Free Republic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Some high humidity and summer-like temperatures weren’t enough to deter many in the Jacksonville community from coming out March 29 to show their support for U.S. troops currently deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Organizers for Operation Support Our Troops estimated some 2,000 members of the Jacksonville community turned out for the event at the Duval County Veterans’ Memorial Wall downtown. “I felt that something positive needed to happen in Jacksonville,” said Cindi Davis, event organizer. “The troops overseas are going to receive a tape of this event.” Amid numerous pro-U.S. chants and cheers, many turned out...

<p>Emery Esse felt compelled last Saturday to show support for U.S. troops fighting in Iraq. So, the 52-year-old former Marine sergeant got permission from area law enforcement agencies and went to the Larimer County Road 36/Interstate 25 overpass and waved his American flag.</p>

On Saturday I joined Little Bill, RaceBannon, ElectricStrawberry and others at the Boston Common counter rally. While they did the talking I was taking pictures. I ended up with 288 (including about 25 short Quicktime video clips). The best 100 (IMO) are posted here: http://www.pbase.com/lev/bos_com_rally3_29_03 I especially like the 40 below. For print size/quality image files email me at lev@bigfoot.com Sorry, no captions. Any volunteers? :)  Check out Little Bill's and RaceBannon's reports from the rally. Pictures on pbase.com and below are in chronological order. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them! Regards, Lev

Provo residents, leaders and community organizations gathered at a pro-American rally Saturday March 29 in front of the Provo Library. More than 100 people gathered to demonstrate their allegiance to America. Car honked their horns in support. The rally was sponsored by the Utah Coalition of the Willing. "This time, we're going to send a message loud and clear to our troops," said Candice Chilcott, chair for UCW. "We love them. We want them home safely and will do whatever we can to make life better for them." The Daily Herald Freedom Band played patriotic music and Morning Star dancers...

It was a beautiful day in San Francisco on Saturday, 3/29, in more ways than one. Not only was the weather fantastic, but the Civic Center Plaza was filled with patriotic Americans. Unlike the anti-war rabble that has dominated the plaza in recent months, the crowd at Saturday’s ''Support Our Troops Rally'' was clean-cut, well-behaved, and positive. There were probably about 800-1000 people at the peak of the rally, and even afterwards, when the crowds had dwindled, many people stayed to chat. And across the street in front of the steps of City Hall, an impromptu group waved flags and...

<p>Dozens of flag-waving rallies for American troops in Iraq look like spontaneous, grass-roots gatherings. But many are orchestrated by conservative political groups, just as anti-war protests are led by peace groups and activists on the political left.</p> <p>Rallies for the troops took place this weekend in cities and towns including New York, San Francisco, Miami, Cleveland, Honolulu, Jacksonville, Concord, N.H., Harrisburg, Pa., and Kingsport, Tenn. More rallies are expected.</p>

DAILY NOTEBOOK.... IN OTTAWA, FRIENDS OF AMERICA STAND WITH UNITED STATES March 31, 2003: Pouring rain didn't stop thousands of ordinary Canadians from gathering on Parliament Hill, in Canada's capital Saturday, for a rally in support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. In an obvious symbolic slap in the face of official Ottawa, and Canada's senile Prime Minister, the crowds enthusiastically waved American and Canadian flags in support of the United States and the war to liberate Iraq. "Our allies are going to win this war, they're going to win it with the silent majority of Canadians behind them," Canadian...

None of us Coloradans posted an official "Operation Infinite Freep" thread this weekend, which would have made it easier for the rest of you to find us. What happened was that the pro-troop rally reports and photos all kind of got merged with another thread. Sorry! To see them, go to - Pro-Troop rallies in Longmont Co organized by 16 yr. oldand start reading at around reply #55 to #59, and then #71-#74 - more or less. Quick summary - there were at least 6 rallies here in N. Colorado - Special mid-morning rally of 150-200 troop supporters on I-25...

A group protesting for peace in Iraq faced unexpected confrontation Saturday afternoon when a hastily-organized crowd met them with threats of violence and profanity. During their march from the Baton Rouge Beach to LSU's Greek Amphitheater, about 70 peace demonstrators said they support American armed forces, but they oppose the government that sent them into war. About the same number of people, incited by a local radio station, shouted them down with obscenities, patriotic chants and cries of "Traitor!" Along with plenty of American flags, several of the signs they carried demeaned the marchers: "Protesting this war while our...

Rally draws 1,500 to back U.S. troops By SEAN GONSALVES STAFF WRITER MASHPEE -In the shadow of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, a crowd of about 1,500 gathered yesterday in a Mashpee Commons parking lot to declare their support for U.S. troops fighting in Iraq. And to send a message to those who publicly protest the war. "I'm just here with the family to show support for the troops," said Bourne Fire Chief and former Marine Charlie Klueber as he and his family, flags in hand, walked from their car toward the rally stage. "I'm tired of the antiwar protests. They...

Rose Remine, of Oak Ridge, served as head organizer for a war rally held Saturday afternoon in front of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. The rally location, at the intersection of Kingston Pike and Cedar Bluff, was selected based on high traffic flow and was not directly sponsored by the church. East Tennessee rallies back troops, war effort Hundreds defy rain, chill to gather in Maryville and on Kingston Pike By INA HUGHS, hughs@knews.com March 30, 2003 While American troops advanced in the desert, hundreds of area residents battled rain on two fronts Saturday to voice their support of President...

<p>The Nashville-based Laotian Airborne Association — a group of veterans who fought with the Americans in the Vietnam War — gathered last night in Smyrna to voice support for the war in Iraq.</p> <p>''We are the faithful allies,'' said Col. Khambang Sibounheuang, a proud warrior known as Col. K.B. to his American military friends. ''We support George W. Bush. We support our troops in the Gulf.'' He added that he wanted the troops to come home safely.</p>

<p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — One hundred and one balloons flew over Clarksville yesterday afternoon in honor of the 101st soldiers deployed to the Persian Gulf. The balloons were released by children during a rally on Fort Campbell Boulevard that drew about 400 people.</p>

A 12-block-long surge of demonstrators, most of them Cuban Americans, flowed across the heart of Little Havana on Saturday to pump up support for a litany of struggles that stretched from the future of Cuba to the war in Iraq. With chants of ''Long Live America!'' and ''Long Live A Free Cuba!'' they applauded the Bush administration's tough stance against terrorism and likened Cuba's Fidel Castro to Iraq's Saddam Hussein. But the sea of red, white and blue flags along Southwest Eighth Street, known more commonly as Calle Ocho, also conveyed one distinct message: that the exile community in...

Another great FReep on the people of Medford on Saturday, March 29, 2003.

Posted on Sun, Mar. 30, 2003 Thousands rally on Calle Ocho Continuing call to change Cuba's regime nsanmartin@herald.com 'LONG LIVE A FREE CUBA!' Cuban Americans surge down Southwest Eighth Street on Saturday to support the fight against terrorism and to renew support for democratic reform on the island. A group of (moderate) exiles plans to visit Havana next month. DAVID ADAME/AP A 12-block-long surge of demonstrators, most of them Cuban Americans, flowed across the heart of Little Havana on Saturday to pump up support for a litany of struggles that stretched from the future of Cuba to the war in...

I made a banner to hang on the side of the truck for the benefit of the Women in Black. They are deeply concerned about the welfare of children. The banner says: 15 YR OLD BOY CRUCIFIED IN WINDOW OF IRAQI PRISON - THE PEACE OF SADDAM. (The word Peace is represented by the Peace Sign). A Leftwing British MP was informed of this incident on a visit to Iraq and I read about it on the FREEREPUBLIC website. Being a little late, I got the banner hung and decided to walk behind the Women as they had just started...

Ashland, Oregon Rally ReportWe had a great rally in Ashland, Oregon this past Saturday, with around 60 people showing up to support us. Not as many people as have been showing up in Medford, which is only 10 miles away but worlds apart culturally. Ashland is a liberal, artsy-fartsy college town and Medford a blue-collar industrial town, just a few scant years removed from its logging and mining roots.The anti-war people stood right next to us, on the same side of the street. They didn't really give us a bad time, other than the incessant drone of their ever-present drum....

Organized by the local chapter of The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the call went out through the week to return to the front lines once again with signs of support for our troops. One Hundred and Sixty Patriots assembled on the corner of Standiford Ave. and Sisk Rd. today to voice their support for our troops. The above intersection is right off the Highway 99 freeway on the north end of Modesto. First, a little history. Two weeks ago, the antis decided to hold their peace vigil on the corner where the Armed Forces Recruiting offices are located. They called...

Support Our Troops Rally 3/29/2003 "Outpost 122" Camp Murray, south of Tacoma, WA March 29th, 2003 Washington members of FreeRepublic (http://www.FreeRepublic.com) joined many other Pacific Northwesterners in the latest of ongoing rallies of Operation Support Our Troops (http://www.ron-siddell.com ). This time it was held at "Outpost 122", the popular name for the entrance to Camp Murray at Exit 122 from I-5, south of Tacoma. The rally was scheduled for 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, but as usual it got off to an early start. Those driving in from the north got a hint of what was coming as rally-goers appeared...