Protest Security Personnel/ Counter-Protesters Clash in Washington

JohnnyPNews.com ^ | 10/25/2003 | by John S. Pappas

[Jen]

Washington D.C. - 10/25/03

Counter-protesters were harassed, threatened, and some assaulted by security personnel of the anti-Iraq Occupation rally (International A.N.S.W.E.R.) before police appeared and relocated the counter-protesters in Washington D.C. today. No arrests were reported, but there was one unconfirmed report of a pregnant female counter-protester being injured in the fracas.

The counter-protesters, consisting of members of the web-based ProtestWarrior.com and FreeRepublic.com, arrived at the protest at approximately 1:30PM carry pro-America signs and positioned themselves just north of the stage area on Constitution Avenue, N.W. They had no permit to organize as a group.

The counter-protesters stood quietly holding their signs aloft. The signs, attempts at humor, had slogans such as; "Communism has only killed 100-million people, let's give it another chance, " and "Screw the Kurds, No war in Iraq."

Within 10 minutes of their arrival, security members from International A.N.S.W.E.R., organizers of today's Anti-U.S. policy protest, appeared and began to cordon-off the area occupied by the counter-protesters using yellow tape.

Within moments, members of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. security team began grabbing and destroying the counter-protester's signs, and aggressively shoving counter-protesters. A Johnny P News reporter was assaulted while trying to capture the event on camera. The reporter was struck in the head and his camera knocked to the ground and then kicked by a man standing with the International A.N.S.W.E.R. security personnel. The assailant refused to give his name or answer any questions.

All of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. personnel at the scene refused comment.

Police soon appeared and insisted all of the counter-protesters leave the immediate area.

Members of the counter-protest group began saying that a woman 5-months pregnant with the counter-protesters was injured in the scuffle. Police at the scene however, would not allow access to the area where she was reportedly receiving treatment.

Approximately 60 counter-protesters were on hand during the altercation. U.S. Park Police unofficially estimated the protesters attendance at 50,000.

[Jen]

Members of ProtestWarrior.com

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Unbelievable. But not surprising.

Security personnel=gang

[Jen]

Anyone heard yet from FReepers who were there?

[cmsgop]

Good Question, Hope they are OK!

[Jen]

...there was one unconfirmed report of a pregnant female counter-protester being injured in the fracas.

This makes me so mad! I am literally speechless.

[toddst]

Sounds like the commies attacked our side with no provocation other than their presence. How typical and revolting. Prayers for FReepers safety.

[Jen]

Could you please move this to Breaking News? FReepers and ProtestWarrior members involved.

[Jen]

No kidding. They sure stand for "peace" and "freedom of speech". < /sarcasm>

[Jen]

Security personnel=gang

So true.

[toddst]

!0-4. Standing by for reports from FReepers who were there. Sure hope they are OK.

[chicagolady]

Wish I was there!

Kudos to the wonderful, active, Washington D.C. Freepers!

Taxman are you all right?

[EternalVigilance]

I was at the FReeper rally, and saw this group of mainly young people set off for the commie rally. There were a hundred of them or so, maybe a little more.

What a great bunch they are. Their signs were stellar--even Bob Dornan commented on how great their signs were--the best he'd ever seen, he said.

I hope and pray that this young woman is okay.

Yet another reminder of what it is we're up against. Grrrrr.....

[EternalVigilance]

Taxman wasn't with them.

[diotima]

Ping!

[Jen]

Thank you for being there EV. Were there any scuffles or incidents involving FReepers?

[concentric circles]

Pregame warmup:

LETS PLAY TWO!!! D.C. CHAPTER Vs. ANSWER DOUBLEHEADER, OCT. 25 IN D.C.

[Jen]

Ping!

[Jen]

Thanks for the link and bump.

[EternalVigilance]

I left towards the end of the rally, and before the DC FReepers went to their prearranged counter-protest site--I had other business to attend to.

But the group mentioned here headed west towards the Washington Monument en masse before the FReeper rally had even finished.