Crowd Control in Crawford

Time ^ | 8-24-05

[Hadean]

With bucolic Crawford, Texas (pop. 705, except when President Bush takes his August vacation there) and its environs groaning under the weight of Cindy Sheehan's protest, protesters protesting Cindy Sheehan's protest and the media covering it all, locals are beginning to long for the days when their rural roads were dusty and, well, empty.

Now one wants to return to a quieter time. McLennan County Commissioner Ray Meadows, who told TIME he was "mad as a hornet" when he first saw cars and tents spilling over the ditches on Prairie Chapel Road in what was to become Camp Casey, has called on his fellow commissioners to limit traffic and activity on seven miles of road around the Western White House.

At Tuesday's county commission meeting Meadows pushed for passage of a new ordinance to limit traffic, parking and marching on several rural roads near the President's ranch. Not all five of the commissioners supported the action and the Texas Civil Rights Project has threatened a lawsuit, but on a 3-2 vote Meadows won support for a public hearing on the issue. The bad news for residents concerned about the return of Sheehan—who left the ranch to care for her ill mother—is that the public hearing will be held in about 30 days time, long after President Bush returns to the White House after his summer vacation.

The ordinance is similar to one the county adopted in 1993 during the 51-day siege by federal law enforcement at the Branch Davidian complex east of Waco. When that incident ended tragically, the sheriff complained that he might have solved the standoff more peacefully over a cup of coffee. So far, the current sheriff and his deputies have opted for a laid back approach and there have been only a couple of confrontations, including the arrest of a man who mowed down symbolic crosses planted along the roadway by anti-war protestors. But controlling the crowds is taking its toll on local law enforcement.

"What has happened in the past two weeks is our sheriff and chief deputy have been turned into parking attendants," Commissioner Meadows complained at Tuesday's meeting. School officials told commissioners they have had to change rural school bus stops because some parents are fearful the heavy traffic will cause accidents. And so for now, at least some residents want to put up the Keep Out sign. "We're just good, warm, welcoming country folk," said Martha Fulp, matriarch of a fourth generation Crawford farming family, "but this is too much."

[mercy]

heh heh heh

Wait till Saturday.

[Keith in Iowa]

Does Texas have any 'public nuisance' statutes that could be applied to Ma Sheehan?

[MarkeyD]

Any idea on how many people are coming with Move America Forward? I've looked around in the Internet, but haven't been able to find anything.
I don't suppose they asked for an RSVP? :)

[basil]

I have no doubt that this whole thing has been a total PITA for the folks in Crawford.

Hopefully, if they can endure one more weekend of it, this nonsense will be over.

[SF Republican]

Does Texas have any 'public nuisance' statutes - yea, they are called guns

[76834]

Dont really know about MAF but they are chartering busses in Abilene and Brownwood right now.
No telling about the rest of the state but would be willing to bet that thousands will be there.

Gonna be a hell of a party.

[RoseofTexas]

Well, hell's bell's, if this is the only way OUR side can get some media attention, GO YDSFMCT GO!

[TheSpottedOwl]

Yeah, but at least our side cleans up after themselves.

[mercy]

Don't know but they're getting a lot of press.

It could be that if just a percent of conservatives come out of Dallas Ft Worth it could be a big gathering. A LOT of FReepers from all over Texas are coming. Even form out of state.

[El Gato]

Wait till Saturday.

Yes, but we won't be squatting in the ditches. We'll be obeying the instructions of the Crawford police (all 4 of them), the McLennan County Sheriff's deputies, the Texas DPS and if they should show up, the Texas Rangers. (They'd not send more than one Ranger anyway, since there will not be more than one riot.. on second thought three Rangers, one for the road, one for the Peace Tent, and one for the Peace House.

The FR area *will* be a tear gas free zone. It will also be the American Zone. (That sign, "The American Zone" was what let me know for certain I was in the right place on the 13th. :) )

[Zacs Mom]

Make no mistake ~ Crawford is a small town


Downtown Crawford

Crawford City Hall

Crawford Post Office

Mural in Downtown Crawford

Crawford Fire & Rescue

Baptist Church in Crawford

Old Crawford School House

Crawford Elem. School

Crawford's new Elem. School

Crawford Jail
(which may be why those moonbats weren't run in along time ago!)

Wildflowers around Crawford

Ranch land near Crawford

Tonkawa Park near Crawford

Tonkawa Falls near Crawford

Crawford Residents on Election night

One big difference between the sheehan circus and the MAF rally ~ the MAF Rally has a city issued permit!

[LA Woman3]

I don't think they have any public nuisance statutes....
I was there for the Davidian standoff and it turned into quite the circus before it was all over.

[Mister Baredog]

GWB pumping up the local Crawford economy.

[Peace will be here soon]

I got a question for someone who may know this. Do these protestors stay in hotels/motels, or do they sleep in tents?

Do they eat at local restuarants, or cook their own food?

Just curious to know if the locals are benefiting at all from these people while they are in this town.

[Just A Reader]

Thanks for those great photos! I'll visit some of those sites later this year and get photos of my grandson in front of the buildings to send to my dad who is a Crawford.

[Redbob]

Thanks for posting those

[Flyer]

Extra good behavior ping to give to locals as little problem as possible.

And shop Crawford!

[newfrpr04]

thanks for posting those great pictures. Looks like that jail won't hold to many of the dingbats. Ditches should be deep enough- throw some barb-wire netting over them.

Downtown crawford reminds me of Harvard, Nebraska, blink and you're out of town

[mercy]

There are other towns all around within 20 miles. They have been seen in restaurants and motels. Sheehan is not staying in a tent. She has been spotted at motels. So I have heard here on FR.

They also have motor homes. There is obviously some substantial funding available for their efforts.