David Fink/Daily Texan Staff
Posted on 11/16/2001 1:07:16 PM PST by DrewsDad
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| Three-year-old Austin Morrow of Austin waves his U.S. flag while listening to "Stars and Stripes Forever" at the Rally For America on the Capitol steps Tuesday. Marrow's brother, Parker, sang in the Austin Children's Choir during the rally. The rally, attended by more than 200 Austinites, was followed by a concert and laser light show at Waterloo Park. David Fink/Daily Texan Staff |
"We decided we needed an event to send a positive message for the firefighters and policemen who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms," said Marc Levin, a UT law student and member of the rally's program committee.
After an introduction by state Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, Gov. Rick Perry made an appeal for American patriotism and said the conflict in Afghanistan can only be resolved through American determination.
"This difficult conflict won't be won easily," Perry said. "We will only be successful if American people have strong resolve and support for the soldiers and pilots."
He then recognized diametrically opposed differences between the Taliban regime and the United States. The Taliban destroys objects of faith, oppresses women and teaches "hatred rather than understanding," he said. But in America citizens worship freely, women serve as leaders and "we recognize no class or status," Perry said.
Perry then urged the audience to continue to show its patriotism and unity.
"Our
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| Joshua Jeffers of Amarillo listens to the Austin Children's Choir from behind a line of Capitol Police at the Rally For America held at the Capitol Tuesday. David Fink/Daily Texan Staff |
The event also remembered Texans' losses on Sept. 11. Speaker Marty Fangman of Keller, Texas, whose brother Robert was a flight attendant on the United Airlines flight that crashed into the World Trade Center, shared fond memories of his brother. He also insisted that Americans hold U.S. leaders accountable for seeking out those responsible for the tragedy.
"I urge you to stand solidly behind the armed forces," he said. "We need to ensure our generations are not the last to enjoy the freedoms we provide."
But not all present at the event were in agreement with the tone of the rally.
The Campus Coalition for Peace and Justice and other anti-war advocates began with a march to the Capitol, chanting, "Bush says war! We say no! This racist war has got to go!" Protesters then gathered behind the rally audience members, where they held a "casualty drop" in which they laid upon the ground to demonstrate the loss of civilian lives in Afghanistan.
State Representative Rick Green, R-Dripping Springs, reminded the audience of the importance of putting political differences aside and standing united as Americans. He then told the anti-war demonstrators and members of the Campus Coalition for Peace and Justice that their protests wouldn't be allowed in Afghanistan.
Christina Carter, who attended the rally, said the rightist rhetoric of the speeches bothered her, Green's speech in particular.
"He shouldn't be using the event to create patriotism or nationalism," she said. "Violence isn't a solution for anyone."
James Hornung, a communication sophomore, said he found the anti-war protesters' presence unsettling.
"This is a rally of unity, kind of a memorial service. They have a right to say what they want to say, but this is not the time and the place for them to say it," Hornung said. "It takes away from the unity and memorial of the event."
Also speaking at the event was Austin's Mayor Gus Garcia.
Rally organizers also hoped to raise money for an Austin memorial for the victims and heroes of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The primary event sponsors included the Collegiate Network, a nonprofit organization that provides financial and technical support to alternative college publications and the Austin Review, a local alternative publication, Austin radio station KVET 98.1 FM, the East Austin 6th Street Community Association, ArchTelecom and SuperCuts.
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