Update [2005-9-24 13:40:22 by susanhu]: NEW THREAD up, on top. Per Alohaleezy’s orders!
Update [2005-9-24 11:36:32 by susanhu]: C-SPAN is covering the demonstration live now. (Radio/Video)
All train service was suspended since 6 a.m., to D.C., from New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore because of a “electrical outage.”
Jerry Policoff called me from D.C. to say that the public address system at the demonstration announced the news three times (A.N.S.W.E.R.).
Update [2005-9-24 11:25:57 by susanhu]: The train service is reportedly working again. There were reports of spontaneous protests at Grand Central and at Philly stations, with hundreds shouting, “Bring the Troops Home!”
to which these motherfuckers will not stoop.
WTF? This is just the beginning of the suppression/oppression of the people. Now I am really pissed!
It’s up in a new dairy at Kos — but only NYC. That’s what Jerry FIRST called in to tme … then he found out about the other cities.
CAN YOU OTHERS also looks for news on this? Scour the ‘net?
I’ll post whatever news Jerry calls me wtih the minute I get it + he is sending me photos via his cell phone.
susan, I put the diary up at Kos. I only know about NYC, but since, as I was told, the electrical problem was between the NYC and Trenton stations, I assume that Philadelphia and Baltimore would be affected b/c no trains would be able to get to those stations from the north. There were about 50 or more people who clearly were on their way to the march, possibly more. And I don’t think that bus service would be an option at this time (or before for that matter). The timing does seem odd, no? I spoke to one group of marchers who said that they were told that an electrical repair was the reason for the delay (and she said that the repair was “elective,” that is, not an emergency repair).
Meant to include this quote:
“In a hitch for some coming to the protest, five Amtrak trains running between New York and Washington were delayed for about two hours Saturday morning for repair of overhead electrical lines.”
Yahoo News
(embedded the link)
Sorry about that Susan..and thanks for fixing…I was in a hurry to get it posted for you.
THANKS! for finding that!
I hope everyone will keep looknig… THANKS to KNOXVILLE PROGRESSIVE, we know that what Jerry heard is true.
What Jerry wants to know now is if Amtrak is still out of commission?
From the Daily Kos diary:
The Trains ARE running now… (none / 0)
They have been running since 9:53 am EDT.
We really have to support the infrastructure repairs that AMTRAK is trying to make so that this kind of problem doesn’t happen.
by SamCDC on Sat Sep 24th, 2005 at 08:10:59 PDT
I had to replace Ducky’s thread with this one so that it shows up on our RSS feed that goes out to other blogs and subscribers … someday, I hope our programmer guy can fix it so that diaries that are promoted also show up in the RSS feed. (I time-stamped Ducky’s diary so that it’s tops in Recent Diaries, in case you had conversations doing on there.)
All those cities are on the same main rail line that runs from Boston to DC. Actually, in many places along the way there is only one set of tracks in each direction, so if there is a problem at one spot, service on the entire “northeast corridor” is screwed. This actually is not a rare phenomenon, although the timing is very suspicious.
<snark> One would think that such a concentrated and vital transportation link would deserve better backups in case of a terrorist incident; parallel, alternate routes that could be used a few miles to the west, etc. But that would mean investing in public transportation and infrastructure, and the administration has better things to do… </snark>
The trains are also operated by Amtrak, which IIRC, is begging for more federal funds. I could see them doing this as a “favor”.
AHHHHH … I’ll cross-post that at Daily Kos .. it’s not my diary but they’re all questioning me about these facts….
AND JERRY JUST CALLED AGAIN:
… Jerry says he got this from the DEMO P.A. system — A.N.S.W.E.R. has announced this three times from the podium … about the four cities …
Jerry says he hopes they check their facts first.
IF YOU know something important like this — call me at 360-417-9478 (no call waiting or message, sigh)
I’m definitely having a tinfoil moment this morning. I’ve seen too many movies where the military and/or the corporations stage a coup… When all these various stars start to align, it really makes me go, “Hmmmm…”
I’m sure this all amounts to nothing (especially 3). I seriously doubt the military and/or the corporations think they could do much better than what they’ve already got. But damn you Hollywood–you make me think crazy thoughts sometimes.
I just checked the Amtrak web site. There is no mention of the delayed service out of NYC or elsewhere. There are, however, links to notices about changes in train routes/services due to the hurricanes.
OK. Is there any problem with bus service?
CSPAN just switched to the mall. Why is ANSWER’s name all over everything? Can’t we organize something like this without those guys? I thought United for Peace and Justice was running this thing.
I thought United for Peace and Justice was running this thing.
There’s their speaker.
10,000 on Iraq march say police
Ms Smith delivered a letter to the prime minister urging him to pull British troops out of Iraq.
She broke down in tears as she read out the letter out the crowd at Hyde Park.
In her letter, she said: “Seven weeks ago we saw our son for the last time in a coffin at the chapel of rest. (We were) looking down on the face of a son that I had given birth to and loved with all my heart, knowing that I would never see him again.
“You made the decision to go to Iraq and you can make the decision to get our sons and daughters out of there.”
As to ANSWER folks. They were the originators of this rally months ago. Cindy joined them….not the opposite.
This is a VERY young crowd! He estimates that 50% of them are under age 25! (Take that, Kos! :):) — It’s not just aging hippies! … OFF TO Kos to post this.)
since they’re of the age to do the bleeding and the dying…
Speaking of young protestors, hope they find the missing kid…and that CabinGirl is keeping close tabs on the CabinKids…
Love them, love them!
We support out troops
By singing out the truth
This is awesome!
How are things in Austin? Everything ok I assume?
YEAH!!! Raging Grannies Unite!!
Ragging grannies! Awesome!
At our Sep 14 bus tour stop in Albany I met a local woman that organized “Grannies in sneakers” protests around here. Neat woman. A veteran of Vietnam protests as well.
Everything is just fine — thanks for asking!
The two daddies just took all 4 of the children to the park!!
Takako is taking a nap and I am watching the DC rally … they will probably leave to get back home later today (we are still trying to figure out for definate sure that their power is on (in Katy), but it looks good, so hopefully the daddies will tire out the kiddos!
How is your brother? Safe and sound, I hope?
I haven’t heard from him directly but my father reports that he spoke with my SIL this morning. Brother and daughter were sleeping. Mostly a rain event. No serious wind damage that she knows of. Everyone is ok and that is the important part. The storm went just east enough to keep them right on the edge of hurricane winds and tropical storm winds. It’s not over for them yet but the worst has passed at this point I think.
links to lots of stories about the protests
Some people say the trains are running / some say not.
Jerry worries that, even if they are running now, it’ll be too late.
Even if you take a train from NYC now, you would likely not get to DC until 4 p.m.
has her speech up at dkos:
Follow the link, give her some love.
CNN: unable to walk and chew gum at the same time for 25 years now
can somebody PLEASE teach these people that you shouldn’t shout into a microphone. The amplifier carries your voice so you don’t have to! A speaker is MUCH more persuasive is they talk, not shout.
Watch Jesse do it.
LOL!!
I have been thinking the same thing for the last 20 minutes!!
Maybe the speakers after Jesse will catch a clue…
National Coordinator of United for Peace and Justice was talking (she was calling for civil disobedience at the White House on Monday — anyone know what she was talking about?, now Jesse Jackson — he started off his speech by thanking Cindy for bearing witness int he traditionb of Rosa Parks…
“Anti-war protests, rallies and speeches were also planned in Washington, and the group U.S. Citizens for Peace and Justice, said marches were also planned in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Florence, Rome, Paris and Madrid.”
link
I’ll try to track some of the international coverage.
Between you and Brinnaine, we’re in good shape on the live-blogging.
Say, Catnip, does this mean that you can hear this on C-SPAN radio? I’ll grab the link and add it.
I’m watching the coverage on C-SPAN online.
Geez…I feel like crying already and this just began – powerful stuff!
Damn, I missed her?
I got home from an errand at 12:15 and turned on CSPAN just in time to hear George Galloway.
When CSPAN isn’t showing the podium or crowd close-ups, they keep pulling back to a longer shot that shows lots of empty space and people milling around. It doesn’t look like an overwhelming turnout at this point, at least not from that angle. I’m bummed.
isn’t until 4 — people are still getting there!
What are the numbers?
I saw an estimate of 2,000 this morning with expectations of 100,000.
Thanks. I was gonna say the crowd looked small but you can’t really tell from the various camera angles. I hope it grows and grows. I am very disappointed I couldn’t go but am pleased to have been able to participate here in New York last week.
They just panned through the crowd. That looked much better. Still can’t tell for sure but it is definitely more than 2000.
— from dc.indymedia.org
Oh thank god! I was so worried about the world bank. All those bank robbers converging on Washington had me really worried.
Here’s why they did that:
Ummmm…hate to say this but I think the message is getting lost. Asking for money? Not good. Pass the bucket and ask for money on the sidelines. just my stupid opinion.
I agree Aloha – that kinda turned my stomach. I can just see the Right wing radio nutjobs playing that part back ad nauseum.
San Diego Dem…are you going to the rally here today?
No, I have to leave my house in about 30 minutes to take Alex to his Pop Warner game at TPHS, then we have two birthday parties to attend. I am single mom completely this weekend since his dad is out of town so I cannot break away. Please send me a report! I will be with you in spirit. I am just happy that his game was late enough for me to watch some of this DC rally this AM.
Tell Alex good luck at his game. Will keep you posted. Have a great day!
Glenn Scoby “Pop” Warner, my first cousin, 3 generations removed. Cool.
The downside of coalitions — you have to let everyone speak …
I wish people wouldn’t go into Cuba, Palestine, etc … just for today. Keep it simple and straightforward to appeal to a wider section of people.
yeah… money is necessary of course but the point here is singly focused on ending the war. The only dilution of message that would be appropriate in my mind would be a demand for the resignation of bush and cheney.
My earlier complaint about answer is that they have a habit of diluting the message. I am perhaps too harsh with them but tactics are important and I’m not that impressed with their understanding of that.
Exactly. I am afraid it will happen here today too. So are alot of DFA people here. I will see in a couple of hours. We DO need to stand shoulder to shoulder but I was so hoping just for today it would just be about Peace and For What Noble cause. Gotta take the good with the bad.
Who’s that lady who’s singing?
Evelyn Harris — not sure who she is, but she’s good…now they’re saying that people are still arriving.
I hope this doesn’t get buried on page A17 of the Sunday papers…”in other news, a bunch of folks protested against the war”…
Have no clue. Must be a local person?
Entirely too naive – I know…but who is ANSWER? I have never heard of them before and now I am reading comments that indicate some negative vibe?
I forget what it stands for, but they’ve engendered some mixed reactions in the past; they sometimes get a little off message, like conflating the Iraq War with support of Israel (which they oppose).
To their credit, they seem to be staying on message today, which is end this fucking war…
ANSWER.
They are a leftist coalition that gets involved in a bunch of stuff. Very active. They do lots of good stuff but they also take some positions I personally don’t necessarily agree with and many consider extreme. They are very active however and I salute them for that. I also agree with many of the causes they fight for and I salute them for that too. They make themselves easy to marginalize however and as a result I question the wisdom of letting them take the lead on stuff like this because it feeds the “looney left” argument. On the other hand, I don’t care that much what the frickin righties say anymore. I have lost all respect for them so I don’t care what they have to say.
Anyhow… you can read up about them on their web site and there is plenty more all over the web, pro and con, about them.
well, I get the impression that they weren’t so much let to take the lead, but rather pulled the whole thing together.
I’m just glad that someone is doing it.
time ago? Like even before Cindy went to Crawford? I remember hearing about this rally back in July….
Am I wrong on this?
You are exactly right and it was way back in May when I got the first email for this. I had planned on going at that time but then decided to go to Crawford. Yes, they started this rally so we must be patient. Just like our party….we don’t agree with what they do but must come together in this common cause!
Yes, that is my understanding too. Doesn’t stop my criticism of their approach or the anti-war movements reliance upon them. They just spent a lot of time talking about Haiti and Cuba and Venezuela and that is a mistake today. Worthy subjects but getting into them today dilutes the message and turns off many people. Singleness of purpose and message is very useful.
If want to convince people to join us on Iraq we can… the country, even Republicans, is ready for it… but not if we start into them on Cuba and Haiti. It simply confuses the message and we lose the opportuntiy to convince them to join us.
Open the door gently and once they walk into the room we can begin the larger conversation.
You are, of course, entitled to your criticism, and I am not criticizing you for it (if it came across that way, i apologize) FWIW, for the most part, I think you are correct, especially about the “turn off” to some folks who are there ONLY for their opposition ot the war.
What would have been your solution to this “veering off message” thing though? How are you going to convince the people who originally organized the thing?
Could it be just a tiny bit of exposure to the big picture won’t hurt anyone? Is it possible that thy might be connecting a few dots for some people?
You are right Brin,…and really it’s all part of the same package, the package is Busco…and Impeachment is the answer, all roads lead there, most problems will be solved from that point as well. That is of course in my ever so humble opinion.
No, no, no offense taken. You are quite correct about answer doing the organizing and I am arguing a somewhat silly point that “we” shouldn’t be allowing the people doing the organizing to do things their way. I fully recognize that. I am just regretting that answer has this central role and that we are reliant upon them to take it.
I suspect that the dots being connected for some folks is that the left is not for them. Take for example this republican couple reported on in the article I read. They remain republicans and support bush on other issues. However, there were no WMD’s and Iraq is not allied with al-Queda and Hussein has been removed from power and our soldiers are dying for a mistake. They agree that we should leave Iraq. It is a big step, a HUGE step for them to come to an anti-war rally like this. I can easily imagine that they are feeling uncomfortable and out of place to begin with. Then they get there and see a typical lefty crowd 🙂 and then they start hearing stuff about Cuba (COMMIES!) and Haiti and Venezuela and Palestine and calls for a restructuring of government and I have little trouble imagining that the dots getting connected for them is that they made a mistake in coming and that we are not the people for them.
My opinion, and it is mine only, is that this should have been one topic and one topic only…
end the war and bring them home.
well, all of those things have their roots in oil, greed and racism. They are all, along w/ Iraq, symptoms of an old, festering cancer.
Yes, absolutely, I just think that tactically this does us no good whatsoever. I could be wrong but… 🙂 … obviously I don’t think so. LOL
I think tactics is something that mass coalitions are incapable of. The important thing is to raise hell. I understand what you’re saying about that Republican couple, but I’m also sad that people with genuine grievances are told they are marginal b/c their statements of the truth make comfortable middle class white people uncomfortable. Maybe they’ll help us end the war, but they’ll turn right around and vote for McCain, vote for more exploitation of the poor, more mindless support of Israel.
Maybe there is no way around the problem, and maybe the shrinking majority white population won’t be happy until they irrepairably damage this country in the name of their comfort.
Soldier’s chilling testimony fuels demonstrations against Iraq war:
On the eve of large anti-war demonstrations in Washington and London, Hart Viges has told how indiscriminate fire from US troops is likely to have killed an untold number of Iraqi civilians. Mr Viges, 29, said he was still haunted by the memories of what he experienced and urged President George Bush to withdraw US troops from Iraq.
“I don’t know how many innocents I killed with my mortar rounds,” Mr Viges, who served with the 82nd Airborne Division, said during a presentation this week at American University in Washington. “In Baghdad, I had days that I don’t want to remember. I try to forget,” he added
The rare insight into the chaos of the combat including an order to open fire on all taxis in the city of Samawa because it was believed Iraqi forces were using them for transport comes as US support for the war in Iraq slumps to an all-time low. Polls suggest that 60 per cent now believe the war was wrong. Mr Bush’s personal approval ratings are also at a record low.
. . . 10,000 in London
is speaking now — hell, if he wanted to run for President, I’d amend the Constitution for him (definitely not for Ahnold)!
Got to get moving here shortly — hopefully C-SPAN will repeat this several times over the weekend…
“Christians believe in the Prophets, peace be upon them…Bush and Cheney believe in the profits, and how to get a piece of them.” Hire Galloway as a Democratic speechwriter… 😉
but then I’ve always hung around Scots so I’m a fellow traveller.
One thing we could learn from them–like sailors, they absolutely do not tolerate stupidity.
But as a politician, he’s been flagged as anti-Jewish so we won’t get very far by championing him. I don’t know his record and positions well enough to know if this is unfair.
And here it is, your moment of braw zen:
Gooserock gives George Bush the Br*vehe*rt salute!
Good words to hear from the crowd, has anyone spotted bootribbers yet..in the crowd..
I am transfixed watching the rally!
I’m pretty darn sure I just saw Tom J. and Mary Ellen B. from dfaRochester in the crowd! Good for them. dfaRochester is awesome! Those folks are everywhere. Mary Ellen was one of our DFA candidates for county legislature out in the Rochester area.
See… here we go… off and talking about Haiti. A worthy subject to talk about but not today.
Dammit. This kind of talk will not win over any doubting Republicans today. Stay on message.
Exactly right.
Haiti Ambassador going on about Cuba and Haiti and Venezuela. There are good arguments to be made about US policy toward these countries but today needs to be all about Iraq and all about bringing the troops home.
I was reading an article in my local paper (AP story I think) where they quoted a Republican couple that are attending in Washington today. They remain Republican and they still support bush in other areas but they are convinced that Iraq was a mistake and our troops ought to come home now. These are the people we need to be talking to and convincing. Going off message screws that all up. Damn.
I just called JERRY. He said a lot of people around him are NOT COOL with the speakers … they are unhappy that the speakers are veering off into Palestine, Haiti, etc. today.
And Jerry told me that, last year, ANSWER refused to allow a rabbi to speak at a protest.
Ugh.
Jerry’s so far away, he couldn’t see the speakers so I described the guy talking — who went OVER his time, by the way — with the Palestinian scarf (and I say this as someone who went to Rachel Corrie’s memorial service — but this is NOT the day for this).
And what’s that sign: End Colonial Oppression… that’s the tripe leftover from the 60s radicals. Ugh.
How about: END THE WAR – SAVE LIVES. Or something similar.
Andrew, I meant to say that i like your post. (All your posts, for that matter.)
Say, Jerry thinks there are 200,000 people there.
I wish there were five million. We needed to blow their minds and stay entirely on message.
It’s ALL good baby..but, for something like this speakers need to stay on message.
Sadly, we can learn something from the Right. They manage to stay on message, even when it is the wrong message. We have reality and Truth on our side, so it should be easy.
Galloway showed us how to do it.
From Truthout.org – live blogging:
The Count
By William Rivers Pitt
Saturday 24 September 2005 12:42 PM
It is pretty safe to say that there are more than a hundred thousand people here. Many more. Welcome to the majority.
Moving
By William Rivers Pitt
Saturday 24 September 2005 12:28 PM
I think the ANSWER rally is ending and people will begun feeding into the street.
Funny moment. Mimi Kennedy is standing here trying to give someone directions to this spot: “Walk past the peace signs and through the pink balloons. Turn left at the Abu Ghraib guy and pass the giant Bush head.”
Hee hee hee.
I’m putting up more photos from Jerry,
Elliot Adams! He is an upstate New Yorker, Veterans for Peace, and Democracy for Otsego and Delaware Counties member! I met Elliot at the tour stop in Albany. Good man.
Where is Kerry? He of the famous quote “How do you ask someone to be the last one to die for a lie?”
I am incensed at the fuckin coward Democrats.
Shame.
Just saw an ederly woman in the crowd holding a sign that said:
End the Mad Cowboy Disease! great sign.
Andrew I so agree with you. I am greatly disappointed by the speakers. I wish Cindy had been more vocal in her speech and call for all to ask one question: What Fucking Noble Cause? Damn!
Okay, so some in the crowd don’t want to hear about Palestine etc but to groan when the guy at the podium introduces a former Palestinian(?) (my screen is fuzzy so I can’t see his name)? Come on now…
Are we about ready for a new thread?
Use ANSWER’s online form to send a message to your representatives from various countries.
Amandla awethu!
(Swahili for “power to the people”)
thanks for the link….done!
After leading with the Hurricane Rita news (can’t balme them for that) they immediately mentioned the protest in Washington DC. After one sentence, they immediately said there would be counter protesters and proceeded to interview the leader of the counter protest. No one from the anti-war protest was interviewed –no mention of the crowd or objective, but plenty of time to someone who says that protesters are (wait for it) hurting the troops.
Hard to believe this is the same NPR I used to know.
Oh dear. That’s so sad!