Photos from the Tower District "Peace March" rally and protest, Fresno, Ca, 2/15/03

Fresno/Central Valley Chapter ^ | 02/15/03 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Photos from the Tower District "Peace March."

My guess is there was probably a couple thousand of "them" vs about ten of "us." We were pretty much alone on our little corner, at first, as a huge crowd began forming across the street. Hundreds of marxists, peaceniks, hippies and assorted weirdos kept streaming in until the parking lot was completely filled with a swarming mass of misguided humanity, and then they lined both sides of the street for about two blocks, including moving in on and surrounding us good guys. Learned first hand that the nice thing about being surrounded is, you can attack in any direction.

Them:

The good guys:

Present today: Jim Robinson, Saundra Duffy, Stuart Weil, At Bay, and several people who were with us last night. Sorry, I did not get there names. Plus, we were joined by a couple patriotic families who were attracted to our flags and banners.

After the street rally, they marched up to Fresno Community College about six blocks north of the Tower District. We positioned ourselves at the entrance to the campus and heckled "Saddam's Human Shields" as they passed to and fro in front of us.

One aging hippie lady couldn't take what we were dishing out and actually came after At Bay. He took a few steps backwards but the old hippie bull dyke kept charging. Hadn't been for a quick thinking police lady stepping in, I think the old gal would've given At Bay quite a beating.

Some peace rally. Oh, well. We were few in number but I'm glad we were there. There were camera crews and reporters present from several TV stations and newspapers. I'm sure they'll get a good write-up and I'm also sure that several of the camera crews got good shots of a handful of patriots proudly waving the flag amidst a sea of traitors!

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Greetings Jim Robinson, FReepers, et al:
Nice after action report. "Peaceful" peace protesters, LOL!

[WOSG]

These protest were organized by ANSWER and other Leftwing/ communist organizations. They have a hidden agenda quite a bit different from Al Quaeda, but have a common "enemy" in american might power and freedom.

that they are timing tings around now is not surprising because both know that now is the moment of greatest risk for the US and our alliance. But that doesnt mean there is any link.

[Creekblood]

For being few in numbers, you were strong in spirit! Great job! I sure would have liked to have been there....except for the stink of patchouli and unwashed wannabe hippies in the air!!

[Amerigomag]

Just watched the 11 o'clock news reports. Saundra got almost 30 secounds of air time on one channel.

Go getum Duffy.

[Jim Robinson]

Way to go Saundra!!

[humblegunner]

You guys had a day much like ours!

mash here!

[Jim Robinson]

Yes, very similar. Thanks very much!

[at bay]

Tried to post earlier, but after writing it, the screen froze! (first time for that). (BTW for any frustrated at the speed of dial-up, at most Starbuck's you can use WI-Fi which works at the speed of dsl if you have a laptop.)
Yes, we were outnumbered, but not surpringly, these morons listened most intently when we announced a message from either Soddidhisownson or their other hero Umama bin Layin. It's as though they would embrace a terrorist if he would only stop frightening them. And then I realized that is the ultimate goal of the terrorists and has already succeded with the weakest of our numbers here.
To a moron, when challenged to back up their constant mantra "No blood for oil" with evidence, not one out of dozens of people I asked could cite a source or engage in otherwise articulate discourse. Their basic level of articulating was a thumb or finger pointed our way.
The flag of their hero Che flew high, while the american flag was turned upside down, a fact that did not distress any of their numbers. No, a bonehead or two will explain, there is a sinking ship they are distressed over, and that sinking ship is all of them.
On this I would agree. If the rest of the country were as spineless as these, we would in fact be a sinking ship. The lady who ran towards me, when she finally did dialogue a bit said only "I lost family members in the holocaust." then she literally ran away. How she decides that that justifies physically attacking me I am at a lost to explain. Some of these morons are vey confused people. Almost all want to harken back to earlier mistakes this country might have made, including a Finnish woman who was angry we didn't help her country more fifty years ago.
Go figure. One thing these folks all had in common is that they hate this country. Sometime I'd lke to have a fleet of buses standing by with the front windshield signs saying "Anywhere out of this country you want to go." (more)

[at bay]

Looking out at the rallies coinciding with Iraqui staged rallies, these people including those in Fresno, are really the first casualties of the war of terror against us, but casualties deserving no sympathy. The are the terminally afraid. It explains the large numbers turning out to protest a war that doesn't even exist

The next counterprotest it will be healthy to confont these individuals with their own fears. In a way, saying there is a message from the enemy and watching them listen with baited breath is an indication of how frightened and confused they are. The sooner we liberate Iraq the safer the whole world will be.

[null and void]

Hi Mo! Not to Fresno. I'm going to SF today, though.

[null and void]

They are the terminally afraid.

Me too.

Although I think, maybe, of different things...

[Heartland01]

Dear Freepers:

Have you read this : http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/6212172p-7160626c.html

What a skewed view of the 'Rally'! Thanks for your uptotheminute presentation of the facts!

[Calpernia]

I am still apalled, angered? I can't find a word that fits. Seeing the media coverage of these a$$ that are using the 'entitled' rights to spit on us, disrespect our country and leaders, oh never mind. I'm babbling.

[Calpernia]

Ah, going to apologize now. You responded to me in the forum I posted in last night. I assumed from the 'login, view my comments' you had responded to my post in another forum this morning.

SORRY, I have not gotten the feel of these message boards yet.

[Flyer]

Houston BUMPS Fresno. Another fine job!

[FresnoArmyBrat]

I was doing a little research...or recon I guess you would say on the anti-American peace website and saw that on March 16 the peace freaks are going to be at the River Park shopping center...I'll be there to let the troops know I support them! See you guys next Friday.

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for mentioning TV coverage. I had no idea. Yahoo! Did they play the part about us being upset cuz the traitors were flying the American flag upside down? What a freep!!! At one point a police officer chastized me for calling the traitors "traitors". He said it would incite (sp?) a riot. Imagine that. They can fly the flag upside down and get away with it but when I call them "traitors" I get in trouble. Go figure. But anyway, it was a great day and a major great freep! Jim Robinson has got to be the best patriot in America! Go, Jim!! He loves to wave the flag and we're proud to stand by his side. For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Please keep us posted on the enemy's plans. It'll be fun to rain on their parade every chance we get. For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

From today's Fresno Bee:

Fresno anti-war rally biggest since Vietnam

By Louis Galvan
The Fresno Bee
(Published Sunday, February 16, 2003, 6:02 AM)



In one of the largest anti-war rallies in the Valley since Vietnam, about 1,500 men, women and children marched Saturday to protest possible U.S. military action against Iraq.
"Let's not call it a protest," said Vincent Lavery, a peace activist for nearly 40 years and one of the organizers for the Peace Fresno-sponsored event. "It's an act of beauty."

The crowd started gathering about noon in Fresno's Tower District, filling up the parking lot across the street from the Tower Theatre and fanning out along Olive Avenue between Broadway and Van Ness.

Chanting and singing anti-war slogans and songs, the protesters passed out literature, picked up their picket signs and greeted other supporters with hugs and peace signs before making the seven-block march to Fresno City College for a 90-minute rally.

Ray Ensher of the Interfaith Alliance said the demonstration was neither anti-American nor pro-Saddam Hussein, but instead was a cry to find a peaceful solution with Iraq and to oppose President's Bush push for war.

"There is no denying that Saddam Hussein is a very, very evil person, but there should be other avenues to remove him," Ensher said in an interview before the march started.

About a half-dozen people brought a different opinion about U.S. involvement in Iraq. Yvonne Portillo of Shaver Springs, who said she was there to support the men and women in the military who are risking their lives for their country, said the only way to stop Saddam is with force.

"He hates all of us ... me, them [pointing to the anti-war protesters] and you. He has to be stopped."

The protesters were not allowed to march in the street, but instead took the sidewalks on both sides of Van Ness, some walking alone, others in pairs or small groups of four or five.

Some parents carried their children in their arms, while others loaded them in baby strollers and bundled them in blankets. About a dozen had dogs on leashes and at times strained to keep some of the animals away from one another.

While most of the protesters were believed to be from Fresno, there also were people from Reedley, Sanger, Selma, Kingsburg, Visalia, North Fork, Auberry, Madera, Porterville and many other Valley communities in attendance.

There were doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, construction workers, farmworkers, veterans and elementary, high school and college students.

Many carried signs or banners that read: "Wars Don't Stop Wars, People Do!" "Kids For Peace," "Veterans for Peace" and "United Against War."

Betty Sempadian, 72, of rural Madera, who said she marched in San Francisco in the late 1960s against the Vietnam War, carried a large red, heart-shaped sign that read: "No U.S. Troop's Blood For Oil."

Sempadian, a retired registered nurse, came alone to the rally.

"I don't represent anyone," she said, "just myself."

Sempadian said she is convinced Bush and his administration are lying about the reasons for getting into war with Iraq.

"Just like the government lied to us about Vietnam," she said. "And if there is no truth, there is no justice."

Silas Bickham, 11, who came to the rally with his parents, Bruce and Lisa Bickham of Squaw Valley, admitted he was too young to know all the answers.

"There are some things I can't figure all out," he said, "but it's not hard to figure that war is not the answer. War is not good."

Before the rally got going, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and former California Secretary of State Bill Jones united Saturday morning to pledge their support for Bush's stance.

"America has fulfilled its responsibility to the United Nations," Autry said. "Now it's time for the United Nations to fulfill its responsibility to the world."

The reporter can be reached at

lgalvan@fresnobee.com or 441-6139.

[Saundra Duffy]

The lady wearing the "body bag" get-up. Atbay went after her and claimed she was wearing a burqa and how America had freed the women of Afghanistan. Atbay was HILARIOUS!! I wish every freeper could have seen his antics. It was really brilliant. For victory & freedom!!!