Hot Springs, AR Keep Families Together Protest

[TomSlick]

Herself, our son, daughter-in-law and I attended the Keep Families Together Protest in Hot Springs. The protest doubled as a counter-protest of an anti-immigrant event on National Park land. Because the anti-immigrant group had reserved the park land, the protesters organized in front of the National Park HQ - heard a couple speeches - and then started marching back and forth in front of bathhouse road.

I'd guess from 250 to 300 protesters of all ages. Given that it was hotter than the hinges of hell, not a bad crowd. A National Park Ranger I asked sized the anti-immigrant group at "very few." There were more park rangers on duty keeping the protesters moving than inside the anti-immigrant corral.




Herself and Daughter-in-law



Crowd gathering in front of National Park Building



Speaker with a sign I really liked.



The anti-immigrant "crowd." The sign held by the genius who posed for me said "Better Dead Than Red" with a hammer and sickle with a cross-out. No, irony isn't dead.

[BigmanPigman]

1. I am glad you were separated from them...they can be really obnoxious.

I had to deal with them at an Impeach Trump rally and at the Stop theThe Wall rally. The cops/sheriffs were armed heavily and were all facing US...when we were being civil and THEY were insulting and swearing at us from across the street. They try really hard at inciting violence and are pretty good at it. I smile and make the "peace sign" and that really pisses them off.

[TomSlick]

2. I had a blast with them.

One of them would shout - I'd shout back. I'm tired of being polite.

One moron shouted to my wife "Look up Socialist in the Dictionary." She shouted back "Look up Christian."

[BigmanPigman]

3. BRAVO!

[TomSlick]

4. Yeah, it was fun.

But a battle of wits with these yahoos was like dueling with an unarmed man.

[BigmanPigman]

5. ...how true!

[Ohiogal]

6. Everyone coming out in the scorching heat ...awesome!

Thank you all who marched!

[TomSlick]

7. I'M ON THE TV!

I could be seen on the local CBS station coverage. That's me glowering at the camera.

[rgbecker]

8. Well, at least they got the coolers ready and, of course, the confederate flag.

Didn't realize the confederate flag was about immigrants. Maybe separating families, but not about immigrants.

[TomSlick]

9. You have to understand what the confederate flag means.

During the civil war, the confederate flag symbolized racism and treason. Nothing has changed. There is a reason the Klan has always carried the confederate flag in marches. The confederate flag continues to represent racism.

It's not about heritage or honoring long-ago war dead. When the locals wave their confederate fags, they are waiving their natural banner.

The confederate flag belongs at an anti-immigration rally. They are not separating white children from their families. There are no little white babies in cages. So yes, the confederate flag is the natural banner for these yahoos.