Patriots Rally For America - Live Report

Dave Dilegge - Live From DC | 20 April 2002 | Mustang

[Mustang]

Received two cell calls from Dave. The stage is set. The flags are waving. The weather is great. They're ready to Roll! Around 0945 the crowd was 50+ including Kristinn, sauropod, Leadpenny, Angelwood, Exit 148, GoreWarVet, Dutchy, Congressman Billy Bob, Black Agnes, TaxMan, TGSL DeComa, WhoKnowsWhatEvil, FireBrand, Country Dummy, Stan Waite, Pro2aMom, 0351Dog. (please pardon any mispelled "names" or omissions. The cell connections were poor).

Around 1015 the crowd was continuing to grow, with some spill over from the Peacenik/anarchist nitwits. Dave reports that it was the port-o-potties that attracted them. But our fearless Freepers labelled the doors "Patriots" and Patriot Women". It seems to be turning them away.

More to follow. Mustang sends from Florida.

[AppyPappy]

I bet I could start a stampede by tossing in a bar of Dial soap.

Still, it's small in comparison to California. My dad used to say that God picked up the United States by the east coast and all the nuts rolled into California. That's when my brother was in the movie bidness in Hollywood.

[Hail Caesar]

I rode the Metro back and had discussions with a bunch of these "Movement" people.

You're lucky they didn't do a "movement" while you were still riding the subway with them. The a/c doesn't always work in some of those trains and their stench may have become unbearable for you. ;-)

[Hail Caesar]

Not to be confused with the other Asian tourist who wandered to the front of the stage with a silly sign. Sauropod politely pointed out to him that several of the words on his sign were misspelled.

I missed that one. Not that I would have been able to spell any better myself. ;-)

P.S. It was great seeing you there today! Can't wait to seeing the great photos you took!

[Mustang]

Captain: Mega "BZ's" re: your above #196 post.

I only wished I was there in the flesh.

Best FReegards...Mustang sends.

[dpa5923]

My daughter was with us at the Patriot rally and noticed on one of the leftist swine that wondered over that he had bugs and lice in his greasy hair. His scrawny girlfriend stunk to high heaven.

These kids won't even bathe regularly.

Besides that, it was a great day and I want to thank the DC chapter for putting it together.

[dpa5923]

Please ping me when the photos (more of them) are posted if you can.

[VaMarVet]

Picture Ping

Mustang - thanks again for today - I felt like you were there with us. Here are my first 20 pics - 23 more to follow when I get them uploaded. Slow connection tonight.

Images in Chronological Order:

Angelwood's Daughter Sings the National Anthem
Taxman Reads Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance
Rally Shot
Rally Shot
Dutchy and Jay
John C. Armor
First Group of the Unwashed Attempt to Disrupt
1st Warning
2nd Warning
Last Warning
Old Glory
Rally Shot
Rally Shot
Support Our Troops
Maria Heil
MC Connie
James Parmelee
Joseph Farah and Kristinn
Rally Shot

[VaMarVet]

Picure Ping and thanks for being there - all of you were great - absolutely great. That is what the Park Police Captain was talking about with me - he came up and shook my hand and complimented each and every one of you.

[Exit148]

I just want to give a couple or so of my observations:

I was at the 'button' table the whole time. I was selling buttons, bumper stickers, and collecting donations. Because I didn't want to leave all the $$$$ I just stayed put, but was able to hear all the freepinfantabulous speakers.

I was also at a spot near the edge of the crowd and had a good view of the passers-by. Many, many against our point of view, were on hand to provoke and heckle. Those who became physically abusive - pulling up our signs, tossing them, pushing, etc. were restrained by Freepers, and the police. At first, the police kept a distance, but when they stepped in, they came in force. There were the usual uniforms, a few on horseback (BOY! did those guys ever make the best use of those horses! One horse could really dance around, and that put an end to some of the intruders.) The motorcycle officers left one central position and manned our area, and when the Palestinians started marching, the ?swat? team' moved in. These were the men all in black, with bullet-proof vests, helmets, leg armor and all kinds of things protruding from their belts. I never felt so protected in my life!!!

There were hecklers and intruders, and challengers, the whole time, but there came a point when it all seem to change, and there was an actual feeling of danger. So many had infiltrated our group and more seem to be moving in, that there was a definite difference in the atmosphere. As the police handles one scuffle, other groups dressed in "Arafat" scarfs moved in. But the police presence made the difference, and after a while it calmed down. The Palestinian marchers finally passed and we were back to just a few hecklers.

Just to give you an example of the fear some had: A man and woman (late 40's, early 50's?)from Florida came into my open tent area. She appeared shaken and her husband asked if she could just sit for a while -- away from the crowd. The woman was wearing a short sleeved t-shirt top that was red/white stripped, with the front - stars on a blue background. It wasn't the American flag, but it looked like it. Evidently she was getting pointed verbal abuse on the sidewalk from the anti-groups. They didn't physically attack her, but close to it. Her husband felt that he couldn't physically protect her, so they came to the tent for refuge. When the crowd becane unruly at that tense moment that I mentioned, she became so scared, that she asked for my rain jacket to put on over her shirt. Imagine -- being afraid to wear something that looked like the American flag!! Not only in America -- but in Washington DC!! After things quiet down, and the police were leaving, they felt OK to leave.

There was another funny incident. A young guy in his twenties, rode up on his bike. He stopped on the sidewalk, took off a baseball-type cap with some writing on it - one word was Palestine. He put that cap under his belt, and put on a different cap, then rode up to our group to listen to the speakers! A cap for each occasion? LOL!

I was interviewed by 3 different college kids, for their school's paper. All were obviously not on my wave, but I answered their questions. All had asked why I was there. (Standard question, I guess?) When I said I was there to be a presence in backing our armed forces and our President, then their questions of course went to Bush, Israel, and the protesters across the street, I wouldn't allow my self to be drawn into their trap. I said that wasn't it a wonderful country where ALL of us could come together and express our 1st Amendment right? HeeHee! One didn't like that --- he said thank you and left. One girl said that her Mother would be glad to hear that there would be more than one point of view on her tape!

There were so many other little plays within the big play, I wish I could list them all.

The one thing I want to make a point of were our speakers. ALL were effective speakers. They all made sense. They all were inspiring, and they all spoke in a simple, straightforward manner. They weren't scripted, they weren't spouting slogans, they simply get it, and spoke as such!!

[Valin]

Thanks for the Flag

[Mustang]

Jeff, Thanks for your above #229 post.

Dave and I originally planned to have him call my cell phone from his. My land line is tied to my pc. After several attempts to have audible connectivity, we decided I should call Dave's cell every 30 minutes, and then post the updates. (as an aside, one of my many "lesons learned" during my Naval career was that plans are made in order to have the flexibility to change. Dave and I did that.

Best FReegards...Mustang sends.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Great photos! Love those American flags! Love those Americans who took the time and trouble to be there!

Huge thank you's to all who organized, put money down, led, spoke, cleaned up, and took the risks to do all that needed doing for this rally today.

(Had a family reunion which had to attend due to aging parent-in-laws - but many times through the afternoon thought about the rally-ers.)

Of course the Park Police should have been impressed - and am very glad they expressed their compliments to you and thanked all those in attendance. (Maybe they were expecting something different? I don't know why - our DC Chapter certainly has a reputation - a good one - as do all Freeper events - by now!)

Pictures are fantastic and the ability to read the first hand reports of the ongoing event as well as the first hand reports of attendees is very welcome here.

Thank you, each and every one of you, who attended or supported this rally in any way.

[rabidralph]

Great pictures, Dave! I will have to wait till pay day to get mine up.

[deadhead]

Thank You All for being there! Excellent report and pictures, thanks for sharing.

[Mustang]

Thanks for your on site report.

It seems like yesterday we stayed around after the '98 MFJ rally and cleaned up.

Love you and yours in NJ!

Mustang sends Best FReegards.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thanks for the PING

Meanwhile, Freepers make it out of San Francisco alive and unscathed. Details and pictures later.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

God Bless You All

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thank you for your report and the pics.

Well done.

I'm proud to call you my friends.

[austinTparty]

They were all effective speakers, you are indeed right! And B1 Bob Dornan took some of those of... shall we say... "opposing viewpoint" on with gusto, as did our own TrueBlackMan. Bravo and thanks to all those who showed up today.

I have to admit feeling a little wave of revulsion at seeing huge leering posters of Arafat and Che Guevara and the Israeli flag with the Star of David converted into a swastika waving over the crowds on the other side of the street, along with various "anti-globalization" (i.e. anti-capitalist) posters. Funny how no one over there who was "anti-war" or "anti-Iraqi sanctions" saw fit to mention the American dead from 9-11. Grr... I'd best not get started or I'll rant all night!