Posted on 10/27/2001 5:13:11 PM PDT by Aeronaut
Today several Freepers and other true patriots countered a "peace through total surrender to terrorism" rally. The organizers declared that there were 1,100 protesters at this event. Capitol Security said the Capitol steps only hold 500 people, and the steps were not full. There were about 30-40 Freepers and friends. Chants of "Osama needs a hug!" rang out. We sang "God Bless America." We noticed that among the <sarcasm> 1100 </sarcasm> protesters there were no American Flags. We must have had at least twenty.
There were some great signs, too. I hope some of the Freepers have pictures to post. I brought my digital camera, but I ended up being too busy with "mutt management" to get any good pics.
Freep on!!!
Thanks, -Wade Englund-
I was amused at how many of them were paying more attention to us, then to their speakers. They also seemed to be easily distracted by loud noises (us).
Donna Halvorsen
Star Tribune (AKA) "Red Star"
Published Oct 28 2001
From longtime war resisters to students attending their first demonstration, several hundred people came to the State Capitol on Saturday to protest the U.S. bombing in Afghanistan.
"The acts of September 11 are crimes against humanity," said Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a University of St. Thomas professor and one of the speakers. "They should not be called a war, and they should not be responded to with war."
The speakers were a mix of Arabs, Jews, students, professors, war veterans and longtime peace activists, their causes encompassing human rights, the environment, militarism and the global economy along with the war in Afghanistan.
"My message here today is to stand up against injustice, wherever it may be," said Deena Khatan of the University of Minnesota's Arab Student Association.
Longtime protester Polly Mann said that the strength of antiwar sentiment is stronger than it is portrayed in the news media, and that the nation's leaders are not listening. "When we get enough people in the streets, they'll listen to us," she said.
Joe Schwartzberg, a retired University of Minnesota professor, spoke for the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers when he said the war in Afghanistan "will do little to rid the world of terrorism and will promote neither global peace nor global justice."
Imam Hassan Ali Mohamud said Somalis and Muslims in the Twin Cities, while condemning the terrorist attacks, also condemn the killing of "many innocents and civilians who did not commit any crime against us."
State Rep. Andy Dawkins, DFL-St. Paul, was at the rally with his two young children. "I really think the bombing of Afghanistan is a failed policy and is only jeopardizing our security," he said. "I think they've got the message right here today."
David Thompson said, "I don't believe what we're doing is right." He is a student at Augsburg College in Minneapolis who was attending his first demonstration. "I don't think killing other people will solve the problem."
While that sentiment was cheered by a crowd estimated by Capitol police at 300, it was jeered by about two dozen counterprotesters, some of whom labeled the speakers traitors, cowards or morons, told them to shut up and called their speeches boring.
Bob Mallon of St. Louis Park came upon the demonstration while on a tour of the Capitol and joined those in the antiprotest group because he supports U.S. policy.
A native New Yorker, he said he recently visited ground zero, the scene of the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center. "I smelled the dead," he said. "I touched the dust, and in that dust was what was left of those people."
Paul Slaton of Hopkins, who said the Nazis killed most of his family during World War II, also stood with the counterprotest group.
"I was opposed to the Vietnam War, but not this," he said. "The Vietnamese didn't attack us."
The signs told the story of the day. The demonstrators' signs expressed such sentiments as "War is terrorism" while the counterdemonstrators' signs included "Wake up and smell the anthrax." As the demonstration ended, two chants competed: "Say no to war, say yes to global justice" and "Osama needs a hug."
-- Donna Halvorsen is at dhalvorsen@startribune.com .
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Sounds like the "Usual Suspects" for the Anti-American crowd.
Great Job!! With I could have been there.
The socialist peaceniks continue to demonstrate their hatred of America - I pray these marxists will be dealt with accordingly and deported to their commie Taliban homeland. Perhaps then they will understand and appreciate America.
Bump to SiouxperGal; see what you missed out on?
Thanks, you brightened up a long night.
You folks deserve our utmost respect. Thank you for containing the enemy.
That made the news.
Protesters and speakers, who included war scholars, community leaders, representatives from college student organizations and social justice groups, argued U.S. bombings will not bring about justice for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., while a few dozen counter-protesters disagreed.
Anti-war demonstrators argued the United States' presence in Afghanistan is mainly starving, injuring and killing civilians, and discussed other alternatives.
"Violence should not be met with violence,'' said Ann Hanson of St. Paul. "We should be asking what caused people to be so angry to bomb the World Trade Center.''
Venu Vuruputur, a University of Minnesota post-doctorate associate, said he does not believe war is the solution and wants to find peaceful measures to resolve issues. He said there should be more education before there is reaction.
Vuruputur, who is from India, said he has been the victim of harsh reactions locally following the Sept. 11 attacks. Two comments while on campus, including a person shouting "go back to your country,'' caused him to shave his beard two days later so he would not fit the stereotype of what some of the terrorists looked liked.
"I came to (this college) campus because I thought it would be more open-minded,'' Vuruputur said. "It's disappointing.''
As protesters cheered and speakers spoke against war, they were occasionally interrupted by the chants of about 30 counter-demonstrators waving U.S. flags and accusing the anti-war protesters of being terrorist supporters.
Alex Levin of Plymouth said he supports the war because he believes it is for the greater good in combating global terrorism, which he sees as the larger threat.
"Peace is definitely preferable to war. But there are just wars,'' he said. Unfortunately "it's inevitable that civilians are going to be killed, but there's no way around it.''
Nancy Ngo can be reached at nngo@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-2149.
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