Protest Watch - We Have MORE Pictures

True North is not the only alt media outlet watching the anarkids in action. Please check the the following YouTube Channels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAP6u_qU4Vs

http://grizzlyvideo.com/

http://www.youtube.com/theclayempire

http://www.youtube.com/skye820

All three outlets have video from the convention out now and have lots more to add in coming days. Check back often as I know Skye has lots more video left to upload.

Signs Of The Gathering Storm

The not so sublte hints from the anarkids just keep coming. Just take a look at today's sumbission: "Learning from the 'Battle In Seattle' - If protests had started earlier, it may have been possible to stop the WTO"

On Wednesday, in Room 205 of Blegen Hall, the yeast gathered to discuss protest
and possible "direct action" strategy far in advance of the Republican National Convention.
They are the Students for a Democratic Society, which took its name and inspiration from the 1960s activist group which helped organize massive protest and resistance to the Vietnam War.
On Wednesday in Blegen Hall, these SDS "usual suspects" gathered with their shiny-eyed idealism, their colorful scarves and their love of granola to watch a movie called "This Is What Democracy Looks Like," which tells the story of the massive 1999 protests at the World Trade Organization conference in Seattle.
I'd never seen the movie before, but I was there in 1999 so it made me teary-eyed and it almost gave me flashbacks as gas canisters were fired in the direction of the camera person's lens.

Oh the nostalgia.....seriously - I worked very closely with some folks who put up with the WTO protests in Seattle. Their memories of the time are probably less than fond ones....

What gets me is that the author of this opinion piece was a student in 1999 and is STILL a student. NINE YEARS LATER!

For years I've thought, "How could it have been done differently?" My conclusion: if one of the participants had tossed a few fliers into the Starbucks store explaining why this was a radical political action targeting a particular corporation, and not just some stupid, ugly, inarticulate act of vandalism and looting, then the media "spin" would have been totally different.
I don't support window- smashing except, perhaps, to exit a burning building. But I am particularly opposed to window-smashing lacking any articulated political argument. So to all the bandana-masked anarchists out there I say: this time around, be slightly less stupid.
(Oh, yeah, I'd also like to point out Minneapolis-St. Paul is full of vacant houses abandoned by folks involved in mortgage fraud. Hint, hint.)

Emphasis mine. won't hold my breath waiting for Coleen Rowley's swift condemnation of THIS implied threat of violence.....after all, the author is not Chris Baker or some other "right-winger"...Maybe David Mindemann can mention it....after all he is sooooo concerned about accuracy and all.

Second, we made a grave tactical error by starting the big protests on the first day of the WTO events and ending most of the street demonstrations around the time the conference collapsed. If massive protests had kicked off a week early, it may have been possible to stop the WTO conference from ever happening.

We failed, big time.

Take note Minnesota.....the troublemakers (I refuse to call them anarchists because you can't organize anarchy) are organizing and they are getting ready. It is time for responsible citizens to stand up to these losers and tell them that their "actions" are not representative of Minnesota and they are NOT WELCOME HERE!

Profiles In Courage

In 1954/55, John Fitzgerald Kennedy wrote the classic book "Profiles In Courage" which became required reading for school kids when I was growing up. Needless to say, Steve Massey will never be on any list of courageous leaders.

A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping at Forest Lake Area High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit.
Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.

When given the opportunity to come on a local radio program to explain his reasoning, he gave the producer of the program a curt "No" before hanging up on him. Not exactly courageous.

It is so nice to know that the same soldiers that fought so hard for the right for people to protest are not allowed the same free speech that the protesters so freely enjoy - at least in this principal's eyes.

Many are saying that the protests would have been a "disruption" to the school day. That is a complete and total red herring. In a post Columbine/Red Lake School/Virginia Tech era, you can not simply walk into a public school unchallenged. Doors are locked during the day so that visitors go in through the main entrance where there is usually someone to sign you in and get you, IN THE MOST DIRECT MANNER, to the school office. People who do not have legit business in the school are generally not allowed past the office or checkpoint and even then...For example, if I were to go to the Junior Logician's school to pick him up, I must wait for him in the office. Even though I am a parent, I am simply not allowed to walk the halls during the school day!

In an interview with Chris Baker on KTLK - Pete Hegseth, founder of VFF, said that there were parameters set so that the discussion would not turn "political". The ONLY ones who were making this political were (according to Hegseth) were the DU and Vets for Peace who were from outside the district who were trying to cause trouble (Chief is already prowling the halls of the Underground looking for good examples) to post.

Whether he realizes it or not, Principal Massey taught these kids a horrible lesson today. He taught them that honor and valor are things to be avoided at all costs. He taught these kids that the adults that are in charge of teaching them how to be adults can not stand up for the basic principles of this country. He taught them that a few malcontents can keep you from doing the "right thing". He taught them that our military men and women did something that they should be ashamed of.

Principle Massey is the one who should be ashamed.....

Families United

Tomorrow afternoon, several local Democrats/unions (same thing...) will be gathering at the steps of the Capital in order to protest the ongoing successes in Iraq. Thankfully, Merrilee Carlson, Kathy Dunaway and the rest of the Families United For our Troops and their Mission are out to make sure that their soldiers are represented tomorrow. From an email I received today.

Families,
We need everyone to come forward and tell your story of your hero. A number of unions will be holding an anti-war rally at the Minnesota State Capitol tomorrow, Sunday, September 23 at 1 p.m. Here is the email they have sent out. We need all our families, Gold, Blue, Vets, and Proud Americans to contact their congressional leaders, newspapers, media (TV/Radio) and let them know we support our troops and the completion of the mission. MN families - call in to The Patriot
today! AM 1280 - they need to know/share what is going on so we can get
some media attention to how wrong this is. Link to t he program
guide: http://www.am1280thepatriot.com/programguide.asp

If you are a member, like myself ( Kathy Dunaway ) of one of these unions, you need to contact your union and tell them that they do not have permission to speak on
your behalf on the War on Terror and that they should stand with our Troops that
protect their rights to organize and protest!

We are trying to get a press conference set up for tomorrow. Please watch for another email. Respond to myself and Merrilee that you support us and will contact
the union.

We'd also like to get a count of who is in what Union . Please respond using the following email addresses if you belong to that union. Please share this with all your friends who are also members of these unions and wish to be counted in those that do not stand with the union with this protest.

AFSME/ACORN
Fed/State/Municipal Employees info@familiesunitedmission.com
AFL-CIO info@familiesunitedmission.com
Minneapolis & Central Labor Councils info@familiesunitedmission.com
Other labor and religious affiliations included in protest info@familiesunitedmission.com

We are working on a plan for Sunday near the capitol - press conference or other. If you are able to attend, please send Merrilee an email so we can know who is available. Merrilee@familiesunitedmission.com

NOTE:
We are sending this nationwide, because each state needs to know this is coming - this does not just affect Minnesota ! If we get responses to the union offices from everyone involved, perhaps we can pull the rug out from under their feet regarding doing this protest. CALL TODAY !

Kathy is a union member. She got an email from her union reps yesterday which she also included in her email.

BELOW IS THE EMAIL SENT OUT TO MN AFSME MEMBERS aka ACORN:
ATTN: MINNESOTA ACORN MEMBERS
Unprecedented Coalition Organizes September 23 Rally Against the War
It's not just the usual suspects any more. On September 23 labor unions, religious bodies and non-profits will hold a rally at the state capitol to tell Congress it is time to end the war. Participating groups include: Minnesota ACORN, Minnesota AFL-CIO, the Minneapolis and St. Paul central labor councils, AFSCME, SEIU, the Office for Social Justice of the Catholic Archdiocese, the Methodist Social Ministry Team, the Sierra Club, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Wellstone Action, TakeAction Minnesota, Progressive Majority and more.

No coalition of this breadth has previously come together in Minnesota - nor apparently anywhere else in the country - to end the war. With two-thirds of Americans opposed to continuing the war, and Congress soon to vote on it, this is a tipping point. It is a time to stand up and be counted, and this coalition provides the
opportunity to reach out to a broader cross-section of the public than ever before.

The rally - 1:00 pm on Sunday September 23 - will feature Gold Star Mother Becky Lourey and others directly impacted by the war. Please join us at 1:00 pm, Sunday September 23, at the state capitol!

For more information or a ride, contact Brandon Nessen at Minnesota ACORN - 651-642, 9639, Extension 102.

Your tax dollars are going to protest our troops. Doesn't that make you feel all tingly inside?

Seriously - if you support our troops and you are available tomorrow afternoon, won't you please go help Families United speak up for our soldiers who support their mission?