Posted on 06/13/2004 2:07:23 AM PDT by FalconAZ2003
Okay, this is something I've been thinking about for a long time. Since the FReepers and PWs have a lot in common, I suggest the formation of an alliance. We PWs link to you guys, you link to us, we coordinate our operations, and so on. My thought is that we need to forge alliances with other conservative organizations, with those right-of-center, with the undecided. This is gonna be a long campaign against the ANSWERtroopers, against the leftists who hate America and seek to destroy everything that we love about her. First off, I suggest we start with the planned operation in New York City - "Liberty Rising." I believe there's been a thread posted about this previously. How about we start working on how to coordinate a rally together. The rest of us can get in touch with any conservative groups they have contact with, and we can go from there. Our numbers are steadily growing, but numbers are nothing without synchronicity, without connection, without a common purpose. What say we get this alliance started?
Can you help put me in touch with the Alan about PW cosponsoring a national event such as we are planning on Sept. 11th?
That's the problem. Once you publically endorse or co-sponsor an action and encourage people to attend, you open liablily issues if anyone were to get hurt. The question would be, was there a reasonable expection of violence? On stand alone rallies you could convincingly argue there wasn't. However, for a counter rally, all a lawyer would have to do is read some of the after action reports here on FR to show there was a pattern of "dangerous situations" that the organizers would of, or should have been aware of.
The PW are a great group and do wonderful work, but let's admit it, they are mostly young college kids with no assets (like a home) to protect. Most FR members simply cannot afford to put themselves and their families in that kind of situation.
Okay, point taken. Fine then. Then how about we just keep each other better informed? Anyone who wants to join us PWs could just join outright via HQ, for example.
I just think that we need better coordination in organizing these things. I can understand the worries about liability issues if it were an outright endorsement, though, so...
Well, how about PW and FR just keep each other informed about any upcoming rallies - about meeting places and such, so then if there were to be any joint actions, well, that would be the result of the people there choosing to participate. No liability issues as far as I can tell.
But then I'm just a college kid who really doesn't know much about the legal aspects.
The rule is, when in enemy territory, go for vote suppression, that is go negative on your opponent.
When in friendly territory, go for voter turn out, that is skip the negatives on your opponent and go positive on your guy, and go for increased voter turn out.
Protest Warrior is mostly a negative vote suppression force.
I think FR and PW should be kept separate. FR and PW should only collaborate when in enemy territory like Washington DC, and not in flyover country or even the suburbs.
Going negative in friendly country only suppresses your own supporters. Going negative in the other guys turf, suppresses his votes.
I agree. Up until now I think they have been mainly involved with the DC Chapter of Free Republic. Opening up the lines of communications with the FRN would give them close access to the other 55 chapters.
Want to help?
Good points.
The question would be, was there a reasonable expectation of violence?
Bob J--after seeing pics of protests on their sight, I would LOVE to have these buff citizens on our side if there were to be a "reasonable expectation of violence" lol!
Why does it always have to boil down to SEX....huh?????....why???????? /SARCASM ;^)
I think they provide them or sell them on their site?
BTW - I'm a registered member of PW.
LOL! Even cooler! ;o)
That is the objective, encourage individually but don't make it seem like an obligation.
" This closer communication would be mostly for the sake of those that wanted to join the counter-rallies, to keep people better informed about them, and so on."
Agreed. The best way to do this may be to encourage people to go to their site and sign up as a member. I assume that would put you on any email lists.
"While the rallies have never become truly violent, I understand your point."
The problem is, every event gets an after action report here and most of the time they seem to concentrate on the in your face incidents. The last report I read, someone came in and stated something to the effect of "Every rally we have we have near violent incidents". In this case unfortunately, FR is a journal of record and could be used as evidence for opponent attorneys. It could even be used by attorneys of people attending in support of PW if they were to get hurt.
I don't distrust FReepers or teh PW, but I never trust an attorney.
BTW Falcon, I am not trying to be negative about this, only realistic. As I said, it has been discussed by the FRN Board, Exec Team and the chapter leaders. Although I agreed with the conclusions, I'm just the messneger here.
It's a guy thing.
HAHAHAHA!!
Bump
That's a smart approach. There are some certifiable sociopaths in that ANSWER crowd, and there's no sense in FRN taking on any legal liability by organizing a counter-protest where people could get hurt.
I understand completely. I was not talking about an outright merger, merely a sort of strategic partnership. Information is the key to victory, after all.
And I do understand the idea of the in-your-face incidents beng of note, but I think the reason they stick out is that they are very rare and help to point out the hypocrisy of ANSWER's so-called moral superiority. They try to take the moral high ground at every rally.
As I said, the Idea I'm proposing is a strategic partnership. You guys help us, we help you. I personally believe in safety in numbers - if we show a greater presence at these rallies, I think we'll gather more media attention.
I am also worried about violence, just as much as anybody. This is why, as you said, the point is to encourage, not to make people feel obligated to show up.
I am one of a very small contingent of ProtestWarriors here in Arizona, so I guess I feel better in a crowd of supporters. I also think we could get more done working together.
Thanks for the response. While we don't want to shrink from that tactic, it really should be an individual decision to take on whatever might happen.
We try to make most FR rallies friendly enough for people to bring their families. PW rallies are a different animal and it would be tragic if people were to confuse the two and take a small child to an ANSWER counter protest.
This is NO criticism of the PW's. They do a great job out there and that strategy will appeal to a certain number of FReepers, but not all.
I'm all for a working relationship. Whenever you guys have an event, contact the FRN and we can put you in contact with the chapters in those areas, if you don't already work with them.
Of course, putting up threads like this are also very productive. There's a couple thousand members of FR chapters but tens of thousands of people on this forum everyday.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.