First Report From Dallas Pro-America Rally

Me | 3/22/03 | HHFi

[HHFi]

Just got back from the Dallas Pro-America rally. I could only stay for an hour or so, and I live about half a mile away, so I figured I'd get it started. Sorry I don't have a digital camera, but there were lots of cameras there, so I'm sure you'll see plenty of pics later.

There was a constant rain and chilly temps, which I was afraid would keep the crowd down, but it didn't. HUGE turnout, including Freepers, moms with strollers, Texas Guardsmen, Kurdish immigrants, you name it. The rain didn't dampen the spirits; I could hear the shouting, cheers, chants of "USA! USA!" and "Bush! Bush!" from over a block away as I was walking toward it. I'm no good at estimating crowd size, but the area in front of the Old Red Courthouse was packed, as was the sidewalk all the way down the block, with more people hanging out on the grass and around and inside the JFK memorial.

The rain did make the lettering on some of the signs run. I got a laugh from a Kurdish man whose "Get out, Saddam!" poster was dripping a bit by telling him, "I like your sign because 'Saddam' is running."

Tons of media there: vans from all the local TV stations, so there should be plenty of video. It'll be fun to watch, too, because conservative women are so much better looking than peacenik chicks. Somehow, they can look scrumptious even in a rainstorm. Especially those in damp T-shirts. But I digress.

There was the requisite turnout of pathetic peaceniks safely ensconsed across the street, unwilling or unable to admit they were on the wrong side of both history and the street. They were holding signs designed to demonstrate their lack of reasoning ability, such as the irrelevant cliche, "No Blood for Oil," and one that read, "Bush didn't fight in Vietnam, don't fight for him," a sentiment I never saw any of them express when Clinton was bombing the bejeezus out of people. At least Bush flew fighter jets in the National Guard. Clinton was organizing peace protests at Oxford in between puffing the reefer and raping the co-eds.

Peaceniks always complain that nobody gives an accurate count of their turnout, so for once, I'd like to do that for them. It was easy: there were 32 of them. Not 33, not 31. 32. They'll probably claim there were 100,000 of them, but all that proves is that they not only skip history and current events classes to go to protests, they also skip math class.

All in all, a big show of support and a heartwarming day, despite the rain and the chill. I think everyone was thinking what I was: "If our troops can face what they're facing, I can certainly deal with a little cold rain." Way to go, Freepers!

[CHICAGOFARMER]

* * 288,000,000 American Citizens are not protesting the war, including this Iraqi-American woman.

*Click here to Iraqi Woman prayer answered *

http://images.radcity.net/5149/359372.mp3

******

Now you know the rest of the story, why this woman is praying for Mr Bush.

* *

[TheWriterInTexas]

My friend on the Dallas Police Department asked me if I knew anything about his rally. He indicated the DPD expected 10K plus folks to show up.

I gave him what I knew about it, and told him it was being organized, in part, by Free Republic. I assured him that FReepers had been peacefully protesting and demonstrating for years. If there was going to be any trouble, FReepers wouldn't start it.

ROCK ON! Sorry I couldn't join you...sick baby at home.

[saigon]

That should be played at EVERY anti-war rally!!

[SassyMom]

WOW!!!! God bless this woman. Thanks for posting this. It should be heard on EVERY radio station and news station.

[SassyMom]

WAY TO GO DALLAS!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!!! GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

[HHFi]

Forgot to mention the funniest sight: a man in a full-head Dubya mask, a dark suit and white gloves was walking around posing for photos, holding a tray with rubber heads of Osama and Saddam on it. It was hilarious. I'm sure you'll see lots of photos of him.

[Slyfox]

I stood in the middle of a bunch of Iraqi-Americans. It was really cool hearing them sing all the words to 'God Bless America' and the 'Star Spangled Banner'.

Across the street from us there were about a couple of dozen 'No War for Oil' types. They sure did look pathetic.

GOD BLESS GEORGE BUSH!!

[CHICAGOFARMER]

WOW!!!! God bless this woman. Thanks for posting this. It should be heard on EVERY radio station and news station.

Please do.

It was aired on WLS 890 in chicago DON and ROMA talk show.

Please move it along in your network.

Would you like to send it via email to 3000 media outlets?

Chicagofarmer

[Registered]

wow, great news!! Bumping!

[anymouse]

When you get back from the rally, please give this a Texas-sized ping.

[bekka]

Thank you, thank you for your post -- it confirms again what those of us who are dealing with a full deck have known for 12 years. Every professor in every college campus across this nation should have to play that woman's testimony for every class they teach. Instead of telling they truth the liberal professors spread lies that are poisoning the minds of our youth -- I know first hand, I am a student. God bless this brave woman for speaking up. I hope more will do so. God continue to bless our brave troops and their families. May many, many more of these air head anti-American protesters take a fall -- they don't deserve to live in this country.

[Admin Moderator]

Please quit spamming threads.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

From hte admin Moderator

Please quit spamming threads.


I was going to say something about spam on FR, then listened to your link.

That was wonderful, and I feel ashamed.

Thanks. You are doing a good job.


I will leave the site today

Thanks for the opportunity to share an Iraqi understandign of freedom and liberity contrart to your personal views.

chicacgofarmer

[Ben Chad]

I went to the rally and was amazed at the size of the crowd in such lousy weather. My guess: 500-1000 very enthusiastic America supporters. Only drawback was lack of a decent sound system for (people) speakers. There were plenty of cops and news trucks. My favorite sign: "First Iraq, then France, then Hollywood." On the way home, I surfed the radio to WBAP's "The Jerry Reynolds Auto Advice Show" in which Jerry and co-host Kevin McCarthy were talking about the war. Jerry read an open letter from him to the troops that really resonated with me.

Excerpt: "In your honor, I've thrown all my Dixie Chicks CDs away. I change the station when I hear one of their songs. I will go out of my way to not support the so-called "celebrities" who do not join me in supporting you. I'll change the channel, skip the movie or switch the station before I'll give any of them the satisfaction of believing they can influence how I feel.

These "celebrities" should be ashamed of themselves for using their power in the media to question your motives. I'd LOVE one of them to look your mom or dad or husband or wife in the eyes and say those things. And I'd like to see their credentials as experts on foreign policy."

I'd copy and paste the letter except that it's a JPEG.

[TaqueriaFanatic]

I came to the Dallas rally early and stayed there till about 3:30 p.m., It was getting a bit cold and was drizzling and I'm just getting over an upper respiratory infection, so I had to leave early. I estimate the crowd at the pro-America rally to be between 3,000 to 5,000 people. There was a large delegation of Kurdish people at the rally, probably 150-200 people. On the opposite side of the street, I saw only 5 anti-war protestors. One of the antiwar protestors held up a sign that said "Socialist, Atheist for Peace"; somebody at the pro-America rally commented that the sign did not say "For America". All the antiwar protestors looked like college students. It was a very spirited rally and I met a few freepers there for the first time. One freeper had a sign that said "First Iraq, then France , then Hollywood". There were people of all ages at the rally and a lot of young people. Quite a few college students were in attendance. I saw a good number of Vietnam and other veterans too.The crowd was peaceful but full of spirit.

[afraidfortherepublic]

The rain did make the lettering on some of the signs run...

From someone who lives in an area of unpredictable weather, you should cover the lettering with wide, clear packaging tape if the sign is hand lettered or produced on an ink jet printer.

Congratulations aon a good rally.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Whooo Hoo!!!

Go Texas!!!!

Gotta hand it to them Texas cowboys!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Please keep posting your link. It was very informative, and DON't leave FReeRepublic.

[HHFi]

I got the latest copy of "Entertainment Weekly" in the mail today, and they have an article about the Dixie Chicks (whom I used to like back when they were a cowgirl quartet without Natalie Maines, playing dinner music for me at Joey Tomato's Italian restaurant here in Dallas). EW could drop an anti-Bush liberal spin into a review of a Barney video, so, like Rolling Stone, they tried to downplay the damage by noting that the album went up a bit on the pop chart (sales still dropped by 22,000 copies, and it only went up because the other albums around it sold even less). All that means is that the fans they kept are pop fans, who tend to be very fickle and burn CDs off the Internet instead of buying them, while alienating country fans, who are more likely to support an act for a lifetime.

They ended on a quote from a Nashville record company weasel saying that they'd probably sell more CDs because everyone's talking about them. What a pantsload. I work in radio syndication and am in contact with stations worldwide on a daily basis. The way country music fans and DJs are talking about them is NOT going to translate into higher sales. If they think all publicity is good for sales, then check out Michael Jackson's sales trajectory since the early '90s.

[Humidston]

I'm so glad you added the link! I listened last night and love what this woman has to say. It should be REQUIRED listening for every Marxist on the streets.

[Humidston]

I agree with afraid. Don't you go ANYWHERE. PLEASE.

[notaliberal]

Fox news is only reporting the America haters protest.

Please email and demand that they report the Support America Rally in your city.

Fox News

[CHICAGOFARMER]

I am spending too much time on the Internet.

*I have seen it all *

http://www.1112.net/lastpage.html

[CHICAGOFARMER]

I am spending too much time on the Internet. I will not leave, however, need to take a break.

*I have seen it all *

http://www.1112.net/lastpage.html

[CHICAGOFARMER]

I am spending too much time on the Internet.

*I have seen it all *

http://www.1112.net/lastpage.html

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Difference between a Freeper rally and the pro Saddam rallies. After a large Freeper rally happens, there is often less trash on the ground than when it started. After the Pro Saddam rallies, there's trash and other items too sick to mention left all over and the trash cans are empty if they haven't been thrown through windows first.

[Windcatcher]

This lady said it all. Reminds me of the stories my mom and grandmother used to tell me of Greece when the Nazis had invaded. They always drilled into me not to take being an American for granted. It's sad to see so many Americans who don't understand this.

[eBay Artist]

We were at the Dallas rally, too and I'd have to say it was between 1000-1500 people. A LOT of police, probably waiting for the peaceniks to get violent like they always do. Those 8 commies might not have been so happy to be there had we come across the street at them to share our message of love and hope.

I saw a freeper there who was holding a sign with President Bush's picture and the caption: "This is your president" and then a picture of Martin Sheen with the caption: "This is your president on drugs"! and then www.freerepublic.com at the bottom.

Very cool!

The sound system was the WORST but the crowd made their own noise! Look for us on CNN!

[Shooter 2.5]

[Shooter 2.5]

[erkyl]

My family and I attended in the rain (we didn't plan well--no jackets or umbrellas!), but had a great time! My kids especially got into it! My 12-year old son asked when the next one was going to be!

All the local channels had coverage (I was even in a shot briefly--in the back--if you have slow-motion technology--and look very closely) except for CBS, which is showing the basketball games. I didn't even see them there!

We had about 500-1000--nowhere near 3000-5000 someone else reported in this thread. But, the hysterical thing was the anti-war protestors literally started with 4. I'm not kidding...there were 4 pathetic people over there. Over the next hour, some more gathered, but they never really numbered over 20-30. Most were curious by-standers I think.

My favorite ANTI-WAR poster? "Socialist Atheist" -- There's something to brag about!

My favorite pro-Bush statement? The guy running around with a Bush mask on and carrying a silver platter with the heads of Saddam and Osama!

My most emotional moment? When we all sang the Star Spangled Banner...couldn't get through it--too choked up.

Most patriotic display? Definitely the Kurdish American community who came out. The news media really played up this angle.

Funniest observation? The 12 or so anti-war protestors had police barriers in front of them...the 500-1000 pro-Americans did not! (Although we did get into the street a few times...)

Funniest chant? (to the anti-war wackos) "Go back to France!"

Funniest sign? Mine (of course), which read: IGNORANCE IS BLIX (which I had read just this morning on FREE REPUBLIC!)

We rode the train down, and it was a bit intimidating at first with our signs and flag sitting on the train--wondering if we were going to cause a riot. But pretty soon, we were chatting it up with all the other people headed to the rally.

It was a great time and I'm glad we went. I started to back out when I saw the weather, but knew that if our men and women of the military could sacrifice their lives everyday for the cause of freedom, well, I could stand a little rain!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, OUR PRESIDENT AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[VOA]

My family and I attended in the rain (we didn't plan well--no jackets or umbrellas!),

Kinda' gives you pause when you think about a full winter at Valley Forge...
mostly without shoes, don't it?

Well done and looks like a great turnout/event.

[TaqueriaFanatic]

I have to agree with you that I overestimated the crowd, I think around 1,200 would be accurate.

[Southack]

"They ended on a quote from a Nashville record company weasel saying that they'd probably sell more CDs because everyone's talking about them. What a pantsload. I work in radio syndication and am in contact with stations worldwide on a daily basis. The way country music fans and DJs are talking about them is NOT going to translate into higher sales. If they think all publicity is good for sales, then check out Michael Jackson's sales trajectory since the early '90s."

Exactly. Besides, the music industry no longer has a viable business model. 50 years ago the music industry controlled the means of production (i.e. the ability to make records) as well as distribution. Today it controls neither, as the average Joe can burn his own CD and the average band can distribute its music online without even having to bow down to the powers that be in the music industry. Thus, the "music industry" no longer adds any value into the consumer chain, a sure sign of an industry in its final days.

Nice report on the protest, btw. The Left has no viable "Plan B" for the contingency of being outnumbered at outdoor protests, something that will eventually be made plain both in the press as well as to the nation.

[erkyl]

Did you see us on the news at 6? Very fair reporting on Fox, ABC and NBC. Wish I had screen-capture software...I have all three reports recorded on my PVR (TIVO).

[enviros_kill]

Enjoyed the rally with my wife. Her favorite moment was talking to one of the Kurdish folks and understanding why they were concerned about Turkey's possible incursion into Iraq and how they supported Pres. Bush.

My sign said: "Thank God for Pres. Bush" and "3,700+ dead Americans from Islamic terrorists". Got shouts, hi-fives, and thumbs up just walking the six blocks from parking at the West End to the rally location with that sign.

Sound system was non-existent. Bullhorns didn't cut it so we wandered over to the street side action and had fun yelling at the anti-American twerps (started at 5 and maybe got to 20 or so). My wife noticed that there was not ONE America flag among the anti-American crowd and that they were the ones with the barricade in front of them, not us.

I had fun yelling at them such things as:

"Puke for peace" Puke for peace"
"Get off the left side of the street"
"Where's your hammer and sickle?"

When the antis got a bullhorn and began squawking at us we all turned our back on them. I tried to get those on curbside duty to moon them but there were no takers in this well-behaved crowd ;-(

Met some nice folks, fair amount of kids and young adults around which was great to see. One older fellow told me he brought his three grandkids.

All in all a satisfying time.

[TaqueriaFanatic]

I'm sorry Erkyl, I didnt see the news at 6. I have mainly been looking at FOX national news, but please tell me when the local news is back on, I want to see the coverage.

[bobbyd]

TEXAS PROUD

[Blennos]

Fox news is only reporting the America haters protest. Please email and demand that they report the Support America Rally in your city.

emailed request to Fox news to cover rally tomorrow in Richmond, Va.

[whipitgood]

This was my first time ever in any kind of a mass rally type event. I HAD A BLAST!!!! I spent about 90 minutes waving flags at the traffic and watching people wave hands, flags, and honk their horns to support us. Most likely the anti-war types will get most of the media coverage but I was VERY PROUD to be in Texas today.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

Thanks so much for posting this thread HHFi! I'm sorry we didn't meet at the rally.

Okay, I know there are lots of complaints about the sound system, but the only way to guarantee one in rainy conditions like today would be to buy it myself. lol. We had a powerful sound system planned. The guy with the platform and speakers showed up, but the guy with the electronic components chickened out because of the rain. He was afraid of ruining his equipment. We would have let them set up on the porch, but he couldn't be convinced.

The Associated Press is saying around 3,000 at the rally! I only saw the two lesbian, socialist, atheist protestors. Guess their friends couldn't stick around once the rally started.

The media that I know of there with cameras and reporters were:
ABC
NBC
CBS
CNN
FOX
The Associated Press
Univision
WB33 (Warner Bros.)
KRLD AM 1080
KLIF AM 570
WBAP AM 820

ALL of our scheduled speakers showed up, including the congressmen and few other elected officials, and all did a fine job of speaking, even if they were a bit hard to hear over the PRO-AMERICA honks from passerbys and responding yells from the crowd! :)

We had a great Freeper turnout, but I had expected to see some freepers that either didn't make it, or it was just too packed for me to find them. The Freepers I know were there include: Clinger (rally organizer), SerpentDove (rally photographer - he'll be posting a thread later tonight), LurkerNoMore!, Ron H., PetroniDE, MeeknMing, Conservative, littlebit (rally organizer), cowgirlcutie, erkyl, Slyfox, Concerned, Swake, Stultis, Houmatt, ANTI-LEFT, "Tony" Aguilar (rally organizer), HHFi, Ben Chad, TaqueriaFanatic, eBay Artist, Shooter 2.5 (I'm assuming since he had pictures posted above)

I'm sure I missed some. Thanks to everyone who came. It was a wonderful rally, rain or not.

[Humidston]

Howdy bump!! ;-)

[erkyl]

I saw your sign!

[Humidston]

Sure wish I could've been there, sweet lady! It would've been great to see you again. And I'm so glad to see you guys had so much fun! Hoo-Rah!!

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

ping to a Dallas Rally report thread. I'm sorry I missed you guys today.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

I missed you! I didn't realize until last night that you weren't coming. We will do something again this spring. Go get 'em in Houston!

[MinuteGal]

Way to go, Dallas Cheerleaders!

And I mean....cheering for America, our troops, our President, our victory.

You're the greatest, guys and gals!

Leni

[cowgirlcutie]

My husband and I just got back from the rally in Dallas and had a GREAT time! I'm so glad the rain didn't keep people away!

[LibertyJihad]

Bad rain, bad, bad, rain. Oh well, at least I rattled one peace protester by waiving my "FRY MUMIA" sign (tip of the hat to the Flying Monkey Air Corp). As I was leaving, I had to walk pass the anti-American contingent when this young artist-lookie, empty skull asked me "what Mumia had to do with the war?" I responded that "every peacenik protest I've seen contained 'FREE MUMIA' signs and shirts so I thought he had something to do with the war." At that point, a police officer stepped between us as the guy continued screaming that I didn't "know anything about Mumia" to which I responded, "He is a cop killer." The police officer looked at both of us, quickly took my side in the dispute, and pushed the unkept coed back behind his barrier.

It was nice to see the vast difference between the anti-war protesters and the pro-America crowd. They are generally angry, unkept, uninformed, angry and angry. The real Americans were friendly, cheering, clean, informed, and humorous.