How We Beat the Freepers at Ft. Bragg

[Amerpie]

Last month, I helped organize the largest demonstration outside of Ft. Bragg, NC since the Vietnam War. See ZNET for a full report

Prior to the demo, we had a little Freeper problem. They tried intimidation but at the end of the day, there were 1500 of us and only about 90 of them.

Here's a report I wrote on their tactics during the planning for the event.

~~~~~

One of the things that we all agree on is the right to free speech. As one who has been a frequent and vocal critic of social injustice for the past few years, I've attended demonstrations and counter demonstrations alike. Both sides sometimes need to present their views.

As you may know, on March 20 a group led by veterans and military families is sponsoring a march and rally in Fayetteville against the war and the treatment of our soldiers by the government. Among the speakers and organizers are family members of soldiers who died in Iraq and decorated veterans.

I'm not naive. I expected a counter-demonstration. We've had them here before and the groups have managed to be civil as we both exercised our right to free speech. There will be thousands here on our side. Buses are coming from Atlanta, Richmond, DC, Colombia, Norfolk, Knoxville, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham.

I just want to share with you the red baiting and racist tactics, thoughts and beliefs of the folks who are ignorantly telegraphing their warped and disrespectful plans for disrupting March 20. Law enforcement is already involved. Instead of intimidating those of us who work for peace and justice, they are galvanizing people from all over the country to join us in Fayetteville. We will not be stopped.

Read on:

SAMPLES from the Free Republic site:

The URL for this thread is: http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1078193/posts

If I was A.N.S.W.E.R., I'd be keerful. They don't call it "Fatal-ville" fer nuthin'. 505th PIR bump!

For the record, ANSWER is not involved

Is there a NC chapter of Protest Warrior? If ever there were a few idiots that needed to be shouted down -- especially those from that communist International bookstore in Chapel Hill...

Hmm, so books are dangerous and should be “shouted down”

I can put out something through the Republican Party, if we bill this as a "Support the Troops Rally" to attract general participation. Just a thought

It is a support the troops rally, a real one. What this person is advocating is a support the government rally.

I like that idea...it would be a "Support the Troops" rally. It is not like those jerks are coming to offer their support, they're coming to offer their contempt and hatred.

Those of us who have served, whose fathers have served, who have children or spouses serving, do not hate or have contempt for our troops. This writer is spouting propaganda worthy of Goebbels

Fayetteville? That's asking for trouble.

What kind of trouble?

"A neo-nazi group is planning on marching there ."
Maybe someone should let those idiots know about the anti-war rally. I bet they would love to get their hands on some commies.

Inviting the Nazis to Fayetteville?

don't care what stage the war is in; They just want to humiliate the families of our troops and our Commander in Chief.
It really is low of them to pick on the families when their spouses and parents are not here to protect them. They love scaring kids, too.

More propaganda. Two of my kids will be there. The other one will be serving on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower that day

This may be the FReep to end all Freeps!
***Warning! The "anti-war protestors" are encouraging public nudity, and lewdness from their "participants". (Bring your blinders and visors!)***

This is a sick fantasy on someones part

I had a little free time this evening, so in an effort to know the enemy I did some Googling on the NC "Peace" march organizers.

It’s not true, but what if it was?

Looks like they hope to create a confrontation with reagners and paras in order to boost their publicity. we suggest that Freepers march in with them carrying signs that distract their message, such as "Eat at Joe's (or some other local eatery)" and, my favorite that I saw on a Tee-shirt in Cambridge with a beautiful portrait of a cat: {I love cats -- they taste just like chicken." What I think should be tried is a new tactic when hard core lefties have few numbers and are desparate to boost their stock through feee media: confuse and disrupt their puny message so that the idiots of the lamestream can't make heads or tails of it.

This is illegal and will result in arrest, so says the Fayetteville PD

[Qanisqineq]

1. ugh, I can't stand to read it all

I saw the comment about:
I don't think they'll get too much sympathy or support here in Fayetteville. Not with all the yellow ribbons, flags, etc I see around.

I have a yellow ribbon on MY door because my husband was in Iraq... doesn't make me any less anti-war.

[Amerpie]

2. Ribbons

I went into a local pizza shop that was festooned with yellow ribbons and a big "We Support Our Troops" sign. I told them I was a vet and that my kid was on active duty. When I asked for a discount, they looked at me as if I were crazy. To them, "Support Our Troops" means "Sell More Pizza!"

I hope your military community has managed to get some folks involved with Military Families Speak Out.

[Qanisqineq]

4. I am not in a military community, yet

I have been married 3.5 years and have been separated from my husband for all but 6 months due to my job/grad school. This summer I will be moving to finally live with him. Then I will see exactly what the sentiment about this war is in that community.

[NightTrain]

3. Y'know what I'm sick and tired of?

These ignorant jerk-offs referring to the president as "our Commander-in-Chief."

NOW HEAR THIS, FREEPERS: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ONLY OF THE ARMED FORCES, NOT OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY! THE PRESIDENT IS A PUBLIC SERVANT WHO OSTENSIBLY WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES!

Thank you.

[Cursive_Knives512]

10. Oh, good one!

I never thought of that.

[NightTrain]

5. And by the way, Amerpie....

Welcome to DU! Hope you like it here. :hi:

[Qanisqineq]

6. I second that (n/t)

[Amerpie]

9. Thanks

It's been an interesting few days here.

[0007]

7. Do you have any photos - something this big should have such

photos, 'eh?

[Amerpie]

8. Photos

Peace Photographer

Quaker House Photos

Freeper Album

[leftchick]

16. omg .....Amerpie... Here is My Boy!!!

[Mari333]

11. I wont even go into town where I live and our kid is in Baghdad

the GOP community here is too much for me to bear. Having a kid there, and being an anti war activist is too much for them. I dont fit their stereotype. My husband says fuck em, we dont want those kinds of people anywhere near us.
Today was especially hard, with Michael in Baghdad.
I have to believe he will make it out alive.
In the meantime, the only friends I have now are on DU. everyone else I know here doesnt like to be around me, we cry too much.
People are such assholes.
((DU))

[Mikimouse]

12. I have read your threads since the beginning of this nightmare...

and though I have rarely posted about them, my thoughts are always with you and your husband. I was one of the very fortunate during Vietnam (high numbers, no danger), but remember with a great deal of clarity the feeling when my best friend went. He came back intact, by the way, and if there is any justice in this world, so will your stepson. Godspeed.

[Amerpie]

13. Please contact

There is a wonderful organization for people in your situation. It's Military Families Speak Out. You can be in touch with people across the country who know what you are going through. It's a great support network.

On the other hand, if you choose, you'll have any number of opportunities to speak out through the press. There are daily requests for interviews from across the world.
Many, many people want to hear the human side of this whole mess and no one tells it better than military families.

[Nlighten1]

14. Welcome to DU!

Great job!

[leftchick]

15. My 9 yr. old son and I marched in Fayetteville!!!

He even had his picture in the paper! We drove in from Greensboro and it was great! 1500 you say, that is what I thought too. The paper said 800, but what else is new. The freepers were pathetic! Thank you for all you did for the gathering it was the best yet in NC!

[Amerpie]

17. And, I never voted for Jesse Helms!

Thanks! It's nice knowing that there are plenty of peace loving people even doen here in the stereotyped South!