Raleigh NC, Patriot Rally Report

me | February 15, 2003 | mykdsmom

[mykdsmom]

It's a GREAT day for a FReep. We had a fantastic turnout at our rally to support our troops. At our largest point we had 100 people. Not bad for having 5 days to organize.

Suprisingly most of the people that showed up were not FReepers but rather people that had seen our rally mentioned in the newspaper and/or heard it on TV. All free advertising that didn't cost us a dime. One attendee is in advertising for a local paper that the peace rally advertised in. The peace people took out 2 full page ads to promote their rally. She informed us that the going rate for one full page ad is $10,000. Wonder where that money came from?

We will be having a lot of new FReepers signing up after this rally based on the responses that we got from people.

FReepers that were there were Constitution Day, wimpycat and hubby, overtaxed, blackbag, Helms, ncweaver, Jimidallas, dstarr, JNW74, shaunnc, shapka, mattwilloughby and daughter, GOP Pat, mykdsmom. I apologize if I left anyone out, I really tried to talk to everyone to find out if they were FReepers or not.

dstarr and her veteran hubby came up from Fayetteville, we had 2 women come all the way from Wilmington which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive away. They just lurk on FR but hopefully they will sign up.

One father came and brought several children that are all homeschooled. This rally was part of teaching them about their country and the freedoms they enjoy by living here. I can't think of a better way to do it.

I was pleased to see the number of young college age students on our side. It really gives me hope for our future generation.

We thanked the police officers that were there and they thanked us in return for showing up. They were definately on our side. I asked one officer for an estimate of how many showed up on the pro-peace side. He claimed they were saying 7,000 but he estimated closer to 2000-3000 total. Only one arrest though so everyone was fairly well behaved.

We got the bull-horns fired up and had some fairly good hearted banter back and forth across the street.

I will post the pictures that I took and welcome anyone to add to this because I'm sure I left some things out.

MKM

[Overtaxed]

Hehehe. You shoulda seen the painted up hippie vehicle that drove past. It was actually running with no one pushing!

[wimpycat]

Great pics, CD! Are you at home or at work today? I called my boss this morning and he said today is a "No go".

[Constitution Day]

I got to Raleigh around 11:15 Saturday morning. I picked up mykdsmom and we rode to a parking deck closer to our rally site.

Despite the claims by the N&O that police presence would be no more than usual, I saw a mobile command center for RPD and at least two paddy wagons, many mounted police, and a host of Raleigh police, State Capitol police and State Troopers.

There were also police spotters visible with scopes on the roofs of buildings surrounding the Capitol. Clearly, the authorities were expecting trouble from the Great Unwashed.

As we walked from the parking deck toward the 100 block of Hillsborough, we met a small group of the "peace" side. I was walking with my "Saddam Thanks You For Your Support" sign facing them. As we passed them on the sidewalk, one of them called me a ‘fag’ because of my sign. So much for their vaunted "tolerance", I guess. LOL!

When MKM and I arrived there were about 15-20 people on our side. Already, we were encouraged, because we had not expected many people.

As MKM said, we eventually had over 100 people. I personally asked many of them how they found out about the rally, and most said they heard through the news, radio or TV, and that they had never heard of FreeRepublic.com until the reports.

One thing that was a lot of fun was wearing the Saddam Hussein mask that MKM bought:

I wore this mask & carried the sign while walking all the way around the State Capitol building, all through the smelly crowd of throwbacks to the 60’s. While doing so, I told many of the lefties, "Great Job" in my best attempt at an Arabic accent (Southern-inflected). I gave them the ‘thumbs up’ and patted them on the back. Surprisingly, many of the people seemed amused, and I only had a couple that were indignant about my being on ‘their side’ in the first place.

We also had several bullhorns present. Some of us sang patriotic songs, in addition to the chants we did (such as "Let’s Roll! Let’s Rock! Let’s go and Free Iraq" and my exhortation to the hippies that they should "Swim to Cuba").

I was very appreciative of all the people who came out in the cold, damp weather to join us. In addition to FReeper dstarr and her husband, who drove from Fayetteville, we had two young ladies who drove up from Wilmington. Thanks!

All in all, I would say our rally was a tremendous success, given the time in which the two of us had to organize and publicize it.

Constitution Day

[Constitution Day]

Hey WC.

Your commentary back at #19 was 'spot-on'!
Yes, I am at work today, but I saw 10+ cars in the median or off the road between Rocky Mount and Wilson.

I just drove slowly... I have too much work to do (because I spent so much time organizing this w/ MKM last week, LOL).

[RightOnline]

Great job, C.D. You know, in a way, it's probably best I wasn't there after all. Some little pissant tosses an epiphet like that at me, and my baser side could easily come out.........and the results wouldn't have been pretty.

That aside, I salute you and all those who joined you in a terrific FReep. You done us proud.

[NCLaw441]

I was in Raleigh for a continuing education program, and heard you on WPTF radio as I was leaving town to return to Winston-Salem. I wish I could have been there, sounds like you did a great job.

[Lee'sGhost]

You guys deserve a tribute or something. Thanks again for carrying the torch.

[Doctor Raoul]

Only one arrest though so everyone was fairly well behaved.

One wopuld think that a peace rally wouldn't inspire ANY arrests.

God Bless you all, with a little extra for the women who drove in from Wilmington.

You did very well.

[Helms]

Nice being with you all. We went toe toe to and some even backed down. I had wanted to take on the Palestinian flag carriers(3) however spent my energies with the old and hippies during the first 1.5 hours. I had also wanted to rally for Isreal, the unforgotten elephant in the room.

[dubyagee]

Great job everyone!

Wish I could have been there, but I am currently adjusting to working again after 3 years at home. I had hoped to get with you guys to see if a piedmont area branch of the chapter would be feasible, but alas, I must slave away. ; * ) I work evenings and weekends so I don't have to put my little one in daycare. Doesn't leave much time for freeping.

You guys keep up the good work and keep me on the ping list!! Thanks...

[Constitution Day]

Hey goosie.

Wish you could have joined us, but I know it's a haul from your area.

Off the subject, but have you heard from callisto?
It's like she fell off the face of FR!

CD

[Constitution Day]

At one point during the mutual heckling, they started chanting "We love you!" at us--you know, to show how peaceful and loving they were.
Not long after that, however, as they started moving off to join the start of their actual march, one guy flipped us off and another guy said to go screw ourselves.
So much for the love. "I thought you said you loved us!" I hollered.

OMG!!

I hate I missed that. Too cool, WC!!!

[Overtaxed]

Hehehe...I didn't miss that!

[dei23]

Here is a copy of an e-mail that went out from the peacenicks:

From: Stephen Dear
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 8:27 AM
To: Progressive Students and Faculty
Subject: [progress] RE: Call and complain to Time Warner channel 14 -- AND WUNC!

There's more. WUNC 91.5 FM's announcer at 8 am Sunday morning read a
story that said protesters claimed that there were 7,000 people at the
rally and then they described the counter protest and ran an extensive
quote from a counter protester! No quotes at all from any speaker or
protester. A new low. Listening to WUNC is a form of masochism.

Please complain to WUNC at 966-5454 and if no one picks up press 2 for
their programming comment line. I told them they have lost me as a
listener.

Steve Dear


-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Morman [mailto:tmorman@nc.rr.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 6:39 PM
To: Progressive Students and Faculty
Subject: [progress] RE: Call and complain to Time Warner channel 14

I've posted the first round of pics from the rally and some commentary
at my
site, www.monkeytime.org. More to come.

Todd

-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Morman [mailto:tmorman@nc.rr.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 5:52 PM
To: Progressive Students and Faculty
Subject: [progress] Call and complain to Time Warner channel 14


At 5pm today, the local all-news channel 14 run by Time Warner reported
the
size of the march as "several hundred." I kid you not. Worse, however,
the
story (like the N&O story yesterday) contained the phrase "a patriotic
counter-protest" to describe the small pro-invasion gathering, and
failed to
mention the small size - 65 people (yes, I counted carefully), thus
spreading a highly distorted view of what happened today. A number of
people
must have complained, because channel 14 changed its estimate to
"several
thousand" in the 5:30 story. Two Raleigh police officers gave estimates
to
the folks I was with of a crowd at "5 to 6 thousand" and "about 7
thousand"
people.

The correction was important, althought 14 didn't acknowledge the error.
The
continued use of patriotic to describe pro-invasion protestors, and the
complete lack of any scale to show viewers what really happened downtown
today, is incredibly poor journalism.

News Channel 14's phone number is 882-4000. Press "1" to get the folks
in
the newsroom now. The first story was about as outrageous an undercount
as
I've ever seen in my life. I have plenty of video footage that documents that thousands of people were present today.

Todd

p.s. Please post details about any coverage!! Videotape it if you can!

[Constitution Day]

Thanks!

I totally understand about the sick kids.
My daughter was sick on Sat. and is still at home (luckily, my wife has the day off).

I hope you can join us next time!

CD

[Overtaxed]

LOL! That just made my day! I just love it when liberal peaceniks get in a snit.

[Overtaxed]

BTW I agree that listening to WUNC is a form of masochism.

[xsmommy]

good for you, CD!! thanks for pinging.

[Overtaxed]

Jerry Agar is talking about the anti-war protestors....hasn't mentioned us.