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How do you know none of them were Freepers?

Yeah, I'd like to know that, too. I distinctly recall at the time reading threads where FReepers stated emphatically that FReepers were in Palm Beach County, leading the charge that day.

What caused the re-count to be again done publicly was the protest of the people INSIDE THE BUILDING, who had beeen sent down (mostly from NYC) by the GOP.

There had been a public plea by the GOP for volunteers from law firms to go and oversee the re-count. It was an organized effort. (I think the GOP paid the airfare and hotel bills.)

These were the people in the hallway and outside the doors of where the secret re-count was trying to take place. And it was THEIR protest which shamed the Florida Dem officials into making the re-count public again. Which is also required by law.

For FR to claim they had anything to do with this PIVOTAL moment in history is false in the extreme.

There were a very few Freepers who were out on the streets in Palm Beach county. There were contemporaneous threads about people who saw other Freepers down there--a few at at time. But it is a total myth or worse to try to make it more than that.

But please don't just take my word for it. Any Googling of this will prove that what I said is true. Here is just one of any hundred of reports:

http://www.warriorsfortruth.com/election3.html

"The most important incident in this "orchestrated GOP campaign" occurred totally separately on the 19th floor. So, here is a quick summary of what we call the 19th floor "Preppy protest" or "Ralph Lauren rebellion" from those who were there:
The canvassing board who was meeting openly on the 18th floor (among cameras, reporters, dozens of counters and observers and some citizens allowed in to watch), at one point in the morning decided, and publicly announced (amid perfect calm) that it could not complete the countywide hand recount as mandated by the State Supreme Court in time for the 5pm Sunday deadline.
They therefore voted to complete only a partial hand recount of Dade using only the heavily democratic (and non-Hispanic) precincts already counted.

Coincidentally?? They stopped counting just as they were about to include heavily Republican (and Hispanic) precincts such as Hialeah. Cong. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and the GOP lawyers quickly pointed out that this decision was patently unfair and illegal because among other things it violated the Court's ruling that dictated a "countywide" recount as well as the Federal Voting Rights Act because it discriminated against Hispanic voters in the precincts not being counted. The board ignored this objection and then decided to break and move the remaining ballot counting and further deliberations to a small back room on the 19th floor which severely restricted the press and observers (they said for logistical and practical reasons).

Republican (GOP) lawyers and observers were rightfully indignant and noted that this now also violated Florida statutes (and the Sunshine law) that states that all public proceedings must be conducted openly and publicly. Many reporters from the national media even called their lawyers in New York and DC at this point to complain...and these news organizations actually called the county to demand that their reporters be allowed access.The board nevertheless went forward with its decision and moved upstairs via elevator. At this point a small group (about two elevators full...12-20 folks) of official GOP observers (most were lawyers and other professionals), as well as an almost equal number of press and cameras, went from the 18th floor, and followed the board up to the 19th floor. As the GOP observers tried to continue through a narrow hall and through a set of doors leading to
the far back room they were barred entry.Some were caught in the doors in the commotion as they were being closed on them... since they felt they were being denied their legal duty to function as observers, some then sat down outside and said they wouldn't leave unless they were allowed in, while others in this group banged on the doors chanting only "let us in"...and ..."the world is watching". It was totally spontaneous and unplanned and was more of a college pep rally/sit-in than protest. It was also over almost as quickly as it began. At no time did any of the numerous police who were present ask them to be quiet or ask anyone to leave. No reports or complaints of threats or violence of any type were reported to the police there or formally filed ANYWHERE (in Miami or Broward) at any time. As far as we know, no charges were filed against anyone, and no one was arrested or detained or even warned.

The entire brief incident described above was totally legal and consisted of a small group of preppy, penny loafer, khaki and blue blazers-clad professionals and even a few college girls, exercising their first amendment right to free speech. They lawfully, if loudly protested a clearly illegal action by the board and it ended quickly thereafter. The board acknowledged shortly afterwards that it was wrong on all counts after all and decided that since they couldn't complete the countywide hand recount by the deadline (and since the partial and selective endrun they thought of trying instead was an illegal and unacceptable alternative) they were simply going to end the entire process and call it quits. So much for the "riot"..."

If you go to the link you will see a number of other reports from various media sources and participants that say the same thing. This was a protest by the GOP volunteers who had been flown down there to oversee the vote count. Freepers weren't involved at all.