Pro-war protest to counter anti-war protesters near the Excel Center

[CatholicEdHead]

I wonder what their turnout will be. If they do max out at 3,000 protesters, it is enough to make it very interesting on the streets of St Paul. :hide:

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/26849059.html

Joe Repya, who organized a 2003 effort that produced 30,000 "Liberate Iraq -- Support Our Troops" signs, has a new plan, this time focused on expected protesters to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Repya and a coalition that includes Minnesota's American Legion and Disabled America Veterans plan to distribute at least 3,000 signs saying "Victory Over Terrorism -- Let Our Soldiers Win."

Repya hopes to have people line the streets around the Xcel Energy Center as an expression of support for the war in Iraq to counter war protesters, who plan to march to the Xcel Center from the State Capitol on Sept. 1.

Repya of Eagan is a delegate to the convention and is well known in Republican circles. He is also a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. In 2003, he and his wife launched the Support Our Troops grass-roots lawn sign campaign. In 10 weeks, 30,000 lawn signs were distributed.
...

[annm4peace]

1. *** WHAT EVER !!!! ****

I'm sure the media will ignore the National Convention of Veterans for Peace and the 2nd annual Convention of Iraq Veterans Against the War that are happening Aug 28,29,30,31st in Bloomington, MN.


and they will give the little pathetic group of "Pro-War Protesters" 3x's the coverage as any of the Vets for Peace.

What a bunch of :silly:

[Minnesota Raindog]

2. And KTLK Thug Radio's Chris Baker will lead the charge with ax handles and machine guns

Hear it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x115488

[Kayakbiker]

3. Respa's Protest Brought out the "True Americans"

Supporting the lies of the Bush Administration was Unamerican:





They stepped on the UN flag; they support independent nation building (colonization), on the backs of the US taxpayer



And they do it blindly (with misspelled words)



I interviewed persons at this rally and asked them their primary source for news. It was either Fox cable news or AM winger talk radio (and that's how they organized). I interviewed persons at the
anti-war rally later that day and the attendees reported multiple sources of news, including NY Times, NPR, foreign press, etc.

[Avidor]

4. Videos of a similar demo a while back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hroa7Fb7zig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgZm51zsKHc

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. That's how they mobilize their troops

I've developed a theory that right-wing media's hatred for public transit comes from a fear that they'll lose much of their audience if their prime demographic (suburban white males) isn't sitting stuck in traffic for at least an hour each day.

[dflprincess]

6. I wonder how close they'll let the wingnuts get to the Xcel Center?

That will be interesting.

[CatholicEdHead]

7. Here are the announced traffic restrictions

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/26852519.html

Motorists and bus riders accustomed to easy access to downtown St. Paul from the west will face detours next month under traffic-control measures being put into place for the Republican National Convention.

City officials revealed Monday the boundaries of the no-traffic zone, which is to be set up in the area surrounding Xcel Energy Center. Motorists traveling east on Interstate 94 into downtown will see access blocked to W. Kellogg Boulevard and W. 5th Street, requiring detours to the north and east.

Changes could be dramatic for Metro Transit riders traveling east into downtown on Smith Avenue and W. 7th Street -- some of whom board in Minneapolis -- because of a walling off of traffic at Chestnut Street just east of the Irvine Park neighborhood.

Joyce Kanevsky, a resident of Irvine Park Towers, said she has heard of likely bus restrictions for weeks. Yet even Monday, with release of details of the convention's no-traffic zone, Metro Transit had yet to spell out detour routes.
....

[dflprincess]

8. That's motorized traffic

it doesn't say if it will let those demonstrating in support of the war get closer to the delegates than those opposed to it.

[RidinMyDonkey]

9. Oh lord please let me run into at least one of them

I eat republicans for breakfast, let one of them stand in the way of my protest!

in all seriousness though 3,000 supporters isn't very many. It's hardly going to counter the number of protesters.

[Minnesota Raindog]

10. I've made my last donation to the Disabled American Vets

If that's what they do with their money, they can find some of their pro-war donors to help them out.

[Owl]

11. Same here.

[HopeFor2006]

12. I agree!

[HopeFor2006]

13. This isn't 2003

It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

[annm4peace]

14. Did see anyone picking up a yard sign on Saturday

Saw in the paper that they were passing out Liberate the Terrorist, Keep troops in Iraq yard signs at Stephanio's in Burnsville from noon to 3pm yesterday.

Well I drove over there about 2pm just to check it out and saw an old guy standing on the corner of Cliff Rd and 13.. didn't hear any honks or waves to him.. Then I went over to the parking lot where they had these pylons set up.. I guess for the crowd they thought was going to come over to get the signs. Only saw a woman and couple guys standing by their cars with a sign.

How sad.. guess most American's have woken up and aren't so supportive of us killing.. oops I guess Liberating all the Iraqis, especially the children.

Maybe they had a big rush at noon for those signs.