Have you ever joined a protest action besides anti-war?

[Breeze54]

:shrug:

I have. I have demonstrated against war. In the 70's and again in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007...

On Edit: I did join MoveOn in 2002 and started signing petitions...I learned more from there.

But I also demonstrated against Pres. Clinton and his HUD housing funding cuts and I also
testified in front of a state senate panel on behalf of welfare recipients and benefit cuts.
(I congratulated the senators on voting themselves a raise before I testifed!) ;) (shrewd) :rofl:

The HUD grants were granted and the welfare recipients got the increase and not a cut. ;)

So, have you ever done that? Spoke up for what is right? :shrug:

[ananda]

1. YES!

Against electroshock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Breeze54]

3. Right on!!

Did they stop doing it as a result?

Good for you!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yes and I can proudly say I started my activist life

in HS... albeit not in this country...

Boy I led the revolt to try to keep to miscreants in school, never mind they truly hated me

:-)

[Breeze54]

4. I can see that in you!!

:hi:

Hows that no-salt diet going?

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Actually the cardiologist put them both back on SOME salt

their BP was not doing well...

Of course it is strange when cardiologist tells you, feed them some salt (in tasty ways) after mom´s BP crashed

:-)

And now they are home... so we don´t have to worry about that much any longer, and just keep doing what we are doing, cook with very little salt, as we have always done (I should correct myself, I have done)

[JanMichael]

5. I went to the godless rally in DC in 2002 (or 2003)

About 5,000 atheists and agnostics on the mall at one time and not one lightening strike!

[JanMichael]

6. I should add that my HS marched to the school board to protest...

...salary cuts for teachers back in 1985.

[Breeze54]

8. That's awesome!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Did it work? Did you stop them?

[Breeze54]

7. I hadn't heard about that but that is awesome!

"not one lightening strike!" :P

:rofl:

:hi:

[LordJFT]

9. I got a policy enacted requiring my school to purchase all apparel and sports equipment from

sweat-free vendors. Does that count?

[Breeze54]

11. Sure it does...all action to benefit others counts,

doesn't it? ;) I think so!

:yourock:

[drthais]

10. yes oh YES!

When my daughter was in High School
we made T-shirts
and went to protest the OPERATION RESCUE gag-fest
here in Baton Rouge
outside of the only abortion clinic that existed at that time
I'm not sure there even IS one anymore

but it was QUITE the protest!

[Breeze54]

14. WoW!, now that takes guts!!!

:yourock:

I'm proud of you!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

and Thank You for doing that!

[Warpy]

12. I started as a civil rights creep

saving seats for lunch counter protesters in NC in the early 60s. Nobody ever expected a gawky white bread junior high school kid to do stuff like that. They never caught on, either. They just ASSumed when all those black folks came through the door I got scared. They didn't see me jerking my chin toward the seats I had saved for my "friends from school."

I have a big mouth. I see wrong, I speak up. Sometimes I've had to beat a quick retreat, but I've always spoken up on the spot.

Arthritis has slowed me down so I choose my words a little more tactfully, but I don't let racism, sexism, homophobia, or mawkish knee jerk patriotism that puts symbols above people stand.

[Breeze54]

16. You are a true patriot and to do that so young is just awesome!

You make me want to cry and hug you at the same time! :hug:

:yourock:

And you have a LOT of courage!!

Thank You for standing up in the face of such monumental adversity.

[Warpy]

31. I was a BRAT

and I probably did more harm than good for years when I was young, stupid, and confrontational.

I'm a lot more subtle these days and doing a lot more damage.

[hootinholler]

13. 2004 Election protest outside the Capitol.

Andy had copies of poll books that were totally hosed.

-Hoot

[Breeze54]

18. Awesome!!

I admire you for going to that! I missed it. :(

I was at the '04 DNC but I didn't protest.

I was more of an observer (of the fenced in protestors)

and I was walking around the city and went to see Dean Speak! :P

It rocked!

[davsand]

15. Well, yeah. I have been on more than a couple picket lines in my time.

Several different issues, actually. Gay Rights, Choice, Access to Health Care, various Labor issues--oh--and I picketed the local Dem party for protecting a Dem who was abusing women. THAT one went over badly--I still have people that will not talk to me.

My ten year old has been on lines with me--usually Labor related stuff that I think is safe (that won't get too ugly.) She went to school the next day and tried to call a picket chant over something that annoyed her.

I have always felt that we owe it to ourselves and to everyone else to stand when we think something needs to be fixed. I have the emotional scars to prove it--I have walked the walk all my adult life.



Laura

[Breeze54]

20. You are awesome, Laura.

:hug:

I took my 8 yr. old son to the state house that time and we clogged all the halls and kept beating our signs on the floor like a huge band of drummers! Boom boom BOOM! He got a little scared with that but he pulled through and I sort of felt bad bringing him (I didn't know that many people would be there) but we all marched to the offices of the state reps in Gov. Center and we did the same thing and they were looking out their office windows down at us and later on, on the news, they were talking about the children that were at that demonstration. Ugh! But I felt they needed to see who their stupid policies were effecting and he was fine! It wasn't like he was in the halls for hours. Just about 30 minutes. Enough to stop their daily activity. ;) (sorry for running off with my mouth!)

[femmedem]

19. When my city eliminated our social services department

I marched, I protested, I organized, I wrote letters, I spoke at council meetings.

I also protested the eminent domain razing of a low-income neighborhood to make way for a convention center.

And I protested against torture.

[Breeze54]

22. WoW!! You are a champion!!!

Thank You for doing all that!! :D

:yourock: too!

There are so many here on DU that take action! That is just wonderful!! :loveya:

[Mountainman]

21. I marched in civil rights protests.

The first one was purely by accident. In Yellow Springs Ohio in the 60's when I was in high school I rode through town on a motor scooter and I thought the traffic sure was thick for a Sunday. I was at the tail end of a civil rights march and didn't know it. Later my friend and I would be refused service because the merchants thought we were part of the march. Well we were then and many times after that.

[Breeze54]

23. Fantastic! It seems you learned from that!!

Way to go and Thank You for all you did!! :D

:yourock:

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. We had a ridiculous dress code in high school

and my first protest was at the age of 14, against the dress code.

When I was 16, I protested against President Nixon when he came to my city. And at that protest, I met other kids my age who invited me to join the Vietnam War protests.

We also marched against racism in our city. And there were feminism marches too.

I didn't do a lot of protesting again until W was selected in 2000. Since then, I have gone into overdrive protesting him, the war, torture, Guatanamo, and I have also participated in rallies supporting the Jenna 6, Cindy Sheehan, and various causes promoting peace and an end to the war in Iraq.

I would love to move to France where they are in the streets almost weekly protesting against their government. :)

[Breeze54]

25. Good on you!! I knew you were an activist!

:yourock:

I signed petitions and circulated them about the Jenna Six but I didn't travel there.

I've been a supporter of many of the causes you named but wasn't able to physically go there.

We all do what we can, right? Thanks for all you do! :hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I didn't go to Jenna; we had a rally here

I wish I could have been there though.

The other protest I really want to go to some day is the one in Georgia at School of America. They hold it every November and it just gets bigger every year.

[Breeze54]

27. I'm thinking about going to DC for the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War.

I'm just not sure if I can go, with moving and all looming in front of me.

My landlord doesn't seem to be worried that I've over stayed my welcome though! :P

I think, with the down turn of home sales, that he's happy I'm still here.

I haven't received a letter telling me when to get out yet. I hope that's a good thing! :D

I'd really like to go to DC in March though... it's coming up on the 17th, I think.

I wish I knew what my 'move by' date was, so that I can make plans.

[abq e streeter]

28. besides anti-Vietnam war protests , and many petitions...

let's see....at 15 I told my parents I was going to a friend's house and instead marched in the first open-housing march in my town. Also got tear and pepper gassed at a march in Berkeley, Cal. commemorating the 1st anniversary of the Peoples' Park protests...Also testified in front of a NM state senate committee in favor of the indoor smoking ban ( an action that apparently labels me a fascist in the eyes of a disturbing amount of DUers) . Brought and displayed some large, homemade, tongue in cheek anti -Nixon signs a few days before the "72 election at a big Nixon rally at the Albuquerque airport.. One said " Junkies for Nixon", with a syringe dripping blood, and the other said, "Virgins for Dick" with little cherries everywhere...Smaller little personal protests too---Refusing an ORDER to give a standing ovation to our retiring, worthless school superintendent at my HS graduation ( the only other person I saw doing the same was the girl next to me; I still remember us looking at each other in amazement realizing that we weren't the only one to do this). Also, I refuse to stand and/or say the pledge in my classrooms, and do not ever tell the kids to stand either, although most do. If and when this country is taken back from the clutches of fascists and criminals, I'll gladly stand and say the pledge again..... Attended a local school board meeting in support of teachers who'd been reprimanded, and worse, for their anti- Iraq war statements.... Protested a Cheney visit here in Albuquerque too. Sounds like I'm tootin' my own horn here; I freely acknowledge that this is a miniscule amount of activism compared to what a true activist does--I've really been a shootin' my mouth off and doing very little type of person for far too much of my life.

[Breeze54]

32. Hey, you sound like a grass roots activist to me! That's where it starts!

Good for you and good for us that you spoke out!!

I love that; "Virgins for Dick" with little cherries sign!! :rofl:

:yourock: Keep speaking out!

Every little bit helps but you already know that! ;)

[abq e streeter]

35. That was an abq e streeter original, I'm proud to say

it was on a bedsheet ; me and my girlfriend held it perched on the shoulders of two much taller friends. Someone told me they saw it in the distance on national TV news coverage of that rally.

[Lorien]

29. Yes. I marched on Tallahassee after the 2000 election. n/t

[Breeze54]

33. Woot!!

I wish I had marched for that!! OMG!! :yourock:

[fed-up]

30. Tuition Free in '83, Tip-Tax law (82?) Save San Bruno Mt-'75, STOP 380-'72, Reclaim the Commons 2004

testified on behalf of SB 840, SIngle Payer Universal Health Care-2007

stopped Army Recruiters on son's high school campus from requesting personal info to climb rock wall brought in as part of Drug Week-2005?

and throw in numerous anti-war protests-Chico, San Francisco and Sacramento and marches to our local Congressman Herger's office

and turned in two employers to the labor commissioner's Office-first time I was still in high school-1975, second in 1983?

I am what you call opinionated :)

edited to add I collected signatures to stop a redistricting for our local Board of Supes

and was co-coordinator for our Measure D campaign to ban genetically altered crops in our county-we lost :(, but a year later the California Rice Commission voted to ban GE rice from the STATE!-I personally got 1,000 signatures out of 10K collected

and I remember walking the streets with my mom in San Bruno to get sigs to recall one of the council members- (I must have been 10 years old at the time)

[Breeze54]

34. That's a LOT!! No wonder you're Fed Up and I'll bet; tired out!

:P

Thanks for fighting the good fight! :loveya:

We need more like you! :yourock:

[beltanefauve]

36. Besides numerous anti-war

demonstrations, I participated in the "March for Choice" in 1992 in Washington, DC. I was involved in protests at my college involving labor issues as well. I didn't take to the streets during the Clinton years, but have always been an ACLU member and have written letters and signed petitions throughout my life. Then * got installed and I just went ballistic. I went to the RNC in New York in 2004, and marched against *, the war, and everything else I could march for (or against) while I was there. I participated in a protest outside of Fox News, called, "The Fox News Shut-Up-a-Thon" And, following that, I went to a meet-up at the New York Public Library to gather for a march on Madison Square Garden. The nets came out, they corralled me and about two hundred others, and I spent the night in jail as a "preventative arrest", to keep me off the streets and off camera. And you know something? I'd do it all over again. The Constitution is worth defending, even if we have to defend it from "our" own people.

[Breeze54]

37. "Then * got installed and I just went ballistic." -- Me too!!

:rofl:

Holy shit!! You got arrested too?! You ARE brave!! :hug:

"The Fox News Shut-Up-a-Thon" ... I think I did hear about that.
I think that's what helped get the ball rolling about the M$M and all the lies!!

Thank You for all you have done... and will do! ;) It's not over yet.

I'm just so impressed with you and all the great activists I've met on this thread!

I hope the Obama crowd will read this thread and copy us all! :hug:

They need to realize that it doesn't stop with just Selecting a President.
That's when the work begins... the hard work is keeping that President aware.

[beltanefauve]

52. Jail sucked,

but there were so many protest arrests that night, that I ended up meeting some really cool people as a result. We talked politics all night long, (just as we do here on DU :-)) and exchanged information and website addresses. I became a DUer shortly after that.
Thanks for the :hug: Breeze54! Great thread!

[BrotherBuzz]

38. I protested nuclear testing in the Pacific in 1962

I was ten years old, but I protested, and got involved with a group of boatbuilders that threw a boat together to sail down there and protest the open nuclear testing. They got arrested and thrown in jail. I fell in love with boats and the waterfront at that time, and was able to fulfill a dream by becoming a boatbuilder decades later. The spirit of Art Piver lives.

I've been against nuclear warfare ever since. Even in the military, I found myself working in the Nuclear Surety Program (AR 50-5) that kept a vigilant eye on the people who trained and worked on the devices. There were not going to be any mistakes under my watch. I detested them (the nukes), but understood they were a necessary evil, nevertheless.

[Breeze54]

40. OMG! You just jogged my memory with all of that!

:yourock: BTW! I want to say that at the outset...you see yourself as a 'watchdog' and I so admire that mindset! :hug:
But I went to a demonstration on Martha's Vineyard at James Taylor's farm protesting and learning about nuclear warfare
and energy plants back in the '70's. I totally forgot about that gathering and concert until I read your post.
Thanks for that! :D It must have been in 1974 or 1975.

[NOLALady]

39. In the 60s

we sat in at the five and dimes practically every day on our way from school.

We marched in front of City Hall demanding the right to vote. We were arrested on the second day. This was one of the proudest moments of my life. We didn't get records because they made all the kids over 17 leave when they learned we would be arrested that day. We stayed at the Juvenile Hall until the local leaders bailed us out.
This happened a few months after the water hose and dog attack on the kids in Birmingham. I was terrified, but I refused to leave. I kept imagining how it would feel if I was attacked by dogs.

Of course I protested the Vietnam War just as I've protested this ill begotten mess.

[Breeze54]

41. What courage and fortitude you have!

That takes a lot of guts!! It had to have been so scary but you didn't back down!
You stood up to them and that has to feel... oh, so awesome! :yourock:

You should be proud of yourself! I'm sooo proud of you and thank you for having
the courage for standing up to injustice! :hug: :loveya:

[Recursion]

42. WTO/IMF/WB

That was my introduction to protesting. I love the smell of tear gas in the morning.

[Breeze54]

43. LOL!

"Tear gas in the morning!" :P

I get WTO but what is IMF? And WB?

I KNEW YOU had it in you, you devil!! :rofl:

[Recursion]

44. International Monetary Fund and World Bank, respectively

WTO protests were in Seattle in '99, IMF/World Bank were in DC in '02.

It was neat because all the DC establishment apparently could not comprehend that a few hundred thousand people thought there was anything wrong with the IMF and World Bank. There were unbelieving pundits on TV stammering, "but don't they get that the world bank helps the poor?" I had to be very careful not to get arrested because I was on active duty in '02 and that probably would not have gone over well with the chain of command.

These protests were also, to me, the first cracks in what has become the inter-generational chasm that seems to have swallowed so much of this forum. They were for the most part led by the under-30 crowd and frankly we caught a lot of flak from the "old guard" who didn't think these were issues worth protesting, or in some cases were just irritated that we stole the march on them.

[Breeze54]

46. I remember seeing those riots on tv back then...I was just becoming aware of the WTO.

But I don't think you're totally correct on what the 'old guard' thought. The OG protests the man but there were a lot of people destroying things at that protest in Washington state and it didn't make sense to many and gave the WTO anarchists a bad image but I agree... The people backing Obama are probably from that group. I am glad though, that you guys did make some noise because it woke a lot of people up and made them aware of what was really going on... Thanks! :hug:

[Recursion]

48. All the violence I saw was from the police

And I do have a nice scar on my scalp from a tonfa.

IIRC there was one group of anarchists in Seattle who decided to break some windows and tag national chain storefronts; not surprisingly, that got all the press and, along with the videos of cops beating the crap out of everybody, led to the general impression you just mentioned that they were "riots" rather than "protests".

The DC protests were much better planned and much more focused (the anarchist dickheads stayed away for the most part). Oddly enough the police response was even more brutal. I guess some cows really are sacred, and globalization is one of them.

and gave the WTO anarchists a bad image but I agree... The people backing Obama are probably from that group.

And I'm sure the cops beating the crap out of us are where the Clinton supporters are from :P

(I kid, I kid...)

[Recursion]

45. But the coolest protest I ever did was the CPWI last year

I wish I could make it again this year.

[Breeze54]

47. I hate abbreviations!

:P

[Recursion]

49. Sorry! Christian Peace Witness for Iraq

I blogged it on DU, if you want to read...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=433666

ON EDIT: ha... I see you commented on it a year ago. Nevermind :)

[Breeze54]

50. I did?! lol....

Now I have to go look!! :rofl:

I hope I made sense! :P

:hi:

You made me laugh tonight and I love that. Thanks! :hug:

[Breeze54]

51. O-M-G! Now I remember you!!

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

:loveya:

:cry:

Psst? Stop being a brat!! :rofl: