Posted on 02/16/2003 6:27:50 PM PST by SeenTheLight
It's been quite a day for Bay Area FReepers and friends! There's a lot to cover, but I'm gonna keep it brief and just get the ball rolling for comments and input.
The big news is that we had our largest counter-protest yet! We did a head-count at the peak of the protest and we ended up counting close to 60 people! Keep in mind, two rallies ago we had about 7 people and last time, we had 15. So we've come a long way! It looks like all the extra media outreach we did really paid off. Most of the non-FReepers that joined us heard about it on KSFO, so we've got to give a big shout out to our friendly neighborhood conservative radio station!
When we first arrived, we discovered a major hitch in our plans. The City Hall steps, where we were supposed to meet, were blocked off with a line of buses parked in front. We convened in front of the buses (on McAllister) and stayed there for quite a while. But the "peace protesters" soon had us backed against the wall of buses. The police officers were worried about our safety, so they herded us down to the corner, where we set up shop on the grassy knoll. It ended up being better than the City Hall steps. We had our own corner, which was blocked off to the rabble and the police were protecting us. Next time, I think we should make that our meeting spot.
Some engaged in arguments, others yelled back and forth, and some of us just made our presence known. I spent a lot of time talking and getting to know my fellow counter-protesters and just ignored the hordes of rabid peaceniks, so I had a great time!
Thanks to comwatch, who had set up some cell phone numbers with the David Gold show on KSFO, we did several interviews live. Mine was brief, but very energetic--with the FReepers chanting USA in the background! A few other people also did interviews with KSFO and we all took part in media outreach with whoever was listening! Channel 7 interviewed one of us and I just saw the very brief coverage of it about 15 minutes ago! Other than that, I haven't heard a word about us, despite our large numbers and growing presence.
I can't think of all the FReeper names to thank right now, but let's just say the Bay Area Chapter was in almost full attendance, plus flagbrigade and his folks and of course comwatch and other Sacto FReepers.
Afterwards, a bunch of us went for drinks, political organizing and laughs. So a good time was had by all!
Please add your comments, photos, ect...
Thanks everyone for all your help and great work!
SeenTheLight
It seems the "most likely to have earned a section eight or alleged" veteran crowd, found a another brow beating tactic. Slimy Scotty Ritter often beat up newsies with a similar tactic; whenever a newsie would begin to question Ritter's 180 degree flip-flop. Questioning your right to counter-protest, since you did not serve in the armed forces.
If a "thanks for your service" doesn't calm them; you might want to respond with something like:
Tell me sir, what did you think about Al Gore disqualifying out our soldiers/sailors overseas absentee ballots? You've been hanging with the same crowd which supports the Gore military voter disenfranchisement scheme.
If you get any response other than agreement with you after that zinger, it is likely they are not a veteran. This veteran thanks you FReepers for supporting the young men and ladies of the US Armed forces. Don't forget to e-mail the troops with your FReep stories. They will love it. And consider the news source they suffer. They're watching CNN.
#68 - Honor Roll - PatL
#78 - Thanks OLA, like "R.E.S.P.O.N.S.E.," the trash can lid one is mine, too. : ) Glad you liked it. Gee, can you believe the Lefties thought it stunk?! LOL! (The picture is of a FRiend holding it.) And, because of the flags, some fool (perhaps French) young "reporter" came over and started asking about the relationship/friendship between the US and Israel. "Zum beople zink eetz too muuch." I said, "Ya got a problem?....Get lost." EUdiot.
#74 - Thanks CCC. You're right! And prior to the "march," numerous radio stations were plugging the march, but, no mention of a (our) pro-America rally. Maybe in the future we can make more of an effort to have them announce our rally as well, because it is certainly free advertising for the Lefties - yeah, "peace" march. /sarcasm
#82 - FREEPER MEETING!
#84 - Can anyone answer HRC? Thanks.
#88 - YO! STRATMAN! : )
#89 - SACRAMENTO DUMP DAVIS RALLY! Thanks for the info MarCarl.
#91 - whoo-who null and void! : )
#94 - Ugh! (IMO) Watch out for that one! She's an (ir)regular. (Seen her before and she has an "act" and trying for a photo-op.)
#101 - Thank you OLA. : ) All, please see #101. Thank you.
You are so much nicer than me.
I would have visibly melted, and said you have such a lovely french accent! So much nicer than the German you'd be speaking if the US hadn't stood up for you in WWII...
All quality bonding time.
I have no regrets!
I've seen some, but heck, I can never find the posts when I need 'em. The biggest problem is that you *FIRST* need to get 'em from your computer to the internet. Then you can link to 'em using HTML .
First check with your ISP (Internet Service Provider such as Earthlink) Some ISPs provide server space for photos. Follow their suggestions. If you don't have an ISP with photo storage here are a bunch of free and pay sites that make it very easy to store/upload. Google link
Also, I'm checking out a solution that FreeRepulic may have! I'll FReepmail you when I know more.
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