I was in attendance at two of the largest protests ever to take place in Washington DC. The first one was a giant march and rally in November 1969 against the war in Vietnam which was conveniently a few block away from where I was going to college at GWU. As part of the local team, I volunteered as a marshal making sure that the massive crowd at the Washington Monument was safe and respectful which it definitely was. The feeling was wonderful with love, kindness and brotherhood all around me. After the speakers and musicians had finished word spread that there was another demonstration taking place over at the DOJ building so I decided to go over there to help keep out unaware that it was organized by the more radical elements who I later learned were infiltrated by government spooks. The chaos was already beginning as I approached the crowd and before I could get out of there I was hit with a nasty shot of tear gas. It was an awful experience and thankfully I met some friendly folks who drove me back to my apartment. That was 55 years ago but the memory of it remains vivid. Luckily I’ve never had an experience like that since although I did once spend a day in jail after being arrested along with 300 others in an act of civil disobedience where we peacefully blocked the entrance to the Selective Service (Military Draft) building. But that was different although I made a vow to never go through it again.
Three years ago I found myself again at the Washington Monument at the Stop the Steal rally on J6. My friend Neva and I were mainly there to be at a medical freedom rally which featured many great speakers like Del Bigtree, David Martin, Mikki Willis and others. Both the massive crowd listening to Trump’s speech and the very small group at our rally 2 blocks away from the Capitol building were very calm and peaceful. While there was a lot of concern about the fate of our nation, violence was non existent, just like it was all those years ago. The main difference was this time the people were in support of the president while back then Nixon simply ignored the half million protesters and instead watched a football game. But at the very moment that we heard the excruciating loud police sirens blasting our ears to the point that our speakers couldn’t be heard, I knew what was going on and just how inorganic it was for a crowd this soft and solemn to be instigating a resurrection or anything close to it. My first thought was to recall that day back in 1969 when a similar incident occurred. When I got back home to New Jersey I kept hearing about how the “extremist far right violence” was shaking the foundation of our democracy and other mainstream talking points. When I would tell my friends that it wasn’t what they’re being told, they simply refused to believe me. Rather than accept a first hand eyewitness account from someone they know, most insisted that the reports were accurate. And they know because they saw it on TV! The first thing I always tell people who are upset or confused is to turn that god damned idiot box off. You’ll be a lot smarter and a hell of a lot more happy without it.
This reminds me of the Freedom Convoy in Canada.... there are still four people rotting in jail for two years that not a lot of people talk about...... the criminals are the ones in charge of the system.....
* Update on the victimisation of the Canadian Truckers Convoy – attempt to dismiss a 290 million dollar lawsuit using anti-SLAPP laws in court today
Stephanie, This was well written, balanced, and surprising in topic choice having read everything you have written for the past couple of years (at least that I have found). And spot on.
The essential political problem is that the Democrats have NOTHING on which to run this year but 1) abortion and 2) lies about January 6. On both issues, they have completely snowed their non-thinking followers who will just, apparently, believe any drivel they are given. (This is not to opine on abortion on which there are a broad range of thoughts, but rather on their skewed/lying painting of the general issue -- just as they do with January 6.) But every other component of the country is in horrible shape -- so much so that they will just increase the noise on those two issues. (Did you watch Biden's God-awful speech on Friday? OMG.)
This is not good for Democrats, the United States, or any person anywhere other than those wedded to keeping power at any cost. Your warning is well taken, but it would be good to have something more substantive that can be done. We are all searching.
I don't have an answer for this one on how to fix this. Especially after Biden's evil and divisive speech crowing about how he's thrown around 1,000 people in jail for eons from this protest. Average Democrats have bought into the big evil lie and are now justifying cruel and unusual punishment in the name of "democracy." At some point, the people on the right who are being pushed and marginalized as an existential threat will have nothing to lose finally and Civil War 2 will be on. I think that's what whomever is controlling Biden wants, and they are confident they will win over the "patriots." I'll go sideways here and suggest that China may actually be the one pulling all the strings here and we may end up needing to learn Mandarin when all is said and done.
I've got some guy on Notes telling me I should believe Congress more than I should believe my friend of 40 years who was there. There's no talking sense with some of these people.
I had a woman I know who went...she is in her late 70s...very engaged politically, a real spit fire. She went on a bus with a whole group of people from Massachusetts. She said it was fine and all of a sudden the crowd started surging and the metal fences who pushed down (or moved, I can't recall) and the next thing you know she is heading up to the capitol. She turns to one of the capitol police and asks how can she get out of this and he points her down the hill and she leaves. Do I believe her. Yes I do. She thanks god every day she did not get arrested! She is in her late 70s and supports Trump and felt this was her civic opportunity to make her voice heard and seen, in numbers.
I recently went to a Pres Kennedy memorial on the anniversary of his death. I live near Hyannis Port so it's a big deal, JFK Museum. I overhear 3 political people who are in different levels of service (local, state and fed), all elected to office. And the J6 tapes had just been further released (if my memory serves me) and the 3 of them al talking. I slide over, play Joe the dope to overhear. They are going on about how J6 was an insurrection and anyone that thinks it is not is a conspiracy theorist. I wanted to go over and say, well my name is X and I am the person you are talking about! Then I wanted to pull up the tape where they are yelling release the gas or whatever the capitol police were commanding over their communications release the tear gas and rubber bullets, and shoving a guy off a wall as he was climbing it. And it is on video and they are calling us nuts!
I was in attendance at two of the largest protests ever to take place in Washington DC. The first one was a giant march and rally in November 1969 against the war in Vietnam which was conveniently a few block away from where I was going to college at GWU. As part of the local team, I volunteered as a marshal making sure that the massive crowd at the Washington Monument was safe and respectful which it definitely was. The feeling was wonderful with love, kindness and brotherhood all around me. After the speakers and musicians had finished word spread that there was another demonstration taking place over at the DOJ building so I decided to go over there to help keep out unaware that it was organized by the more radical elements who I later learned were infiltrated by government spooks. The chaos was already beginning as I approached the crowd and before I could get out of there I was hit with a nasty shot of tear gas. It was an awful experience and thankfully I met some friendly folks who drove me back to my apartment. That was 55 years ago but the memory of it remains vivid. Luckily I’ve never had an experience like that since although I did once spend a day in jail after being arrested along with 300 others in an act of civil disobedience where we peacefully blocked the entrance to the Selective Service (Military Draft) building. But that was different although I made a vow to never go through it again.
Three years ago I found myself again at the Washington Monument at the Stop the Steal rally on J6. My friend Neva and I were mainly there to be at a medical freedom rally which featured many great speakers like Del Bigtree, David Martin, Mikki Willis and others. Both the massive crowd listening to Trump’s speech and the very small group at our rally 2 blocks away from the Capitol building were very calm and peaceful. While there was a lot of concern about the fate of our nation, violence was non existent, just like it was all those years ago. The main difference was this time the people were in support of the president while back then Nixon simply ignored the half million protesters and instead watched a football game. But at the very moment that we heard the excruciating loud police sirens blasting our ears to the point that our speakers couldn’t be heard, I knew what was going on and just how inorganic it was for a crowd this soft and solemn to be instigating a resurrection or anything close to it. My first thought was to recall that day back in 1969 when a similar incident occurred. When I got back home to New Jersey I kept hearing about how the “extremist far right violence” was shaking the foundation of our democracy and other mainstream talking points. When I would tell my friends that it wasn’t what they’re being told, they simply refused to believe me. Rather than accept a first hand eyewitness account from someone they know, most insisted that the reports were accurate. And they know because they saw it on TV! The first thing I always tell people who are upset or confused is to turn that god damned idiot box off. You’ll be a lot smarter and a hell of a lot more happy without it.
This reminds me of the Freedom Convoy in Canada.... there are still four people rotting in jail for two years that not a lot of people talk about...... the criminals are the ones in charge of the system.....
* Update on the victimisation of the Canadian Truckers Convoy – attempt to dismiss a 290 million dollar lawsuit using anti-SLAPP laws in court today
https://peterhalligan.substack.com/p/update-on-the-victimisation-of-the
* Freedom Convoy leaders’ trial concludes for 2023 but will resume in 2024
The trial, which began on September 5, 2023, was supposed to have lasted just over two weeks. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/freedom-convoy-leaders-trial-concludes-for-2023-but-will-resume-in-2024
* Tirade on Yet Another Example of Media Silence on the Coutts Four
National Post reporter cites Lich/Barber trial as an example of trial delay problems in Canada, but ignores the Coutts Four https://roxannehalverson.substack.com/p/tirade-on-yet-another-example-of
You hit every note. SO well done. And so needed on this banana republic anniversary. Thank you.
Stephanie, This was well written, balanced, and surprising in topic choice having read everything you have written for the past couple of years (at least that I have found). And spot on.
The essential political problem is that the Democrats have NOTHING on which to run this year but 1) abortion and 2) lies about January 6. On both issues, they have completely snowed their non-thinking followers who will just, apparently, believe any drivel they are given. (This is not to opine on abortion on which there are a broad range of thoughts, but rather on their skewed/lying painting of the general issue -- just as they do with January 6.) But every other component of the country is in horrible shape -- so much so that they will just increase the noise on those two issues. (Did you watch Biden's God-awful speech on Friday? OMG.)
This is not good for Democrats, the United States, or any person anywhere other than those wedded to keeping power at any cost. Your warning is well taken, but it would be good to have something more substantive that can be done. We are all searching.
I don't have an answer for this one on how to fix this. Especially after Biden's evil and divisive speech crowing about how he's thrown around 1,000 people in jail for eons from this protest. Average Democrats have bought into the big evil lie and are now justifying cruel and unusual punishment in the name of "democracy." At some point, the people on the right who are being pushed and marginalized as an existential threat will have nothing to lose finally and Civil War 2 will be on. I think that's what whomever is controlling Biden wants, and they are confident they will win over the "patriots." I'll go sideways here and suggest that China may actually be the one pulling all the strings here and we may end up needing to learn Mandarin when all is said and done.
The First Amendment guarantees to every person the inalienable right to peaceably assemble and to petition for redress of grievances.
Those two rights make up a peaceful protest. They are as essential to a Free Society as Free Speech. We should treasure them as such.
Stephanie...I am with you. I am not sure how those that call this insurrection can't see how this could be them next. It baffles me.
I've got some guy on Notes telling me I should believe Congress more than I should believe my friend of 40 years who was there. There's no talking sense with some of these people.
I had a woman I know who went...she is in her late 70s...very engaged politically, a real spit fire. She went on a bus with a whole group of people from Massachusetts. She said it was fine and all of a sudden the crowd started surging and the metal fences who pushed down (or moved, I can't recall) and the next thing you know she is heading up to the capitol. She turns to one of the capitol police and asks how can she get out of this and he points her down the hill and she leaves. Do I believe her. Yes I do. She thanks god every day she did not get arrested! She is in her late 70s and supports Trump and felt this was her civic opportunity to make her voice heard and seen, in numbers.
I recently went to a Pres Kennedy memorial on the anniversary of his death. I live near Hyannis Port so it's a big deal, JFK Museum. I overhear 3 political people who are in different levels of service (local, state and fed), all elected to office. And the J6 tapes had just been further released (if my memory serves me) and the 3 of them al talking. I slide over, play Joe the dope to overhear. They are going on about how J6 was an insurrection and anyone that thinks it is not is a conspiracy theorist. I wanted to go over and say, well my name is X and I am the person you are talking about! Then I wanted to pull up the tape where they are yelling release the gas or whatever the capitol police were commanding over their communications release the tear gas and rubber bullets, and shoving a guy off a wall as he was climbing it. And it is on video and they are calling us nuts!
Trust Congress?
In what generation and in what alternative universe has that ever been a good idea?