NYC Supports the Troops, the U.S.A. and President Bush - 3/23/03

[NYC GOP Chick]

We got to Times Square shortly before noon, and there were well over 1000 patriotic people there! We started out up front, but my dad was uncomfortable and we kept going back and back and back and back... Therefore the only speaker photos I have are of the lady from the Christian Coalition and a couple of FReepers.

By the time we left, there were at *least* close to 3000 flag-waving, "USA! USA! USA!"-chanting patriots squeezed into the area near the ticker tape in Times Square.

I didn't see any other threads on this, so I apologize if this is a duplicate.

[NoCalEyes]

Free Republic gets Pub...

Sitting here, near San Francisco, watching local T.V. news (a rarity)and clips of the New York PRO America rally..
Newcaster comments that some of the groups include...
"The New York Chapter of Free Republic. " ! ! !
GREAT JOB N.Y.FR !!

[hellinahandcart]

They made mention on ABC in New York, after their report of our rally there is another pro-US rally planned Friday afternoon in front of the UN...anyone know of this?

No, but dangit, I won't be back in NY in time for that one either. And it's handy to where I live, too. :(

[firebrand]

I know some people who are doing one downtown on March 28. Wall Street area.

[firebrand]

It was so nice to see you, GLA. Great report, too.

[nutmeg]

BRAVO TRI-STATERS!!!

The lovely and gracious LAURIE DHUE just announced on Fox News that your rally was sponsored by the Christian Coalition, Zionists for America and the New York Chapter of Free Republic! WOOO-HOOOO!!!

Also... I heard your rally mentioned several times on WCBS radio between 4:30 and 5:30PM today. Cathy Carpen of WCBS radio reported that the "pro-war" rally was "noisy" and numbered about 1,000 people. She read several of your signs, including: We Gave Peace a Chance - We Got 9/11. Several interviews with people in the rally were aired. Most rally participants mentioned they were there "because I am SO sick of seeing all these anti-war rallies. Our troops overseas need to know there's lots of support for them at home." (Same thing I keep hearing up here!)

Along with your rally, she mentioned a fairly large one also going on today at New Dorp High School in Staten Island. Apparently that one was partly organized by Rep. Vito Fossella.

Way to go, Tri-Staters!!! Give yourselves a standing O - for yourselves, and FOR OUR TROOPS!!! :-)

nutmeg & zelig

[TD911]

It's Freddy.

[firebrand]

I wasn't sure that was his name. Thanks.

[nutmeg]

Oh yeah, as I listened to Cathy Carpen of WCBS talk about your rally, I could hear what really sounded like thousands of people chanting: USA! USA! USA! :-)

[stanz]

It did feel like the Election 2000 good ol' days to be out there in Times Square screaming and cheering. We had a nice turnout, the weather was beautiful and everyone seemed to be having a great time. NYC cops also did a fine job and I'm sure they appreciated their cheers toward the end of the rally. Every time a squad car or fire engine passed by they honked for us. It was wonderful.

[nutmeg]

Nice pics of both of you above... Damn, we missed a good one! GREAT signs, BTW!

[firebrand]

I knew you and Race would be jealous.

[Happy2BMe]

Delighted - Elated - Thank you!

[nutmeg]

I know... had other obligations today besides that baby shower. Let me know if there's another one!

[nutmeg]

LOL! When my dad and I came out of the subway and saw the crowd from a little distance, he groaned because he assumed that since there were so many people, it *had* to be an anti-America protest rally. But as we got closer, I saw the American flags and instantly knew it was the good guys! :D

How wonderful! I heard all of you LOUD AND CLEAR on WCBS radio today shouting: USA! USA! USA! And it really DID sound like 1,000 people!

[Coleus]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/873308/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/873247/posts

http://members.aol.com/drumnbassboi123/IM000054.AVI

[WomanofStandard]

I'm so sorry that I didn't see you -- and so many other FReepers. But I'm *thrilled* that it was so crowded! You just know that at least some of the troops will be seeing this on TV or reading about it in the papers, and I like to believe that it will matter to them. :D

Actually, you may not have heard him since you were down at the other end of the block, but there was a Vietnam Vet there who spoke for a few minutes and he said that rallies supporting the troops like this mean SO MUCH to the troops while they are in battle. They do get wind of it, and he said it keeps them going!

[StarFan]

All reports both on radio (many on CBS news and 1010 wins) CBS-TV, Foxnews and CNN said there were at least 1,000 people there. Foxnews got it wrong saying it was sponsored by Christian/Zionist Coalitions and NY Chapter of FR. On CNN, mention of "Free Republic" was on the bottom of the screen so annoyance with Judy Woodruff remarking that it was SMALLER than the anti-war crowd of yesterday was allayed to some extent. Missing in her report was that today's rally was 'peaceful' vs. yesterday's in which 19 officers were hurt. Media did a good job covering it. Let's hope the printed version is accurate.

[WomanofStandard]

My only regret was that ungrateful bitch Mexican immigrant Maria Hinjoshana (or whatever her name is) from CNN was nowhere to be found (she covers all the peace demonstrations for CNN and was in NY yesterday)..

I saw the CNN report....and I believe that it was Haria Hinjoshana who reported on us today. She got me annoyed by saying that she didn't she any real difference between our rally today and the anti-war rally yesterday except the message. Otherwise, she said, it sounded the same. What a crock! What about the fact that there were 200 arrested in yesterday's demonstration and 11 NYPD sent to the hospital after being sprayed in the face by protestors with mace!????? How many people were arrested from our rally? ZERO...how many police hurt? ZERO! That's a BIG difference! UGH

[Cacique]

Just got home. I have to say that today was better than my expectations and there are a few people that need to be thanked for the success that were not mentioned.

Number one are Steve Malzberg and Curtis Sliwa who plugged tghe rally incessantly since I spoke to them last Tuesday. You couldn't buy that kind of publicity and I am sure they will help the next time as well. What is more interesting is that the rest of the WABC crew carried the ball as well. I am sure that many who xcame to the rally was because of the plugs on WABC.

The guys at the firehouses in New York who started a cascading fax of the flyer I gave them. I suspect they blanketed the entire city by faxing to every batallion and firehouse. A lot of firetrucks went out of their way to pass by our rally and honk their horns. Next time I will contact them earlier.

The organizing for this rally was a learning experience and we did a lot of things differently from past rallies. Wee will continue to hone and refine the way we do things. The next time tghings will even be better.

I will be posting pictures of the rally as soon as I get them out of my camera.