Washington demonstrations for, against war [UPI plugs Free Republic, DC Chapter Patriot Rally!]

The Washington Times ^ | October 26, 2003 | Dar Haddix and Andrew Moisan [UPI]

[RonDog]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The largest anti-war rally in the nation's capital since President Bush announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq was greeted by an equally boisterous, if not as large numerically, group of the president's policy supporters.

[RonDog]

Way to go, DC Chapter!!!

[RonDog]

See also, from:

My DC Patriot Rally Pics--Enjoy!!
PABAAH: Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti-American Hollywood ^ | Jon Alvarez
Posted on 10/26/2003 6:20 AM PST by jonalvy44

Just click the link and enjoy...They are in order, from the dinner the night before to the confrontation with the miniscule # of ANSWER useful idiots...approx. 10k people. My thoughts on the day will be coming shortly.

-- snip --

~~~

 

GodBlessOurTroops

~~~

  KristinnOnStageDCRally

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[tet68]

"It's very important to this government to look good," Pacis told United Press International. "And Steve is getting punished for not knowing that." She expects her son to get out of jail in February.


Well GLORIA, the actuality is that he DID know that "missing a movement" is a serious offence
since it was drummed into him from his first days in the service. Six months in the brig is light. and by the way
it doesn't count as time in service, so don't look for him to get out any time soon.

Semper Fi "Honey"!

[RonDog]

Kathryn Wood, co-leader of the DC Chapter of the Free Republic, which supports the war, said the group had a counter-rally because "the ANSWER people came to town -- we can't let them be the only voice."

Way to go, Angelwood!

[Guillermo]

30,000 at the ANSWER rally?? LOL, I guess they must have counted all those who were in "buses that are on their way."

[Mudboy Slim]

"Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk, a 21-year-old Marine reservist who earlier this year claimed he was a conscientious objector and did not report for duty when his San Jose, Calif., unit was called up for deployment to Iraq. Funk was found guilty by a military jury in September of unauthorized absence and was sentenced to six months in prison."

SHEEEEESH...this dude deserves what he got...MUD

[RonDog]

LOL!

I think that "30,000" is part of the "Million Mom March" math that seems to mesmerize ALL reporters who attend fucntions in Washington,D.C. :o)

See also this LIVE thread:

Watching the American haters, er peace protestors on C-Span...
			Posted by God luvs America On 10/25/2003 8:49 AM PDT with 887 comments

[Pikamax]

30,000?? most reports say 10000 to 20000

[RonDog]

See also, from a :

Rallying to Bring US Troops Home
Newsday - 9 hours ago
... War freed the slaves. War saved the Jews. Anti-war racists go home,"
yelled one woman with Free Republic, a group that supports Bush. ...
       `Give our troops a ride home!' - Toronto Star
       Busloads Converge in Washington for Anti-War Protest - Washington Post
       Busloads converge on Washington for Iraq protest - Stuff.co.nz
       MSNBC - and more »

Thousands protest Bush, Iraq policy
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - 14 hours ago
... The DC chapter of Free Republic, an independent grass-roots conservative group,
gathered dozens of people at the US Capitol to show support for Bush and the ...
       Tens of thousands protest against Bush's Iraq policies in ...  - Canada.com
       Thousands at US anti-war march - BBC News
       In DC, a Diverse Mix Renews War Protest - Washington Post
       Indymedia Italia - and more »

Demonstrators march against Iraq occupation
Washington Times, DC - 12 hours ago
... The DC chapter of Free Republic, an independent conservative group,
gathered to show support for Mr. Bush and the troops in Iraq. ...

War protesters converge on DC
Boston Globe, MA - Oct 25, 2003
... The Washington chapter of Free Republic, an independent grassroots conservative
group, also planned a rally for today at the Capitol, where organizers expect ...
       US marchers gather for anti-war rally - BBC News
       Anti-war protesters gathering in Washington, San Francisco - Boston Globe
       Major anti-war rallies in Washington, San Francisco - San Francisco Chronicle
       Canada.com - and more »

Citizens protest US presence in Iraq
News 14 Carolina, NC - Oct 25, 2003
... Department. The Washington chapter of Free Republic expects about a thousand
people to attend a counter-demonstration at the US Capitol. ...

[RonDog]

From www.newsday.com:

Rallying to Bring U.S. Troops Home
Thousands in D.C. protest Iraq policy

By Robert Gutsche Jr
WASHINGTON BUREAU October 26, 2003

Washington - An Air Force sergeant who said the United States has misused the U.S. troops in an "unjustified war" in Iraq was one of thousands of people who rallied on the National Mall yesterday to demand an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq.

"I think there is a lot of sentiment inside the military that what we are doing isn't right," said the sergeant, who said he was 30 but asked not to be further identified. "Technically and legally we did sign up for this, and it's our responsibility to fill what our responsibilities are, but the people making the decisions also need to use us as a last resort."

By noon, more than 30,000 people had gathered near the Washington Monument, according to an estimate by Newsday. Organizers said about 100,000 people squeezed through city streets during the three-hour march. Police didn't report any arrests by early yesterday evening.

At the same time, 20,000 people gathered in San Francisco for similar demonstrations, according to organizers there.

In Washington, the sergeant, who could face deployment to Iraq, said he lives "two contradicting lives" by working in the military and participating in the demonstration. Despite his reservations about war, he said he needs his job in the military to pay the bills. "I probably wouldn't disagree with a person who calls me a hypocrite, but this war was wrong," he said.

Democratic presidential candidate the Rev. Al Sharpton told the crowds at the rally, "President Bush and Tony Blair don't make a world conference. Two men in a phone booth don't speak for the world. ... Bring our troops home now."

Later, the crowds cheered "Impeach Bush" while marching toward the White House and around the Justice Department.

The thousands of protesters clashed peacefully with about 50 people who had gathered along the march route to support President George W. Bush and military action in Iraq.

"War freed the slaves. War saved the Jews. Anti-war racists go home," yelled one woman with Free Republic, a group that supports Bush. The two groups chanted at each other for about two hours, separated by fences and police officers in helmets.

"We are pretty happy with the way things have been going" in Iraq, said Kristinn Taylor, who led the group from a small rally near the Capitol before the main march near the White House. He said his organization wants to show "that this is not going to be like Vietnam where we won the war on the battleground, but lost the propaganda war at home..."

[Prince Caspian]

Pacis, 50, an artist who came to the protest from New York, said she believes the military is punishing her son to protect its image.

The military is protecting its image, its reputation, and its esprit de corps among the troops - which in turn is protecting its effectiveness in combat environments - which is, coincidentally, protecting Ms. Pacis' a$$.

[RonDog]

See also:

PHOTO THREAD:DC RALLY TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS
DC Chapter | 10/26/03 | DC CHAPTER

Posted on 10/26/2003 7:31 AM PST by RaceBannon

Let's keep a single thread on the pics

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[johnnyp16]

I was at yesterday's FreeRepublic rally and accompanied the Protest Warrior people to their infiltration. I witnessed the A.N.S.W.E.R. security personnel assaulting the PWs, pushing them, grabbing their signs,ripping and destroying them, and attempting to physically eject the counter-protesters. I myself had my camera and audio-recorder smacked out of my hands (and hitting my face as I was holding th4e camera to take a pic) during the altercation.
For the complete story go to www.johnnypnews.com.
Otherwise the FR rally was small, but effective. I got a great interview of Kristinn (Sp?) of FR, the founders of PW,and also of Niger Innis of the Congress of Racial Equality, and will posting them soon, or seeing about having them published elsewhere.

[RonDog]

Otherwise the FR rally was small, but effective.

Personally, I **like** "small, but effective." :o)

Having gone "head to head" with the RATs from cANSWER out here in Los Angeles, let me say they they are NOT very "peaceful."

And, since they seem to be able to get many more BODIES into the streets, we need to get more MINDS.

That is, we need to be SMARTER than they are.

Fortunately, this is not difficult. :o)

[Dustbunny]

Way to go DC Chapter. Love you guys!

Have you been to the Bush/Cheney Blog? Paid for and administered by Bush/Cheney in '04'.

http://www.georgewbush.com/blog/

[RonDog]

In my previous post, that garbled link SHOULD HAVE been:

From a Google NEWS search for "Free Republic"

[Libloather]

"Impeach Bush," was among the most popular calls, appearing on bumper stickers and signs.

And that ain't all. I watched as much as I could on C-Span's playback last night. I also heard, "We are the future!", "This is a grass-roots demonstration!" and, "Please throw money in the orange buckets!"

There was plenty of screaming and chants. Every one of the peace-nicks that stepped up to lectern was really pissed about something. Twernt too much looooove in their voices.

Their last gasp may have been back in the 60's...

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the photos and links, Ron.

Bumpity bump!

[Ciexyz]

Free Republic was mentioned in two paragraphs at the end of the War Protest demonstration article in my local paper, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Richard Mellon Scaife's paper).

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hehe, we're getting famous.