State Capitol police about security concerns. The antiwar rally's organizers also plan to provide several "peacekeepers" to watch for disturbances in the crowd, she said.

Yet more proof these "anti-war" rallies are really just ANTI-US and PRO-LIBERAL rallies...organized by the usual leftwing groups in America.

[sauropod]

"The antiwar rally's organizers also plan to provide several "peacekeepers" to watch for disturbances in the crowd, she said."

This is one smart idea the other side is doing.

[Constitution Day]

It's quite alright, LG. Just think of us.

[Constitution Day]

I thought so too, 'Pod.

[mykdsmom]

I just want to clarify something in this article that makes me mad. I NEVER said that we were nervous. I said based on past "Peace" rallies in larger cites ie: NY and DC these groups have shown themselves to be anything but peaceful. I told her that Raleigh PD has told us there would be a strong police presence so we weren't really expecting any problems.

They actually butchered my words much less this time than in past times when I've given them interviews. I also asked her to put in the article that even though the FR chapter organized the event that anyone that loved our country and military was welcome to come and join us. I notice that was conveniently left out.

Oh well, it is the N & O after all, one of the biggest wastes of trees and newsprint in the Mid-Atlantic.

MKM

[snooter55]

Raleigh is, of course, The Capitol City of The Great State Of North Carolina. Unfortunatly, it is also the "capitol cesspool" of the stinking lefties and dumba$$ college kids. I move that we change the Capitol of NC to CHARLOTTE !
Snooter ;o)

[Lee'sGhost]

Thanks, but it's not alright with me. I want to do more, but just can't. Some day when we have that beer you'll find out why.

[Lee'sGhost]

"I also asked her to put in the article that even though the FR chapter organized the event that anyone that loved our country and military was welcome to come and join us. I notice that was conveniently left out."

Go to their website and send in a politely worded letter to the editor saying that others are welcome. (Don't mention that the reporter left it out; they won't print it if it appears to "attack" the reporter. Just write it as if the article had not even been writen.) If you send it now it might make tomorrow's a.m. paper.

[Constitution Day]

Hmmm! Interesting.

Some of us will be heading down to Tir na Nog to get a beer after the rally, which officially ends at 2:30.
If you want to meet us afterward (away from the cameras), let me know.

CD