Augusta Maine Counter Protest Report

N/A | 3/20/2004 | Armymarinemom

[armymarinemom]

I arrived in Augusta about an hour before the protests was to begin. Traffic was light all the way from Bangor to Augusta and I didn't get lost. This gave me time to just sit and observe the traffic in front of the Armory which was one of the proposed staging areas for a counter protest. Potential participants in the protest were easy to spot. I still don't understand why extreme left wing people feel the need to cover the whole tail end of their car with wacko bumper stickers. A few other people began to show and we were told to move about a half a mile down the road to stage as one group. This had me worried that turn out for our side would be extremely small. I packed both my flags and my two posters into my car and headed out to other staging area. I think this is how I never did meet up with anyone else from Free Republic.

When I arrived at the second staging area I was relieved to see a sizable crowd. The AP stated that we numbered about one hundred compared to their one thousand. I think their numbers were off. I would guess it was about at a ratio of 500/150. By the time a found a spot that could hold me and all of my gear I was set to stand off and not try to find anyone that I knew. I wanted for the group from Military Families Speak Out to notice my sign that I had made specifically for them. It had photos of my three sons in uniform, a print out of a three star flag and in big letters stating "Proud Mom Supporting Her Sons" "You DO NOT speak for us". I had made a second poster which I gave away to somebody who only brought a small flag. It had a photo of a soldier and the statement "Thank a warrior for your right to protest". I had brought an Army flag and a Marine Corp flag. I asked a little girl with her dad if she wanted to wave the Marine Corp flag in honor of a Sgt. who is serving. She jumped at the chance. While we were staging we could see the protest marching one block over in the opposite direction. I noticed that they were pretty widely spaced in order to try to make their numbers look larger. It seemed our organizer noticed the same thing and had us all line up shoulder to shoulder single file to cover more ground. During the wait for the protestors to make it around the block I gave an interview with channel 7. Bet we never see it. LOL The police removed a lady that was on crutches that had infiltrated our side and was handing out George Bush Dollars. When she was asked to leave, she picked up her crutches in one hand and walked off not using them. What a idiot.

When the group of the great unwashed finally made it around the block I noticed that they were led by Military Families Speak Out. There were only two marching with the banner and promptly stopped to argue. Yippeeee. They noticed my sign. I was able to tell them that they speak only for a minority of the families. They moved along and the rest of the painted rag tag group marched by making as much noise as possible. I don't know why but I always feel like an observer to an out of control mental ward when I watch these things. This group seemed to enjoy trying to chant USA. When our side liked the idea and chanted USA right back they shut up. They finally just seemed happy to try to say that they supported our troops. Yeah, right. Most of the 150 on our side were made up of military families. That didn't seem to work for them so they just made noise. The protest was along a divided highway so traffic was actually able to move between us and the protestors. We got a lot of positive honks and a few peace signs. They got a lot of birds. I left happy. They left as always unhappy and still dirty.

[Rabid Dog]

Great job - I'm sure you will be hearing from other freepers. By the way, did you know that the Military Families Speak Out is a sham operation funded by A.N.S.W.E.R.?

[armymarinemom]

Oh yeah. They have been contacting families after they read about KIA's. They are about the lowest scum on the face of the earth. Some of the families marching throughout the US are there blinded by grief and used by ANSEWR.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Rabid Dog]

Sick-O's!!!

[syriacus]

Great report. Thank you for letting us know how things went.

[Flora McDonald]

We are proud of your sons and their Mom!
Great report!

[AF68]

Congradulations for standing up against a communist front organization that attempts to use grieving families to further their pro-terror agenda and undermine our troops deployed against America's enemies.

[GulfWar1Vet]

Good for you!!

Keep on FReepin'! :<D

[God luvs America]

OUTSTANDING! OUTSTANDING! And God Bless your sons!

[MEG33]

Great report.God bless your sons.I thank them for serving our country.

[U S Army EOD]

Hang in there and keep at it. I was at the Atlanta rally.

[kenth]

Good for you!

I still don't understand why extreme left wing people feel the need to cover the whole tail end of their car with wacko bumper stickers.

What is that about anyway? Is this like the not-so-secret leftist handshake? I haven't seen a car yet that only has one leftist bumper sticker on it. If it has one, it has at least five more. There was a car in front of me a couple of months ago which I mistook for a pizza delivery car at first. That is, until I got right behind it and saw all the leftist bumper stickers. The triangle sign on top of the vehicle was a lighted Kucinich sign. Not something normally seen here in rural Georgia. (thank goodness!)

[fight_truth_decay]

I was stuck in that traffic unaware of today's march (as I live in a cave I guess) and noticed the flags carried were Rainbow-Gay Pride, Spain's flag and the usual peace signs etc....being carried by the antiwar group.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

I was there!!
I am so sorry we did not meet up..I did look for you!
I think you must have been closer to the State House..
I was down the street aways by St.Mary's church!
I don't know where they are getting these nunbers..
the peaceniks little parade route didn't seem to take all that long.
1,000 peanceniks..not!!
Ms.B

[JulieRNR21]

Thank you for your report & for standing up to the peace nazis & hate America crowd.

And please express our gratitude to you sons who are serving to protect our nation.

[exit82]

Awesome report and terrific job today, armymarinemom!

Thank you for standing for America's troops and for truth and honor today!

And thank you for raising three wonderful servicemen who are defending the freedom of me and my family! Thank you very much for that!

And please tell your sons that we appreciate their service on our behalf more than words can say.

[armymarinemom]

I was in Front of St. Mary's too. Almost at the corner. Rats!! I was really looking forward to meeting you. These rats took a lot of photos us of. Maybe we can point each other out.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

What!!
I was at the other end of the street!!!
We were so close!!!
Watch the News at 11pm tonight..maybe we can spot each other there..
Rats!!! I was sooo looking forward to meeting you!!
Ms.B

[BenLurkin]

Hooah!