Just got home from Montgomery, Alabama

[Dylan Garcia]

Friends,

Annie and I had the distinct pleasure of standing with our sisters and brothers from the Montgomery Peace Project today at Auburn University-Montgomery where the president brought his Social Security Snake Oil gig this afternoon. We are pleased to report that the war resistance is alive and well in Central Alabama.

An indeterminate number of antiwar protesters joined AARP and organized labor for a noon rally at the state capital before approximately 50 resistance activists headed to the campus to greet the oil men from the White House. You would have been proud of the spirit and the enthusiasm.

We're not alone. And we're not fixin' to go away.

Onward,

Buddy

[Maddy McCall]

1. Recommending for greatest page.

Spread the good news about southern Democratic activism. :-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Thanks..me too

[autorank]

2. Thank you for keeping the torch burning.

On edit: I recommended it too. Thanks for the reminder.

Dylan Garcia, you and your crew :yourock:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. I was blown away to hear that Bush's speech was interrupted three times

IN ALABAMA!!!! That is so great. Thank you all :toast:

[babylonsister]

4. Very cool! This is how it starts! People talking to other

people, take our country back!

[alittlelark]

6. My dad went to the Air War College - I lived there twice.

Both times SUCKED. Really.

I am happy to hear that there is resistance to the 'norm' I saw.


I know I will be flamed, but Mont. AL is the WORST PLACE I have ever lived in......by far.

[AnnInLa]

7. Thanks for the report

Any word on a Shreveport action?

[gademocrat7]

8. THANK YOU

AS a neighbor in Georgia I applaud your efforts. We have a difficult climb, but if we all stay together we can and will take the South back.

[Dylan Garcia]

9. Photo in this morning's paper

[Dylan Garcia]

10. Another one

[funkybutt]

11. That's Great!

I had heard about it and was so excited. Word really travelled fast too, people couldnt believe that a protest was so successful in AL. Way to go!

[Dylan Garcia]

12. Email I recieved from Valerie

SYNOPSIS OF YESTERDAY'S EVENTS

MPP gathered at the back entrance of AUM University and protested the
Bush Administration's proposed privatization of social security as well
as their policies of war, threat to civil liberties, and the
destruction of social programs.

A group of roughly 45 individuals participated with approx. 30 members
protesting for the full 4 hours of the permit. We were joined by
several students from Auburn University and a couple from New Orleans,
LA.

The group received a relatively warm reception from 1pm to 4pm with the
number of honks, thumbs up, waves, or simply no reaction from cars
outweighing the yells of disapproval and thumbs down.

At 4pm the group divided in two in order to cover both entrances of
AUM. A group of 25 individuals rallied at the Taylor Road exit in hopes
of catching the president as he exited. They were side by side with
many Bush supporters, and did in fact, see the Bush parade exit.

Back at the Brown Springs Road entrance, the group of 8 remaining MPP
protesters received a not-so-warm farewell from people exiting the
"town hall script-o-meeting." Gestures learned in adolescence were on
display by the Bush fan club. But we did receive the occasional smile
and wave.

MPP member, Robert Delk, attended the event. The audience stood to
applaud President Bush at the end of the meeting, and Robert refused to
stand. Once outside, he said he would have "much rather been out here
with you all."

An excellent protest experience overall with some good media coverage.
Wayne Sabel was interviewed for WSFA news last night. Birmingham News,
the Anniston Star, and student journalists did several on the spot
interviews. Clear Channel radio did an interview with MPP which aired
this morning on 97.1fm. Amy Carr was part of a roundtable on WSFA
yesterday afternoon discussing the social security plan.

The wednesday night poster party at the Sabel's home was covered in
Thursday's Montgomery Advertiser as well.

If anyone knows of any other coverage of the protest, please let me
know.

MANY THANKS to all who helped prepare, participated, and rooted for us
from your homes and office chairs!

peace,
val