SAN FRANCISCO POST-RALLY THREAD! (Biggest rally so far---60 people!)

2/16/03 | SeenTheLight

[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

[foreverfree]

Does comwatch have a website?

foreverfree

[bluesagewoman]

Excellent report, and good results for your hard work. Thanks!

[Xenalyte]

Way to GO!

[Jerez2]

comwatch's website is www.patriotwatch.com

[George W. Bush]

Nice FReep. But we love pictures. Of FReepers that is, not those other kind of SF marchers.

[Cultural Jihad]

She probably was protesting Mugabe's goons killing white farmers in Zimbabwe/sarcasm off

Or Saddam gassing the Kurds.

[Cultural Jihad]

Related article:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/844825/posts

[Jerez2]

We will never has as many turn out as the other side. They are mostly college students. This is their social life! One of our counter-marchers today noted that it was like Mardi Gras. I would say AT LEAST 50% of them were college students. A few were old leftover hippies. And of course there were representatives of all the leftist organizations, from environmentalists to Free Mumia types (yay drango for his Fry Mumia sign!). This is their life. We are adults, we have jobs and homes and families. So our numbers will not match theirs...

Still, we got a LOT of attention. They couldn't stay away from us. One lady called them our 'groupies'! Most of them yelled insults. But some of them were willing to talk reasonably, and perhaps we got through to a few of them. That is my hope. That, and that if any troops going overseas turn on their TV and see the protest, they will see that we, too, were out there putting ourselves on the line to support them and our country!

[Auntie Mame]

This is simply OUTSTANDING!

[Patrick the Patriot]

It was quite a day. I was given a great deal to think about and much to write about. I'll be ready for the next rally as soon as I eats me spinach. It was good to meet all of you. I'm looking forward to seeing you again.

[Exit148]

To #10 ---Looks like the Gay Pride Parade.

[Angelwood]

Excellent after-action report! Now for the pictures.......

Congratulations to the Bay Area Chapter and thanks to you, SeenTheLight, and comwatch for getting such outstanding interviews on talk radio to promote the Rallies in Support of Our Troops which took place all across the country. Great job!

[Exit148]

"Just tell the media you had a million people show up, and if they question your count, call them racists."

You can always say: "Oh -- I would say -- under 1000"! and still be truthful.

[Exit148]

I'm glad your numbers are growing! There is something special with being with like-minded friends, while countering the opposition, and when you can get some of them to listen to you ---- then its a plus!

I bet half of those on the other side don't know where Iraq is on a map!

[hedgetrimmer]

If you have any pictures of protesters carrying signs that are anti-capitalist (I saw some on the news tonight) could you post them?

[Slip18]

Sounds as if all of you had a great FReep. Congratulations! Can't wait to see the photos.

[mykdsmom]

Great Job Bay Chapter from the NC Chapter.

Ain't it cool? I LOVE FReepin!

MKM

[Davea]

I heard a Freeper call David Gold's show and another on Barbara Simpson's show. Great work! KSFO really plugged the site. So whay didn't I join you guys? Working :-(

[CounterCounterCulture]

Sorry I couldn't make it, but glad we had a great (better than average) turnout.

Now if we can get as many people as we did the night we Freeped Clinton, the day after the Juanita Broadderick rape allegation was finally broacast on NBC, that would be something. That was our best moment in San Francisco FreepHistory.

[eyespysomething]

Great! I guess I'm going to have to do something in GA. soon.