TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS - March 1, 2003 in Washington, DC and Across the USA !!

self | February 17, 2003 | tgsltakoma

[tgslTakoma]

This past weekend I was thrilled to read the accounts here on FR of all the rallies, large and small, that my hardy fellow FReepers organized or participated in across the country.

It was a great effort and you made a difference.

At a bare minimum, these "Support Our Troops" rallies gave a morale boost to law enforcement officers on the scene and to our fellow citizens who came in contact with us. While the rallies were not the main story, our message was picked up and reported on in various media outlets, letting families of servicemembers know that patriotic Americans are making their voices heard above the din of the so-called "anti-war" protesters.

The leftist organizations are drawing on a forty-year head start of demonstrating and poisoning the minds of young people with anti-Americanism, hence their ability to bring out large crowds without much effort.

While their success in changing the viewpoints of rational people and the adults in the White House about defending America from terrorists and rogue regimes with weapons of mass destruction is doubtful, they are giving aid and comfort to our enemies and giving them great fodder for propaganda.

I recognize public protesting is not a full-time calling for conservatives. Most of us have families, jobs, studies and other productive things in our lives that we'd rather do on the weekends than go stand outside and hold a sign. However, when the issue is of critical importance we do come out in large numbers--impeachment, the Gore Wars, gun rights and pro-life marches for example.

I believe that this is one of those critical moments when we need to take to the streets.

FReepers have been doing a good job getting out and countering the leftists. Now we need to wage a campaign to convince our fellow patriotic citizens to join us in public demonstrations of support for our troops and the efforts to rid Saddam Hussein's regime of WMD and the Iraqi people of Saddam Hussein.

Freepers who belong to veterans groups, church groups, gun-rights groups, PTAs, home-school groups, colleges, high schools, unions, book clubs, quilting circles, etc., can help to spread the word by actively communicating the need to take it to the streets, and guiding these folks to the rallies that FReepers are organizing.

It is imperative that the anti-American left does not go unanswered like they were during Vietnam. Many FReeper veterans of that era can testify to the destructive influence that the left had back then at home and abroad. Our soldiers were abused at home and their enemy on the battlefield was emboldened. We must not allow that to happen again.

On Saturday, March 1st, the DC Chapter of Free Republic will be holding The Patriots Rally for America IV, from 11am until 3pm on the grounds of the Washington Monument. We have a permit for the Sylvan Theater, which is an excellent venue as it has a professional covered outdoor stage and a large field that can hold thousands of people.

We are asking our fellow FReepers to make the sacrifice of time and effort to come to our nation's capital that day to send a message of support to our troops and a message of resolve to our enemies abroad (and on the homefront.)

In addition to being there, any assistance you can provide - such as: distributing flyers, calling talk radio shows, contacting your local media, informing your families, friends, co-workers and email chains - will help immensely.

Members of the DC Chapter will be doing all we can here, but we need your help.

We have already received commitments from several speakers and are working with local College Republican groups and others to get the word out here.

If you are in the DC area and would like to help please contact me, Angelwood or Kristinn.

We will be making a formal announcement about the rally soon.

[LisaFab]

Damn! Will be returning from ski vacation on 2/27. Don't think the budget will permit my third DC trip in four weeks.

[marls00]

I have been searching the internet for an "anti-Sadam" rally to counter the recent "peace" demonstrations. Is your March 1 rally being organized as a Free Republic event? Can't you join forces with other organizations, unite like-minded Americans who stand behind their president? I want very much to participate, but I want it to be BIG. Not a couple of hundred of people. . . I would like to see thousands of people. If you pool your efforts with other groups and really get the word out, it could happen! What do you think?

[Dutchy]

Please bump your ping list. Lets support our D.C. Chapter!!

[Z-28]

Thousands marched in San Diego last weekend in support of our 250,000 sailors and soliders already in the Gulf ... but the local and national media cameras were nowhere to be found :(

Has anyone suggested that the other side might want to look up and read the "sedition" statutes in the U.S. Code before their next embarassment? At least the leaders?

[Taxman]

Like your web site.

Thanks for the map.

[Taxman]

If you can get here, you have a place to spend the night.

Taxman's FRee FReeper Hotel/Motel/Flophouse is within 20 minutes of the Rally site and the cost is reasonable -- it is FRee!

Bring soap, towels, blankets or sleeping bags and pillows. Little short on amenities (hey, I never promised you a 5 star hotel!) and beds, but you are welcome to stay here.

Yo! FReepers! If you need a place to stay, please let me know.

[Angelwood]

Good for all those marchers in San Diego and fie on the media that ignored them. Still, you have to keep getting out there. The troops need all the support we can muster and the anti-American agenda of the anti-war organizers needs to be shouted to the rooftops.

I hope the San Diego marchers can get out again on March 1 to stand united in support of the men and women fighting the war on terrorism and preparing for the fight ahead.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

they are giving aid and comfort to our enemies and giving them great fodder for propaganda

EXACLTY!

Time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country. Europe is starting to go wobbly.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

I almost think it would be better to stay home so that we could be the "silent majority".

Sorry we tried that 1966-1973. Didn't work so well. Off yor @ss on on your feet!

[Bob J]

I believe the LA Chapter leaders, Rondog and Doughty1, are working with Ted Hayes on a "March Against Terrorism" during the LA Marathon on Mar 2. You might want to check with them.

[LisaFab]

Wow! What a great offer - much appreciated! Will talk it over with my CT FReepmates.

Thanks Taxman!

[Little Bill]

Supposed to be off if that remains true I will be there.

[Taxman]

No poroblem, LisaFab, unless there are 100 or so of them!

I can probably accommodate up to 10 or 12 people here -- all would have to sleep on the floor in sleeping bags, but there is plenty of floor space, and the carpet and pad are relatively soft.

Hot water would be a problem. Navy showers for all would work, though.

Y'all come on down!

[Taxman]

I agree with JVB. While the "majority" was silent, the FReaking LIEberal/Socialist/Marxist Bastards almost stole our country.

We can take our country back, but JVB is right: Get off of your a$$ and help us. We need all the help we can get!

[Taxman]

Were you part of the Roger Hedgecock pro America demonstration at the 32nd Street Naval Base?

[tgslTakoma]

Hiya, marls00 ! Let me be the first to welcome you to FR. Take a look around; I'm sure you'll find lots to interest you.

Check out the thread that Jimmy Valentine wrote on 2/13/03 about the AU, GU and U of MD College Republicans who held a protest at the French Embassy here in DC - who we worked with to get the word out here on FR.

Also check out the thread about the January 18th rally and counterprotest that we organized, with the cooperation and participation of Joel Kernodle and his Vietnam veterans group "MOVEOUT," Aziz Al-Taee spoke on behalf of the Iraqi-American Council. Curtis Sliwa (founder of the Guardian Angels) was a speaker and the DC Chapter of the Guardian Angels also attended and participated.

Another good thread to take a look at is the after-action report for the Patriots Rally II - where we worked with GWU College Republicans to promote and organize the rally. Bob Dornan was a guest speaker at that event.

Patriots Rally I was last April 20th and we worked with the Northern Va. GOP to make that rally happen. Northern Va. GOP and James Parmelee are great folks who we have worked with many times since November 2000, on projects of interest to both of our groups.

The DC Chapter is only a little more than four years old, but in that relatively short period of time, we have formed strong working relationships with many conservative commentators and conservative groups, as well as having a good working relationship with DC area reporters.

Thanks for your interest in helping to make this a big event. Are you local to DC? If so, do you have any other groups to which you belong that may also be interested in attending? Please let them know that we welcome everyone who supports the US efforts to rid the world of Saddam Hussein's WMDs and rid the Iraqi people of the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein.

Bring a carload of friends with you when you come to the rally. If everybody brings a carload of friends, and tells a dozen friends to do the same, we will have a huge rally.

[RandallFlagg]

Ping for Colorado's Patriots!!!

[sauropod]

Will do. Still researching the production questions.

[sauropod]

It will be GREAT to see you again!

[sauropod]

I will go home and practice this.

But Strats Rule!!!! 'Pod