Sheriff Joe came to Kansas and we welcomed him - pictures

[proud2BlibKansan]

Kris Kobach is a GOP candidate for KS Sec of State. He is also the author of the AZ anti immigration law. Tonight he held a fundraiser with Sheriff Joe Arpaio from AZ. We have an awesome group of kids here who are activists promoting fair immigration policies. They organized a fabulous rally in a very red state hell neighborhood. The NAACP convention is in town this week and they sent out a couple buses full of folks to join the rally.

A few blocks away, stuck in traffic, we saw this bumper sticker:


There were around 200 folks standing there holding signs to greet KKKris and Sheriff Joe and their guests as they arrived. It was a beautiful sight.


Only Republicans would hold events at a place with a name like this.


Saw some great signs at this rally.
















Loved these t-shirts.


Talked to these nuns and thanked them. So glad to see them at this event. They were the order that educated me and taught me about the importance of social justice. Some of my best memories of elementary school are when we raised money for the poor, collected food for pantries and worked in food kitchens. Thank you Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.


More nuns.


Then the Republicans (Klan members?) who support Kobach and Arpaio started arriving.


Loved this lady. She was carrying two signs but wasn't brave enough to hold them so we could see them as she walked by. We even asked her what her signs said but she kept on walking.


Well I'll give him points for creativity. "Flip This House"


Saw this van from our local right wing hate station. Guess they think they own the parking lot.


Another car in the lot.


More great t-shirts.




At the end of the rally, the crowd gathered for a prayer vigil. They held their hands toward Sheriff Joe.


Told this kid I loved his shirt. The republicans think Che is the demon anti-Christ.

[DesertFlower]

1. great pics. nt

[DesertFlower]

5. just heard on the news that there was a bomb

threat there.

[pinboy3niner]

9. KC Star reports it was a false alarm:

Police noticed a suspicious package outside the event and reacted from "an abundance of caution." It turned out to be nothing.

KC Star report here:

Kobach brings out supporters and opponents
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/13/2081824/kobach-brings-out-supporters-and.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Interesting. Didn't even know this happened.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Wow. Check out this quote:

Arpaio encouraged anyone frightened by the scare to head home. But he said he’s received so many threats over the years he’s learned to shrug them off.

“This happens quite often. I used to have my wife start my car,” he joked. “I feel safe in this town.”

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/13/2081824/kobach-brings-out-supporters-and.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=94827#Comments_Container#ixzz0tdIsKOAg

I have a great sense of humor and I don't find that the least bit funny.

[Cleita]

12. I don't think he was joking.

For guys like this, his wife is another tool. He probably really did it.

[pinboy3niner]

15. That's the one that caught my eye

He was making a joke, but treating his wife that way for a laugh is pretty low.

[patrice]

46. makes it sound as though the whole thing could have been staging - publicity

[LiberalFighter]

38. Joe probably put it there.

[lonestarnot]

2. Tee hee! I love welcome wagons!

:applause: K & R!

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. LOL I thought of you tonight!

Glad you saw our pictures.

[lonestarnot]

7. Enjoyed every one of them!

:hug: Thanks for think of me while posting a thread like this one! Right on! What a compliment! :hug:

[ProudDad]

3. We, the GOOD people from the New Mississippi, Arizona,

Salute you

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Thanks Dad

[sandnsea]

6. That Is Awesome!!!

I wish none of you had to work or go to school so you could just follow that guy around. That woman hiding her signs says they know who walks with the truth. I wish I could hug every one of you, especially your awesome kids!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[pinboy3niner]

8. Thanks for a GREAT report!

The shirts and signs are impressive, as are your photos. Great turnout, too. It's good to see so many coming out to oppose people like Kobach and Arpaio!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

13. Woohoo! Really great pictures!

Thanks for posting them for us.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. It was a wonderful event.

Gives me hope.

[walldude]

16. Big K&R.. You know, it's funny,

look at the signs, they say things like "love, and hope, and dream, and dignity". And people need to ask why I'm a liberal and not a tea bagger? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. And as Sheriff Joe's fans walked by, the protesters were friendly and peaceful

One of them had a sign that said DON'T LOVE THEM, DEPORT THEM. I watched her go by. She was waving her sign and yelling at the protesters. I was so busy watching her I didn't get a picture. And the protesters stood there very peacefully and didn't react. It was an awesome site.

[Touchdown]

17. Good shots! Take me with you the next time I'm in town.

I got a knack for pretending to be a press photographer. I could've gotten that woman to show me her signs with a simple "I need some balance for my story" line. RWers fall for it every time!:rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. I usually post our events over in the MO or KS forums

I'd love for you to come!

[pinboy3niner]

18. K&R

:kick:

[hobbit709]

21. Around here that "Ritz Charles" sign

is identical in style, both in the construction and the lettering, to the average funeral home sign.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Yes it does look like a funeral sign

The name just blows me away. The county GOP has all of their events in this place.

[City Lights]

23. Great pics! Thanks for posting them.

Rec'd.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. Great job!!

[proteus_lives]

25. "The republicans think Che is the demon anti-Christ."

Nah, he was just another Stalinist thug.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I am buying a Che t-shirt to wear to events like this

It is so funny to watch the fear mongers freak out.

[proteus_lives]

27. The final hilarity.

I always imagine the ghost of Che tearing his hair out about how his image has been de-powered and mass-produced by the capitalist system. Ha!

People who freak-out about Che have no understanding of history and how firmly he's rooted in the past. Just another boogeyman now.

[blondeatlast]

28. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Big love from Phoenix to all of you!

LOVE the bunny shirt.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. That's my friend

I love love love that shirt. :)

[gratuitous]

29. Wonderful stuff

And I'm sure the popular media folks were out en masse to cover this large crowd of concerned citizens trying to make their voices heard by their elected officials, just like they were last summer for the tea baggers. Right? Am I right?

Gee, I wonder why the media folks weren't outnumbering the crowd like they were last year? Then they couldn't pretend hard enough that they were covering a vast movement in the body politic. Now? Crickets.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. There was media

But most of them were inside with Sheriff Joe, not outside talking to protesters.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

30. Nice to see such diversity in the crowd- young, middle aged,

old, black, white, brown. etc Representative of all the people

Unlike the Tea Party rallies.

K&R

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Also noticed the attendees were all white

Didn't see one person of color go in that door.

[SargeUNN]

33. Do these people know that Joe's base is

Neo-Nazis and white supremist? Do they know Arpaio has cost the taxpayers of Maricopa County millions of dollars that will not benefit even one of them? Of course not but then they don't care because they can't stand reality.

[blondeatlast]

34. Sarge, buddy--these good folks were PROTESTING Joe's visit. Look again. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Yes they know. That's why they were protesting his appearance.

Did you look at the pictures?

[SargeUNN]

43. opps my mistake

however you can apply my anger to those who invited him and my respect to all who protested.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. Will do Sarge!

[patrice]

39. I was there with my dog. Did you notice when we gathered for the prayer, we were near

one of those Gadsden's flags/snake on yellow background with "Don't tread on me" motto. It was hoisted above one of the Kobach supporter's cars. It made me feel good to sing We Shall Overcome near that flag.

I talked to organizers who were doing their count; they said it was 350-400 people there to support love.

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. Did you hear about the bomb threat?

Pretty scary the way the cops handled it.

[patrice]

44. No! What happened?

[patrice]

45. nevermind. found it upthread.

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. Gotta love those OP cops

They evacuated the baseball field across the street but didn't bother to tell the protesters.

[patrice]

53. wow!

[pinboy3niner]

52. I think it was a bomb scare, not a bomb "threat"

No threat was communicated, but police noticed an unattended briefcase. From the Star's crime blog:

No bomb at Kobach-Arpaio rally in OP

Last night, Overland Park called out its bomb squad after an unattended briefcase was found at the big rally for Kris Kobach, who's running for Kansas secretary of state. ...

Read more: http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/page/2/#ixzz0tj8zwHx2

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. The point is they never told the Hispanics who were protesting

Who cares if they get blown up? Not these cops.

[Lifelong Protester]

40. Bless all of the people there and thank you for being there

to share these photos with us. I really appreciate it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. You are most welcome.

[donheld]

42. Thank you for doing this and sharing the photos.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. Anytime!

[struggle4progress]

51. Yay! Good numbers and a diverse turnout!

¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!

:bounce: :party: :bounce:

[lonestarnot]

55. Best part was running him out of town on a rail.

:evilgrin:

[pinboy3niner]

56. LOL!

The only problem is that many in Maricopa, including our DU friends there, didn't want him back! I think they wanted the KC crew to check his papers. They said something about a long-form birth certificate... :evilgrin:

[UTUSN]

57. Thank you. So beautiful. n/t

[barbtries]

58. great pictures and commentary

thank you for sharing, and for being there!

[11 Bravo]

59. Not a single misspelling in the bunch! It's a good thing these folks are progressives ...

they would never make it as tea-baggers.

[aikoaiko]

62. True, but I'm perplexed by "Believe in the human dignity of all living beings".

All living beings aren't human, or are they?

Off to dictionary.reference.com.....

[EmeraldCityGrl]

60. I HEART Kansas !

or, Kansas has HEART!

[Spazito]

61. Those are awesome pics of awesome people!

All I can say is in response to all those who participated in the 'greeting' to the POS Arpaio and his henchman is


:yourock:

It's too late to recommend but I damn sure can kick this up to the top again.