***STATEMENT OF REV. JESSE LEE PETERSON REGARDING ANTI-WAR PROTESTS***

“As the Founder and President of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny, I am proud of the strength and decisiveness of President George W. Bush and of the efforts of our soldiers in this war to liberate Iraq and root out terrorism. I’m not African-American, I am one hundred percent American! And it is times like these that should make us all proud to be citizens of this great nation.

However, despite the Bush administration’s efforts to protect American citizens from another terrorist attack similar to 9-11; there are domestic enemies—communist in nature—trying to rip our country apart from within. I am saddened and disappointed by the recent rash of anti-war demonstrations held in cities such as Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The protest organizers—groups such as International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now Stop War End Racism) and Not in Our Name—are known to be fronts for Marxist/communist organizations like the Worker’s World Party. The ‘anti-war’ / anti-American protestors are nothing more than communist dupes. It’s a shame that in the name of ‘peace’ we have ‘Americans’ attacking police officers; destroying property; blocking streets and federal buildings; and disrupting the lives of law abiding Americans. These people must be stopped!

Adding fuel to the fire are problem profiteers such as Jesse Jackson, who a few days ago told a crowd of anti-American protestors in Los Angeles, ‘We deserve competent leaders, and coherent foreign policy and we have neither.…’ ‘…Those who execute the war must be seen as war criminals.’

This is insane, and these protestors, along with Jackson, need to be put on notice by law enforcement officials that violent demonstrations or inflammatory rhetoric which incites violence against any American citizen will not be tolerated. I encourage all Americans of good will to support the administration’s efforts to liberate Iraq and rid the world of terrorist sympathizing dictators like Saddam Hussein. God Bless President Bush and our troops!”

I visited the other side yesterday and the day before, to get video footage for a pro-war production I'm working on.

I noticed a dangerous, angry mood both days. On the first day, the police weren't terribly active (probably because I got there fairly late when the streets were re-opened), but the mood was still raw. It was like almost anything could set off violence, and the violent tone of the speakers was not helping things.

But on the second day, the police, wearing olive drab uniforms, seemed almost determined to stir things up themselves. The military uniforms, headgear and batons in front of a weapon free bunch of protesters made for "shooting fish in a barrel" style video - they riled up the protesters, and believe me, through the lens a bunch of ageing hippies against fierce looking cops leaves you little doubt about who the enemy is.

The police create no sympathy for themselves. With them rudely shoving us back into the crowd off the street, I found myself sympathising with the protesters, especially since the street remained closed, with the cops continuing to roam free on the streets!

And I am - just to make this clear - as rabidly pro-war as anyone!

I don't think it helps our cause for police to look and act like invading military forces. This is something I've heard many times in left publications, but it's something that has to be viscerally felt to be real, sort of like experiencing Communism or (as Ted Hayes would say) Homelessness.

I'd like to give our cops white uniforms and make sure they wear benign looking outfits. They are, after all, only directing traffic.

And don't close off the streets. I was talking to a couple of less deranged than usual lefties, and I happened to mention that I was right-wing, but even I thought the police would benefit from a less confrontational atttiude. They pointed out that the cops are there, in theory, to reopen the streets and prevent the protesters from jumping out into the street and getting killed.

I told them that was absurd. The streets should remain open, because that way the floods of cars prevent people from going out on the streets without expensive and unwanted cops.

They told me I was nuts and that the police should be on hand to protect them.

I pointed out that it's bad public policy, period, for cops to provide "protection" to people who don't want them there. If the protesters don't want to be protected, and if the protection puts the cops in actual danger, well, then that's stupid.

In the end, the protesters had to agree.

I think it's madness to shut down Wilshire Blvd during rush hour. Period. Let the cars go. If they happen to kill a few of the less agile protesters, well, that's evolution in action.

I'd rather see that than seeing the cops come in with their paramilitary outfits and walk straight into a lefty trap. That's a particularly nasty left tactic, as is deliberately trying to get arrested, but at the very least the police should not be cooperating so enthusiastically with a conspiracy to make them look like the bad guys.

D

for cops to provide "protection" to people who don't want them there.

Uhhh, i think you got that the other way around. The cops are there to protect people from the protestors. I think it should be common knowledge by now that these gathers habitually turn violent when the police are not there to tighten them up. I just saw a clip on the news of a raging mob pulling a man out his vehicle and beating him.

Your little peacful hippy protestors quickly turn into a pack of wild dogs when you throw them a bone.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be a police presence at these events - I am saying it would be nice if they wouldn't look like a branch of the military. It makes the protesters LOOK non-violent in comparison even though we know that's a false image.

ChuDogg is right. Being at these protests IS dangerous. Being in the thick of things when I go, I have no doubt about this. I don't recommend personally doing this to anyone.

But in my small way I like recording this stuff. It's entertaining. But I would not deny that every time I punch the button on my camera light and illuminate these people, I am taking a big risk.

So people, don't do what I'm doing. Definitely don't.

D

PS Interesting to note that most people I have talked to who photograph the protests are highly apolitical. They try to stay in the centre. Of course I don't photograph the obvious members of the left establishment who are doing it on behalf of ANSWER and friends.

I'd like to give our cops white uniforms and make sure they wear benign looking outfits. They are, after all, only directing traffic.

With all due respect, that's rather silly. They're dressed that way for a number of reasons the first being their own protection. They are not there to direct traffic they are there to protect the citizens of the city.

If they are not in the best of moods its because they are probably more than a little scared and know if they could loose control of the crowed a no holds bard riot could break loose at a moments notice.

If you were intimidated by their attire it's a good thing because you were suppose to be, its part of maintaining control. The bottom line is that if you don't intimidate that kind of crowed they could quickly turn on you.

During the Carter administration, Iranian students held a massive demonstration in DC. Carter (pacifist looser) did not want to intimidate or provoke the demonstrators and ordered the Park Police not to wear riot gear. Needless to say the Park Police were overrun and got the living shi* kicked out of them.

Crowd control is dangerous duty. We need to support our officers who are willing to place themselves between us and the violent peace loving pacifists.

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