http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/04/18532985.php
March for Our Lives at the RNC in St. Paul (part 1 of 2)
by ~Bradley ( bradley [at] riseup.net ) Thursday Sep 4th, 2008 2:30 PM
On September 2nd in St. Paul, the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) brought together poor and homeless people of every race, background and age, students, social workers, union members, lawyers, religious leaders, artists and others who stand for social and economic justice. The PPEHRC raised their voices in the “March for Our Lives" to demand “Money for Health Care and Housing, Not for War!” Health care and housing should never be luxuries - not in the United States, not anywhere. Toward this end, the PPEHRC called for protestors to fill the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota in a powerful, peaceful demonstration for the right to healthcare, housing and all economic human rights. As poverty, hunger, unemployment and homelessness grow throughout the United States, political leaders from both major parties have abandoned the common people. The PPEHRC states, "We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to be disappeared from the public eye and the political debates as our families suffer."
mears-park_9-2-08.jpg
For more information and coverage of the march, please see: Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign http://www.economichumanrights.org
People's March 9/2 St Paul http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532288.php Interview with Undercover Infiltrators at the March For Our Lives in St. Paul, 9/2/08: video http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/03/18532509.php c
oncussion grenades and tear gas shot at people trying to leave http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532265.php
Twin Cities Indymedia http://twincities.indymedia.org
March for Our Lives at the RNC in St. Paul (part 2 of 2)
by ~Bradley ( bradley [at] riseup.net ) Thursday Sep 4th, 2008 4:08 PM
On September 2nd in St. Paul, the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) brought together poor and homeless people of every race, background and age, students, social workers, union members, lawyers, religious leaders, artists and others who stand for social and economic justice. The PPEHRC raised their voices in the “March for Our Lives" to demand “Money for Health Care and Housing, Not for War!” Health care and housing should never be luxuries - not in the United States, not anywhere. Toward this end, the PPEHRC called for protestors to fill the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota in a powerful, peaceful demonstration for the right to healthcare, housing and all economic human rights. As poverty, hunger, unemployment and homelessness grow throughout the United States, political leaders from both major parties have abandoned the common people. The PPEHRC states, "We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to be disappeared from the public eye and the political debates as our families suffer."
9.17.2008
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Convention_reports_2008.vp.html
Reports Back from 2008 Convention / RNC Protest
I got back late Monday night from spending 5 days in St. Paul. One of the literary stories that we have received from Persian literature is the story of the elephant in the dark room. People go into the room and everyone who comes out has a different view of what an elephant is. With all the lack of coverage by mainstream media of reporters being roughed up and detained and the heavy provocative police/military presence, I feel that I need to tell what the elephant was for me. I will only mention the first hand experiences and not the stories told to me. Democracy Now's website is a good place to go to get some of those stories.
The first three days were spent in a hotel by the airport at the annual Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War conventions. It was also the hotel where the Alaska and Tennessee delegations stayed. During this time preemptive raids were being carried out on the locations of organizers of activities planned outside of the convention. Jeremy Scahill told us Saturday night about covering the raid on the "eye witness video" group who bear witness by recording events. The next morning a team of 20 swat members with automatic weapons came to our hotel to go through our conventions with a show of force to heighten fear and discourage anyone from exercising our Constitution rights of free speech. Betsy, a young staff member of Veterans For Peace, refused to let them enter and they left. The majority of the attendees at our convention are war vets. We may be carrying a lot of war related mental baggage, but there is no show of force that is going to intimidate us.
Later that day the Veterans For Peace had a permitted march from the capitol building to the RNC and back. While we were on the capitol steps listening to remarks by a few vets and a song by the Code Pink ladies, 6 military helicopters were constantly circling overhead. The march was designed to be a solemn quiet march with the names of the dead US and Iraqis being read. It was to be completely nonviolent as are all of our events. The police were informed before the march that some would continue on beyond the permitted route towards the RNC as a civil resistance in support of defending the Constitution. I had no desire to be arrested since I had volunteered to help the Iraq vets with their march Monday morning, but had decided to stay with gold star parents Carlos and Melida Arredondo. Carlos was pulling a coffin draped with the US flag from his son's unit and his son's uniform as his way of honoring his son and making people aware of the cost of war. I told retired Lt. Col Leah Bolger who was holding the other end of one of the VFP banners that I was following the coffin. At the turnaround point Carlos, Mel and another gold star parent from Chicago turned towards the RNC. Ret Col. Ann Wright who was holding the US flag also turned and Leah decided to follow the flag towards the RNC also. There were about 6 Vietnam vets and a dozen other vets and supporters who also decided to use civil resistance. During the entire march we were surrounded by media who were literally tripping over each other at times. When we reached the cages blocking entrance to the RNC, we were surrounded by national guard troops and police. Nine of the group decided to go under a fence to willingly be arrested.
Once we stopped the media came in for interviews. After several minutes the sirens announced the arrival of several squad cars to further surround us. I was pleased to be interviewed by my favorite reporter, Jeremy Scahill. I also did a long interview with the Al Jazeera news organization. They were taping the entire event entire event and I am sure they can show their Middle East viewers what US democracy really is like. After a while you could feel the ground pound as the storm troopers marched in from a side street. They had the all black heavily padded Darth Vader suits with every part of their bodies covered including full face shields. They had no individual marking to identify who they were individually or collectively. I do not know if they were Blackwater, police, FBI, CIA, homeland security or some military related group. At no time could we get any of them to talk to us, so we could tell them that we were just walking in public areas and were ready to walk back to the capitol. They lined up in military formation behind us in rows with their extra long clubs at the ready across their chests. There was no communication from any of them about what they wanted us to do. No communication, just force. When their leader gave the command to march forward, we knew that they were there to clear us out. Carlos had to turn the casket around, so when they got to us I went up to them and told them that we were getting ready to head back to the capitol. They halted and then stomped behind us as we slowly and reverently followed Alex's casket back to the capitol.
That evening we older vets went over to the Sacred Heart church to meet with some of the Iraq vets and practice our assistance as marshals for the Iraq Veterans Against the War march. Our job was to assist by walking with ropes on all sides to insure the integrity of the marchers and to keep the media from going into the platoons of Iraq vets. All aspects of the march were shared with the police and McCain's people. The plan was to march to the gates of the RNC and demand entrance by a representative of the group to present a letter of demands for veteran's care to the McCain campaign. In Denver the Iraq Veterans Against the War were able to march without a permit along with 5000 supporters to the DNC to have a couple of their members go inside to give a letter to Obama's representative. Obama's people did meet with the representatives of IVAW and a meeting is being set up with Obama's vet coordinator and the Senator himself. If the McCain people were unwilling to meet and be given the letter, the IVAW had one platoon of arrestables. One vet would walk to the police line and continue until subdued and physically stopped. Every minute another vet would step forward until all 40 were physically stopped. The McCain people were wise enough to let in a representative who was arrested for a short time but released. The first few of the arrestables carried a US flag that had flown in Iraq and a copy of the Constitution. The image of bloody Iraq vets and scattered flags and copies of the Constitution on the ground would not have enhanced the Republican image. As the Iraq vets marched back to the capitol after their successful mission, they did so while calling cadence. Democracy Now's Amy Goodman was walking a few feet behind me next to the rope recording the cadence. I could not help but notice how frail she looks. Two hours after I left the next day, she was roughed up and arrested by police.
The major march of some 70 groups started about 1 pm. It was led by the Iraq Veterans Against the War and then followed by Veterans For Peace and Military Families Speak Out members. As is normal in these large marches, the people sort of morphed together after a while. Estimates of 5 to 40 thousand marchers have been reported. I only saw one policeman that lost control. After trying to catch some young protestors who ran away from them into the crowd, one of the policemen lost it and hammered down one of the marchers. Most all vets feel a sense of empathy because most of us were at one time doing jobs similar to the police. The police were obviously instructed to not say anything to us, but when we talked to them many would give us a smile. The local St. Paul police could not have been nicer to me. The Iraq vets reported that at Denver when their unauthorized march reached the DNC, some of the police on the line had to leave their posts with tears in their eyes because they knew they could never arrest their brothers and sisters who had served their country and were exercising their Constitutional rights.
Paul Appell
Reports Back from 2008 Convention / RNC Protest
I got back late Monday night from spending 5 days in St. Paul. One of the literary stories that we have received from Persian literature is the story of the elephant in the dark room. People go into the room and everyone who comes out has a different view of what an elephant is. With all the lack of coverage by mainstream media of reporters being roughed up and detained and the heavy provocative police/military presence, I feel that I need to tell what the elephant was for me. I will only mention the first hand experiences and not the stories told to me. Democracy Now's website is a good place to go to get some of those stories.
The first three days were spent in a hotel by the airport at the annual Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War conventions. It was also the hotel where the Alaska and Tennessee delegations stayed. During this time preemptive raids were being carried out on the locations of organizers of activities planned outside of the convention. Jeremy Scahill told us Saturday night about covering the raid on the "eye witness video" group who bear witness by recording events. The next morning a team of 20 swat members with automatic weapons came to our hotel to go through our conventions with a show of force to heighten fear and discourage anyone from exercising our Constitution rights of free speech. Betsy, a young staff member of Veterans For Peace, refused to let them enter and they left. The majority of the attendees at our convention are war vets. We may be carrying a lot of war related mental baggage, but there is no show of force that is going to intimidate us.
Later that day the Veterans For Peace had a permitted march from the capitol building to the RNC and back. While we were on the capitol steps listening to remarks by a few vets and a song by the Code Pink ladies, 6 military helicopters were constantly circling overhead. The march was designed to be a solemn quiet march with the names of the dead US and Iraqis being read. It was to be completely nonviolent as are all of our events. The police were informed before the march that some would continue on beyond the permitted route towards the RNC as a civil resistance in support of defending the Constitution. I had no desire to be arrested since I had volunteered to help the Iraq vets with their march Monday morning, but had decided to stay with gold star parents Carlos and Melida Arredondo. Carlos was pulling a coffin draped with the US flag from his son's unit and his son's uniform as his way of honoring his son and making people aware of the cost of war. I told retired Lt. Col Leah Bolger who was holding the other end of one of the VFP banners that I was following the coffin. At the turnaround point Carlos, Mel and another gold star parent from Chicago turned towards the RNC. Ret Col. Ann Wright who was holding the US flag also turned and Leah decided to follow the flag towards the RNC also. There were about 6 Vietnam vets and a dozen other vets and supporters who also decided to use civil resistance. During the entire march we were surrounded by media who were literally tripping over each other at times. When we reached the cages blocking entrance to the RNC, we were surrounded by national guard troops and police. Nine of the group decided to go under a fence to willingly be arrested.
Once we stopped the media came in for interviews. After several minutes the sirens announced the arrival of several squad cars to further surround us. I was pleased to be interviewed by my favorite reporter, Jeremy Scahill. I also did a long interview with the Al Jazeera news organization. They were taping the entire event entire event and I am sure they can show their Middle East viewers what US democracy really is like. After a while you could feel the ground pound as the storm troopers marched in from a side street. They had the all black heavily padded Darth Vader suits with every part of their bodies covered including full face shields. They had no individual marking to identify who they were individually or collectively. I do not know if they were Blackwater, police, FBI, CIA, homeland security or some military related group. At no time could we get any of them to talk to us, so we could tell them that we were just walking in public areas and were ready to walk back to the capitol. They lined up in military formation behind us in rows with their extra long clubs at the ready across their chests. There was no communication from any of them about what they wanted us to do. No communication, just force. When their leader gave the command to march forward, we knew that they were there to clear us out. Carlos had to turn the casket around, so when they got to us I went up to them and told them that we were getting ready to head back to the capitol. They halted and then stomped behind us as we slowly and reverently followed Alex's casket back to the capitol.
That evening we older vets went over to the Sacred Heart church to meet with some of the Iraq vets and practice our assistance as marshals for the Iraq Veterans Against the War march. Our job was to assist by walking with ropes on all sides to insure the integrity of the marchers and to keep the media from going into the platoons of Iraq vets. All aspects of the march were shared with the police and McCain's people. The plan was to march to the gates of the RNC and demand entrance by a representative of the group to present a letter of demands for veteran's care to the McCain campaign. In Denver the Iraq Veterans Against the War were able to march without a permit along with 5000 supporters to the DNC to have a couple of their members go inside to give a letter to Obama's representative. Obama's people did meet with the representatives of IVAW and a meeting is being set up with Obama's vet coordinator and the Senator himself. If the McCain people were unwilling to meet and be given the letter, the IVAW had one platoon of arrestables. One vet would walk to the police line and continue until subdued and physically stopped. Every minute another vet would step forward until all 40 were physically stopped. The McCain people were wise enough to let in a representative who was arrested for a short time but released. The first few of the arrestables carried a US flag that had flown in Iraq and a copy of the Constitution. The image of bloody Iraq vets and scattered flags and copies of the Constitution on the ground would not have enhanced the Republican image. As the Iraq vets marched back to the capitol after their successful mission, they did so while calling cadence. Democracy Now's Amy Goodman was walking a few feet behind me next to the rope recording the cadence. I could not help but notice how frail she looks. Two hours after I left the next day, she was roughed up and arrested by police.
The major march of some 70 groups started about 1 pm. It was led by the Iraq Veterans Against the War and then followed by Veterans For Peace and Military Families Speak Out members. As is normal in these large marches, the people sort of morphed together after a while. Estimates of 5 to 40 thousand marchers have been reported. I only saw one policeman that lost control. After trying to catch some young protestors who ran away from them into the crowd, one of the policemen lost it and hammered down one of the marchers. Most all vets feel a sense of empathy because most of us were at one time doing jobs similar to the police. The police were obviously instructed to not say anything to us, but when we talked to them many would give us a smile. The local St. Paul police could not have been nicer to me. The Iraq vets reported that at Denver when their unauthorized march reached the DNC, some of the police on the line had to leave their posts with tears in their eyes because they knew they could never arrest their brothers and sisters who had served their country and were exercising their Constitutional rights.
Paul Appell
9.11.2008
Gold Star Families to Protest Bush's McCain Event in Oklahoma City
I called and spoke to John Scripsick. His son Brian was a Marine also at Camp Pendleton like my 'sun' Alex. It's too small a world. His son's friend
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1045
Gold Star Families to Protest Bush's McCain Event in Oklahoma City
Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Gold Star Families Protest Bush - McCain Event in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept. 12.
Three Gold Star parents will protest President George W. Bush's visit to Oklahoma City on Friday, September 12. The event is being held to raise money for Republican candidate John McCain and the Republican National Committee.
Warren Henthorn, of Choctaw, Kay Henthorn, of Oklahoma City and John Scripsick of Wayne, OK. consider it their patriotic responsibility to show up to ask questions of President Bush about his mishandling of the war that cost their son's lives. In desperate economic times, many people, who do not have family members or friends serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, are paying little attention to the killing and suffering that is taking place on a daily basis so far across the world.
The fundraiser, being held on the northeast side of Oklahoma City at a private home, will give those attending the opportunity to donate $5,000 to have their photograph taken to memorialize their support of George Bush.
These Gold Star families will not be donating or attending, but will be speaking out against the war which they say is both illegal and immoral and should be brought to an end. Their concern is for the other troops serving, those who will be deployed in the future and those returning, who are seeking medical care, along with the families that also undergo the hardships of war.
Henthorn and Scripsick have sought the advice of legal council to make sure their first amendment rights are secure and observed in demonstrating that morning at the event which takes place at 9200 N. Sooner Road, near Britton Road. They plan on arriving at 9:00 am as the doors open at 10:00 am and will close at 11:00 am.
"I’m sure standing on a corner this Friday, outside the fundraiser, will not get my questions answered. But maybe the right person will hear the message. I do know that doing nothing will produce nothing." Scripsick stated.
John Scripsick recently observed the one year memorial of his son’s death on September 6, 2007.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1045
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http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1045
Gold Star Families to Protest Bush's McCain Event in Oklahoma City
Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Gold Star Families Protest Bush - McCain Event in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept. 12.
Three Gold Star parents will protest President George W. Bush's visit to Oklahoma City on Friday, September 12. The event is being held to raise money for Republican candidate John McCain and the Republican National Committee.
Warren Henthorn, of Choctaw, Kay Henthorn, of Oklahoma City and John Scripsick of Wayne, OK. consider it their patriotic responsibility to show up to ask questions of President Bush about his mishandling of the war that cost their son's lives. In desperate economic times, many people, who do not have family members or friends serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, are paying little attention to the killing and suffering that is taking place on a daily basis so far across the world.
The fundraiser, being held on the northeast side of Oklahoma City at a private home, will give those attending the opportunity to donate $5,000 to have their photograph taken to memorialize their support of George Bush.
These Gold Star families will not be donating or attending, but will be speaking out against the war which they say is both illegal and immoral and should be brought to an end. Their concern is for the other troops serving, those who will be deployed in the future and those returning, who are seeking medical care, along with the families that also undergo the hardships of war.
Henthorn and Scripsick have sought the advice of legal council to make sure their first amendment rights are secure and observed in demonstrating that morning at the event which takes place at 9200 N. Sooner Road, near Britton Road. They plan on arriving at 9:00 am as the doors open at 10:00 am and will close at 11:00 am.
"I’m sure standing on a corner this Friday, outside the fundraiser, will not get my questions answered. But maybe the right person will hear the message. I do know that doing nothing will produce nothing." Scripsick stated.
John Scripsick recently observed the one year memorial of his son’s death on September 6, 2007.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1045
Generated on: Thursday 11th of September 2008 04:45:58 PM
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My Response to Meghan McCain ...by Melida Arredondo
MichaelMoore.com
Must Read
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1044
My Response to Meghan McCain ...by Melida Arredondo, Stepmom of Soldier Killed in Iraq
September 11th, 2008
September 9, 2008 - Meghan McCain: 'No One Knows What War Is Like Other Than My Family' "I mean, my family — I have two brothers serving in the military. One is about to redeploy to Iraq," McCain said. "My father is obviously a famous war hero. No one knows what war is like other than my family, period."
I respond...
Meghan McCain was born in 1984 and has the opportunity to speak to the media. My stepson Alex also was born in 1984. He cannot speak to the media. Why? Because he was deployed to Iraq twice and killed on his second tour. He returned from his first tour of duty very much impacted by PTSD, yet returned to be with his troops to be at their side.
We also have a nephew who is currently serving in Afghanistan in the army.
My family has more than an idea of what war is like. We live the war every day. When we have a holiday, there's a place set for Alex.
What my husband and I do not have an idea of is what it would be like to hold our 24 year old son in our arms again since he was killed at the age of 20. Period.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1044
Generated on: Thursday 11th of September 2008 04:40:32 PM
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Must Read
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1044
My Response to Meghan McCain ...by Melida Arredondo, Stepmom of Soldier Killed in Iraq
September 11th, 2008
September 9, 2008 - Meghan McCain: 'No One Knows What War Is Like Other Than My Family' "I mean, my family — I have two brothers serving in the military. One is about to redeploy to Iraq," McCain said. "My father is obviously a famous war hero. No one knows what war is like other than my family, period."
I respond...
Meghan McCain was born in 1984 and has the opportunity to speak to the media. My stepson Alex also was born in 1984. He cannot speak to the media. Why? Because he was deployed to Iraq twice and killed on his second tour. He returned from his first tour of duty very much impacted by PTSD, yet returned to be with his troops to be at their side.
We also have a nephew who is currently serving in Afghanistan in the army.
My family has more than an idea of what war is like. We live the war every day. When we have a holiday, there's a place set for Alex.
What my husband and I do not have an idea of is what it would be like to hold our 24 year old son in our arms again since he was killed at the age of 20. Period.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1044
Generated on: Thursday 11th of September 2008 04:40:32 PM
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Seven years since...
That day so pretty in Boston
I sat with Katie and Matt
Then 8:47 am changed my day
When evil hit us all
Stunned I was, still am
An arrow between my eyes
Sounds of peace from no planes
Days after without airplane tracks overhead
Airspace returned to the heavens
Many lives sacrified to the Gods of retribution
An eye for an eye rhetoric turned hearts to stone
A vulnerable nation turned to hatethought
More US troops have been killed in Iraq than that day
'Remember 9-11' as justification given to the mourners of dead soldiers
Iraqi and Afghan citizens' blood as holy water for the converts to Jihad a la USA
Tears purify my open wounds
My 'sun's' death began on 091101
At 17, his beauty dimmed by duty and honor for his nation
Following the commander in chief into a web of 'why he must serve'
At 20, still beautiful and dead in his Marine dress blues lying in state -
Almost three years since towers and airplanes fell from the sky
Our sacrifice to 9-11 felt profoundly by kin around the globe
His breath stilled, our hearts tearing, a nation still not healed...
I sat with Katie and Matt
Then 8:47 am changed my day
When evil hit us all
Stunned I was, still am
An arrow between my eyes
Sounds of peace from no planes
Days after without airplane tracks overhead
Airspace returned to the heavens
Many lives sacrified to the Gods of retribution
An eye for an eye rhetoric turned hearts to stone
A vulnerable nation turned to hatethought
More US troops have been killed in Iraq than that day
'Remember 9-11' as justification given to the mourners of dead soldiers
Iraqi and Afghan citizens' blood as holy water for the converts to Jihad a la USA
Tears purify my open wounds
My 'sun's' death began on 091101
At 17, his beauty dimmed by duty and honor for his nation
Following the commander in chief into a web of 'why he must serve'
At 20, still beautiful and dead in his Marine dress blues lying in state -
Almost three years since towers and airplanes fell from the sky
Our sacrifice to 9-11 felt profoundly by kin around the globe
His breath stilled, our hearts tearing, a nation still not healed...
9.05.2008
08.31.08 - 9.2.08
Pen and Paper
08/31/2008 - Nerves are raw. Eyes quick to tear. Sunday we march with vets. Stood eye to with the armed-to-the-hilt rent - a - cops.
Marches across the 'approved' zone into unknown and illegal territory. Why? As the chant says - 'Our streets, Their war'...
March #1 - Colonel Ann Wright held our huge US flag and marched into the danger zone with us. 
Democracy Now's Jeremy Scahill asked us why. Carlos' response: "It's my obligation as a father to honor my son; it's my obligation as a citizen to speak out". I stated that "flag is colored red to remember the troops of paid the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. This includes Alex. Yet, Alex and others did not spill his blood to become a part of a presidential political platform and justification for continues killing".
Democracy Now's Jeremy Scahill asked us why. Carlos' response: "It's my obligation as a father to honor my son; it's my obligation as a citizen to speak out". I stated that "flag is colored red to remember the troops of paid the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. This includes Alex. Yet, Alex and others did not spill his blood to become a part of a presidential political platform and justification for continues killing".Then we went for lunch with MFSO-Minnesota. Here's a snapspot....
March #2 - 09/01/2008 - We report to duty at 0730 hours in front of the St. Paul Capitol to march side-by-side with IVAW. This march is smaller but more significant. They will deliver their message to the Republican National Convention. No arrest. Mission accomplished. Then IVAW does something Carlos and I do not xpect. They unite in saluting Lcpl. Alexander Scott Arredondo. I have tears in my eyes. We are both extremly grateful. Carlos runs with the large American flag to be with IVAW where some press have convented. Tom Swann, a blind US Marine vet, Ian LaValle and Jabbar McGruder aid me in rolling the memorial back to the capitol.
March #3 - Still 09/01/2008 - Yes, two marches in one day. My feet hurt, I'm hungry but here we go. Between the marches, the press surround like bees to honey. Here are some pictures.
Carlos and the Memorial, Juan Torres and I are in the front of the line. VFP / IVAW are behind us. We are surrounded by media. When we return from Excel Center, we see the view of people. This is not a small march. There are 30 - 40,000 people marching! What a site.
At this point, I must acknowledge Pat and Jenny who housed both Carlos and me in Minneapolis. What wonderful souls. They took us in the first day we arrived at VFP convention where they were volunteering. So, as soon as the convention was done, we had housing. We had not planned on staying this long. Therefore, it was a pleasant bit of home provided by strangers who took us in as family members.
They sent us fed with breakfast in our bellies, with coffee in a thermos each day, freshly backed cookies and even sandwiches. Then we would head back to their home for a nice dinner.
God has a place for people such as these called heaven.
09.03.2008 - March #4 - My feet are begging for mercy. I'm tired despire sleeping in this a.m. I'm hungry even if I've eaten. These are my nerves talking to me and trying to take me down.
Carlos is also anxious. The conflicts in the streets the day and night before really upset us. All of these marches are turning me into one in blurry, tired, anxious fatigued woman.
In addition, Amy Goodman, colleague, friend and host of DemocracyNow, and her staff were attacked. Civil liberties have been shat upon. Is it no wonder than I'm a little cantankerous today.
So Carlos and I head out to the Poor People's March on the RNC. (more information here - http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/09/99688.html). It's hard to park in St. Paul due to all of these events. We manage to find a spot about a block away from the start of the march.
Michael McPherson honors us by carrying the US flag.
Mothers, children, memorial to the fallen, Carlos and I lead this march as well...
All went well for this march. However, we left in the nick-of-time since the rent-a-cops pepper sprayed the crowds when they would not disburse in a "timely" manner. Little kidz were pepper sprayed. Sick stuff!
As stated earlier, check out http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/09/99688.html for further information on the realities of RNC repression.
Oorah Marine!
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) Nat'l Board member Adam Kokesh, caught live, by CNN & MSNBC, at the Republican Convention, in St Paul...
DURING McCain's speech, Thursday night, 9/4
AK is a 2004 Marine Veteran of Falujah, and Prez of IVAW's DC Chapter
DURING McCain's speech, Thursday night, 9/4
AK is a 2004 Marine Veteran of Falujah, and Prez of IVAW's DC Chapter
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) give John McCain an "F" on their Legislative Report Card ( Correct vote 20% of the time )
McCain's Voting Record on Vets
About McCain:
His voting record should be front and center but the heart-string-pulling stories are what the American people get their feelings worked up over.
Apparently many like being told warm and fuzzy flag wrapped stories with which to shape their views rather than the cold hard truth about McCain; as evidenced last night at the RNC.
His "Nay" and "Not Voting" on Veteran's Issues are where we get a better idea of who he really is:
– Voted AGAINST an amendment providing $20 billion to the VA’s medical facilities. [5/4/06]
– Voted AGAINST providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care “and treatment for veterans,” one of only 13 senators to do so. [4/26/06]
– Voted AGAINST increasing VA funding by $1.5 billion by closing corporate loopholes. [3/14/06]
– Voted AGAINST increasing VA funding by $1.8 billion by ending “abusive tax loopholes.” [3/10/04]
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_cate...o.x=11&go.y=11
His voting record should be front and center but the heart-string-pulling stories are what the American people get their feelings worked up over.
Apparently many like being told warm and fuzzy flag wrapped stories with which to shape their views rather than the cold hard truth about McCain; as evidenced last night at the RNC.
His "Nay" and "Not Voting" on Veteran's Issues are where we get a better idea of who he really is:
– Voted AGAINST an amendment providing $20 billion to the VA’s medical facilities. [5/4/06]
– Voted AGAINST providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care “and treatment for veterans,” one of only 13 senators to do so. [4/26/06]
– Voted AGAINST increasing VA funding by $1.5 billion by closing corporate loopholes. [3/14/06]
– Voted AGAINST increasing VA funding by $1.8 billion by ending “abusive tax loopholes.” [3/10/04]
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_cate...o.x=11&go.y=11
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