NYC INFINITE FREEP RALLY LIVE THREAD 2-15-2003

Me ^ | 2-15-2003 | Cacique

[Cacique]

Just got off the phone with Firebrand. The NYPD is jerking us around as usual. We are allowed to go through only on 40th street and will have to converge at the corner of 41st street and 1st avenue.I am updating the hotline 917-387-8865 of any changes.

I will try to post with my pocket pc from the location as soon as I get there. Getting in my car and will try to drive into Manhattan.

[abner]

As per seamole, all numbers in Europe seem to be inflated

It's a beautiful thing...

[Exit148]

"ANYONE PLANNING TO ATTEND THE RALLY IS TO GO TO 41ST and FIRST AVE. Ask any officer where the counter rally is."

Well ----What a bust!

I got there early enough, parked on 41st and 2nd, and spent the next 1 3/4 hours trying to get to 1st without first going up to 64th!!

You could only walk on the West side of 2nd, and all the side streets were verboten, unless you lived there. I finally spoke to one officer about my dilemma. He said our rally had been moved to 41st and he let me go East, but the stairs down to 1st were blocked by the police. I could look down at the UN plaza, at 41st and 1st, and saw lots of police, but no Freepers. Those police said that 1st Ave was closed to traffic. I went back to 2nd and tried to go South, but couldn't. All walkers had to go North!! When I spoke to other police, they were polite, but knew nothing about our rally, and told me if I wanted to go to 1st, I had to go 20 blocks North and then come down!!

Forget it! Walking among all those unwashed for that 1+ hour was enough -- never mind for 20 blocks!! The sidewalk was really crowded -- most carried signs, some had radios and I could hear Sharpton ranting, some wore all kinds of peacenic get-ups, some with their pink spiked hair looked like freaks ----- you know -- the usual idiots. I hated being among them as tho I was one of them.

These guys may not have been parading on the street, but they WERE parading! At one intersection, they wouldn't stop and let cars, with the green light, pass. You should have heard the car horns. Drivers were pis++++--- er, ticked off! (GOOD!)

I finally got back in the car and left. The radio news said the anti's were ignoring the police and were crossing barricades to get into the street ----and succeeding. It said there were scuffles as the anti's pushed by and that in some areas, the police were letting them thru.

I tried. I didn't dare hold my sign (BLESS OUR TROOPS and PEACE THRU STRENGTH) up high among all the unwashed. I was chicken and now I hang my head in shame.

It was frustrating not to have some way to get in touch with those at 'ground Fr.com'. Maybe next time we can exchange cell#?

[abner]

Wow! Valiant effort! I'm just glad you made it out without any major bumps or bruises!

Again, wow!

[Conservababe]

You have nothing to be ashamed of, really. In a fluid situation you must go with your gut instinct.

Your efforts are appreciated.

[freeperfromnj]

WTIC radio in Hartford is reporting that seventeen train cars of peaceniks are heading to NYC from CT!

New Jersey's "peace train" only managed to scare up 150 peaceniks. LOL

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?j0120_BC_NJ--Anti-WarProtests&&news&newsflash-newjersey

[fatima]

I am proud of them all,wish we could see it on TV.

[Tamzee]

How incredibly frustrating :-((((

They won't follow the rules and so other people are denied THEIR freedom of speech.... utter slime...

NY Post said it perfectly yesterday, called them "rabblement".

[StarFan]

I was chicken and now I hang my head in shame. In shame? You can't be serious after all you endured. Please hold your head up high for your valiant effort not only today but for all you've done in the past. Are you still in the City?

[Exit148]

"The NYPD were cheering and waving at the FReepers while they walked the three blocks from the rally site to McFaddens Restaurant at 2nd Avenue and 42nd Street. The rally is over and our stalwart crew is warming up because it was COLD outside.

You know what? I NEVER got cold!! I was walking so much, up and down, back and forth --- that I didn't even use my hand warmers!

About the police. I spoke with 6 to 8 different policemen. Each time I identified who I was looking for. I made it a point to say that I was NOT with the antis. They smiled!!

I passed McFaddens a couple of times and thought of waiting there for everyone, but I also thought that since I didn't see anyone at 1st and 41st, when I was at Tudor Place overlooking the UN area, that the rally may have been cancelled. This is where phone contact would have been helpful.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Sorry I couldn't be there - thanks for updates...

[freeperfromnj]

Were the freepers also up near Columbus Circle? The AP is reporting that there were as many as 1,000 demonstrators countering the peaceniks with signs that read "Bomb Iraq."

[baseballmom]

Don't you dare !!! You were there - you've got more guts than most people. Next time....

[Angelwood]

Thanks for the report from among the so-called "peaceniks." Don't worry about anything. You were there! And lived to tell about it! LOL

Seriously, you did what you could to make it to the rally and circumstances were beyond your control. It's good that you left before getting run over by some of these peace loving types who made sure that they flaunted the laws and perhaps intended to do whatever was necessary to get arrested.

You done good, Exit. FReep On!

[StarFan]

This is where phone contact would have been helpful. Let's try to rectify that. I was told by 11:00 a.m. police agreed to tell freepers of the new location. Apparently someone fell asleep on the job.

[PianoMan]

Hey y'all, I wandered over towards the protests at about 2:30 - the earliest I could get there - but didn't find you guys. I didn't have net access this morning so I couldn't get the info on where you were. I saw what looked like some Young Republicans holding up small "we stand with our president" signs.

Glad you made the effort! Take heart in that the turnout for the lefties was a disaster.

[StarFan]

Were the freepers also up near Columbus Circle? The AP is reporting that there were as many as 1,000 demonstrators countering the peaceniks with signs that read "Bomb Iraq."

GREAT NEWS PING!

[Angelwood]

I believe an exchange of cell phone numbers is in order before the next rally and counter protest. Some of us have already done that, but we certainly need to organize so we can stay in touch better. Sorry you missed seeing them all at McFadden's.

[freeperfromnj]

It's mentioned at the very end of the article, second to last paragraph

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/topstory/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0556_BC_US-Anti-WarProtests&&news&newsflash-topstory

[StarFan]

Thanks. Wish they were more specific as to location.

[NYC GOP Chick]

First pics are in!

Truer words were never spoken...

This is when we were able to move to where we could see and be seen by the freaks. For the better part of an hour it was the FReepers Vs. the Freaks, and we did quite well! The great unwashed (literally) had to walk the FR Gauntlet, with often amusing results. :)

Of course, no Anti-US/Free Mumia/Hate Israel/Hate Bush gathering would be compelete without the pali supporters.

This was one group of anti-America protestors who had just walked the FR Gauntlet. Ladies and gentlemen, we have met the enemy and they are dumbasses.

Race Bannon attracted a couple of screechy NAG hags who came over to hector him and wound up getting an earful.

Part of our group of Proud Patriots.

The loony left, always a class act. Look at the sign which shows what one airhead is offering up for peace. Such wit and dignity...

More pics to come later...