[facedown]

RedWing9 Field Report:

The anti's are still there and completely surrounded by police.

The police estimated our rally at 3,000 to 5,000 people.

GREAT JOB FREEPERS!!!

[JasonC]

Thanks - the people out there were great. We had some talk radio personalities (one taped the crowd saying the Pledge to use on his program), a state senator whose father fought in Normandy in WW II, many veterans. Some patriots on Harleys circled the plaza gunning their hogs, and in those glass canyons that makes quite an impressive sound. Also got honks from passersbye, reacting to all the waving flags. Street hawkers sold extra flags to people without (now that is capitalism lol).

One guy was leading some Assyrian Christians who had left Iraq for Chicago to be able to practice their religion in peace. He said he still had relatives in Iraq who he hadn't seen for 30 years, that he hoped to be able to see again soon. Said many there in the exile community were committed to helping rebuild a democratic Iraq, thanked Bush and our troops, etc. Had a big sign, made sure the media got pictures of it. As one speaker acknowledged, referring to the smaller counter demonstration, "all the Iraqis are over here".

[HalfMyBrain]

CLTV: 11:30
Live coverage of the sputtering Mayor winding down a press conference about city security. I called CLTV--(630) 574-2588. to encourage them to cover the rally. I told them I normally don't watch CLTV but was hoping to see the pro-America rally I was hearing about on the radio.

NOON
CLTV led into the coverage with a big graphic title behind the anchor: WAR PROTEST. Mary Frances Bragiel interviewed the pro-America rally organizer onsite (a bearded man named Andy). She seemed confused--what were these people here for? Thankfully, Andy was an EXCELLENT spokesperson, including the time he ALMOST got into the "they are commies" argument but wisely refrained. Great choosing of battles, my man!

1:00 AND LATER
The rally story got bumped later and later into the broadcast.

The graphic lead-in was a little different, and cleverly accomodated local and world rallies of all sorts: WAR REACTION. The script leading to the story teased,
"But not ALL the participants are against the war..."

No more Andy interview. Now they began repeating a piece taped at least THREE HOURS EARLIER (deceptively, introduced by, "Mary Frances Bragiel IS WITH US NOW...") showing arguments between the opposing rallies and...

SHOWDOWN SHOWCASE
Also taped before the rally, some interesting interview vignettes. CLTV showcased two pro-Americans with quick, intelligent comments.

* A young lady with hair pulled back beneath a bandana, and wearing trendy/nerdy eyeglasses. First impression: college liberal...except for the colors of her bandana: red, white, and blue. Oh, and yes, her words of support for the troops, hinting at the true nature of the opposing side--"This is not about Bush. It doesn't matter what you think of President Bush."

Then there was the "other side." CLTV let the man speak for himself... l o u d l y and in circles!

* The raving man was accompanied by a continual background drumbeat. His eyes never blinked and his pointed finger never stopped jabbing while he recited his simple case. "The war was wrong last year, it was wrong last month, it was wrong last week, it was wrong last night, it is wrong now..."

At the tail of this oft-aired segment, the reporterette mentioned that the pro-America rally numbers "overpowered" the BushWhackers' numbers.

I have a feeling when the pro-America folks leave, the antics of the BushWhackers will find their way into the spotlight, pre-empting any mention of the patriot brigades that graced the Federal Plaza grounds.

[tenger]

I will be posting a few pictures from the rally if I can figure it all out. Lots and lots of flags. The appearances by the Harleys were cool as well.

[steveegg]

Nice job. I caught the WBBM (See-BS) report on my way home from the Milwaukee rally (police-5 in number including 3 on horseback-estimated at well over 2500, FReeper estimated at 3500), which really gave you guys short shrift.

We didn't have many disruptors up here; they were all on the Lower East Side, while we had Downtown basically to ourselves.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Yes, also did you notice or hear that the police only came out in numbers and donned their full-fledged riot gear when more anti-Americans showed up on the other side of the fence????????! What does THAT tell us - hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?!

We were definitely viewed as the good guys out there today and Braziel at CLTV just didn't know how to report the GOOD stuff happening. I'm writing them a letter as we speak.