Hey folks! Between 12 000 and 15 000 anti-Bush demonstrators in Mainz

[neweurope]

to-day! Just returned and still shivering - freezing temperatures, snow almost all day -, but very happy indeed! 5 000 - 6 000 demonstrators had been expected. After all: Highways and bridges closed, a lot of trains not running, winter weather and a work day... 15 000 people! (say we, the police says 12 000). And that was only one demonstration; there were 40 demonstrations against Bush to-day in Germany! Peace movement, critics of globalization and environmental activists.

What made me happy most of all: About four fifth were very young people. We always said that generation wasn't interested in politics at all; it seems the Iraq war has changed that once and for all :)

If you aren't interested in details don't read on... We got up at 5 (the demonstration was scheduled to begin at noon and we live only an hour away but after 9 the whole region was supposed to be shut down). When we arrived in Mainz we saw police all over the place (15 000 were there) - but after half an hour we had only seen ONE citizen on the streets. Shops were closed; it was like a ghost town.

At 11 o'clock we thought that we'd be about a thousand; but it turned out that they were holding some buses back (police controls), and the good people of Mainz came only right on time. We couldn't believe our eyes as the streets suddenly crowded!

People were very creative. One poster we saw a number of times said "God bless America - with reason". Police confiscated 12 posters that showed a picture of Bush saying "Terrorist No. 1" - slandering a foreign head of states is punishable. It was funny that they confiscated it from a US-citizen, too :) As it turned out that "Terrorist No. 1"-Poster was all over the place, though, and after long negotiations (it's always good to have lawyers along) they gave up on confiscating.

First there was a (long) rally with speeches and music; being handicapped I was afraid I wouldn't make it through but it went very well; everybody was nice and considerate. The police were on their best behavior, evidently scared like hell that it would turn violent. Every police de-escalation team of Germany must have been there *g* One speaker compared the Bush-visit to Kennedy who people cheered while Bush had to be driven through absolutely empty streets in a region which was practically under martial law.

After-wards we walked through the streets; of course we didn't come anywhere near where Bush was. The citizens of Mainz had been told not to open windows that day... some cheered us on nevertheless. There were even a couple of floats! One - very young people - was very impressive: In front one guy in US uniform, another dressed and made-up like death, both beating large oil-barrels like drums; on top a wire cage like those at Guantanamo with an orange-clad "prisoner" and a girl in US-uniform "beating" him with a whip, behind them an other "death" complete with scythe... you may not want to hear this but I was so proud of our young ones!

Half way through I had a shock though - on a balcony (of course police were filming us and taking photos, you know the routine) was a German ARMY guy videotaping us! ARMY at a demonstration... that's new and very very scary. I couldn't trust my eyes and went up to the police and asked them - yes, army.

After-wards there was another rally. Among other things a letter of two Fallujah citizens was read which touched my heart - demanding an international investigation. When a hip hop group came on I was afraid I'd need a heart massage any minute and because I was all tired out we left :). But I'm just hearing the very end was peaceful, too.

By the way: The "town hall meeting" the Americans had wanted didn't take place because even our ministry of foreign relations said they wouldn't go for pre-fabricated questions and answers :) - couldn't be done in Germany. And there was a pro-Bush demonstration (organized by an American): 20 people :)

Hope I haven't bored you... *still smiling*


----------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[seabeyond]

1. smiling here,......thank you

wonderful news. aND THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH STORY. great to hear. (sorry about caps)

[porphyrian]

2. Where is Mainz?

I've never heard of it.

[neweurope]

8. Near Frankfurt/Main and Wiesbaden.

--------------------

Remember Fallujah!

Bush to The Hague!

[ClayZ]

50. Thank you so much for Protesting and for the Report!

It gives us hope!



:yourock:

[Oreo]

3. Thank you for representing us!

And thanks for telling us about it!

[GodlessBiker]

4. What a great post.

Thanks for the info.

[sunnystarr]

5. Thanks for a great report ...

made me feel like I was there seeing it. It's important for everyone to know what the REAL story is since our media wants to hide the truth.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Pictures

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,440001,00.jpg

Story: German Protesters Call Bush 'No. 1 Terrorist'

MAINZ, Germany (Reuters) - About 12,000 protesters, many carrying banners reading "Bush go home," "No. 1 Terrorist" and "Warmonger," marched through the German city of Mainz on Wednesday, but were mostly kept away from the visiting U.S. president.

The official rally, which was twice as big as expected, never got within earshot of President Bush, but a small group of protestors rushed toward his car as he left to visit a U.S. base in nearby Wiesbaden. Police wrestled several demonstrators to the ground and led them away in handcuffs, a Reuters witness said.

Bush was visiting Germany for the first time since the 2003 Iraq war, which Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and most Germans opposed.

"I'm disgusted by the war in Iraq Bush started that has cost thousands of civilian lives," said Thomas Odenweller, 49, a computer technician. "Now he's trying to normalize relations with Europe. It must be stopped.".... http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7716331

[opihimoimoi]

7. A BIG Mahalo(thanks) from us stuck in sunshine Hawaii

Come, we go hang glide

[Just Me]

9. Awww, "neweurope", you warm my heart!!!

Honestly, every protest I've attended over the last two and a half years has been a very fulfilling experience. The unity and safety and passion presented is unlike any other experience in my short life here.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[RulesHBO]

10. Just like when Reagan was president!!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. Reagan was actually elected

much different this time around. So... NO, it's not just like Herr Reagan.

[Roland99]

11. Terrorist appeasers!!

Great news!! :D

[rocktivity]

13. Thanks for the report--and for your country's support!

The pro-Bush demonstration reminds me a pro-Iraq war demonstration they had in Washington DC:



:headbang:
rocknation

[neweurope]

14. *laughs* that picture is great :) Yes, the numbers say it all.

-------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Karenina]

39. The numbers would have been

exponentially larger had the entire region not been under martial law.
I wonder what the Rechnung will be for this absurd spectacle. There are WHOLE LOT of the Bevölkerung in Hessen mighty p.o.ed about having their lives disrupted for the Ami's venal "Kleiner Mann."

[NYC]

56. Let us know if you find out how much this cost.

Both for security (frogmen in the river, mailboxes taken away, etc.) and the business losses for the day.

NYC lost money when the RNC was here.

[fortyfeetunder]

15. In contrast 3 DC Freepers were supporting Jeff Gannon

Yeah, folks in Europe know how to par-tay!

[cyberpj]

22. You mean Larry, Moe AND Curly!?!? Wow.

"In contrast 3 DC Freepers were supporting Jeff Gannon"

[cyberpj]

16. Thank you for your post and your convictions -- wish we could wake up more

of our own young people. I'm in my 50's and manage to show up to protest and I'm tired of hearing kids say -- man... the 60's... THOSE were the days. NO KID --THESE are the days!

Maybe we get a resurgence of protests by starting a culture/media resurgence of the 60's!

[neweurope]

18. You are right - THESE are the days! And I also think that you're right

saying a culture/media resurgence of the 60's would be helpful... seems to go hand in hand here; the 60s are quite the fashion. Che Guevara T-shirts on sale!

I felt all sentimental to-day because some of the young ones were actually shouting the same slogans we used to shout way back then (I'm 50); like "USA! Internationale Völkermordzentrale!" (International center of genozide; which also sadly states that Bush might be WORSE but his policies aren't all that DIFFERENT from those of other US-presidents).

----------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[flygal]

17. voted for greatest page

I was hoping there would be a first hand account. I live in E. Germany and watched you guys on tv :yourock: So proud of all those who showed up - they did not make it easy for you!

[u4ic]

19. Germany...

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

[alfredo]

20. The spirit of Sophie Scholl lives on.

[hippiegranny]

21. Thank you for the report

It was very interesting and well written. I was very glad to read that our braindamaged little war pimp was given such a fitting reception.

[tsuki]

23. Post this everywhere. M$M will not cover the protests.

[earth mom]

24. I LOVE you guys! Thank you SO MUCH for doing what we should be

doing in every city in America! You all Rock!

:yourock:

[ClayZ]

29. German Protests

Message:
March 19th GLOBAL PROTEST

March 19, 2005: GLOBAL DAY OF PROTEST ON THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2688






:yourock: Germany

[Blue_In_AK]

25. Thanks for the update. This is wonderful. n/t

[Az_lefty]

26. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

:toast: :bounce:

[peacebird]

27. thank you! Makes me proud of my German heritage!

grandfather came over from Wurtzburg and black forest area in the 1870's....

:toast:

way to go Mainz! I heard the bushBaby CANCELLED his townhall meeting because he couldn't pack the audience with pre-chosen supporters and give them the questions to ask... Tell me - do you think he could have FOUND any supporters over there?
:evilgrin:

[Quakerfriend]

51. Me too, peacebird!

Great, great grandfather lived in Saxony and Dresden in 1776.

Thank You, thank you, all fine German citizens.

Just about the time I thought I could no longer bare the sadness/despair after the election, those marvelous piles of doggie-doo decorated with Bush flags began to appear all over Germany. I cannot tell you how that made my heart sing!!!!!

We all need each other right now. The world must stand up together against this crazed administration.

[Gabi Hayes]

28. I bought a car in Wiesbaden years ago, drove around Europe,

ended up on Crete; sold it there

also, in case anyone didn't mention it already, this morning on NPR they said that your selfsame five or six thousand demonstrators were there. Also, that the streets were empty, otherwise, with cops and army guys ALL OVER the place. IIRC, they said it looked like a ghost town.

so there

PS I second this emotion:

Bush 'No. 1 Terrorist'

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. You Rock, neweurope!

Thanks so much for protesting that bastard! :loveya: We appreciate it! Great post! :hi:

[shadowknows69]

31. They shame us

we should be on the streets in at least these numbers every week

[ClayZ]

46. Not In Our Name Protest CALANDER

RISE UP!
http://www.notinourname.net/war/

http://protest.net/notinourname/calendrome.cgi







:kick:

[BrklynLiberal]

32. Great post! Thanks so much for the first hand report.

[Tactical Progressive]

33. You know, I think you Germans just need to spend a little more time

with George. Why don't you keep him there for a few months.

I'm sure once your media explains to you how he is a 'reformer with results' who is 'steadfast' and 'knows what he believes', you'll have a change of heart.

Keep him for the summer. We'll cope.

[Ironpost]

34. All smiles

Thank you for informing us as to how the little fella's visit went with you guys. Its a total different spin on our media. thank you friend.

[paineinthearse]

35. 18:23 and I missed PBS & CNN headlines

Will watch ABC, CBS & NBS at 6:30PM to see if there is any mention.

Great job, Germany!

:yourock:

[paineinthearse]

36. No reports of demonstrations on NBC, ABC & CBS evening news.

Just glowing reports of *'s "triumphant" diplomatic efforts to re-establish relationships.

Next stop Russia.

Must not have happened (not!).

[Gelliebeans]

37. thank you

for posting the details!
:hi:

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

38. Thank you for this report

and please tell everyone where you live that many Americans DO NOT support the policies and practices of Mr. Bush.......

[Tigress DEM]

40. 1,000 in Brussels made me happy, this makes me ESTATIC!

I love my country and I want it to get on the right track and be the leader it can be in this world, but that chimp is not my legally elected president. He spiked the election and he gets whatever reaction he gets for his calloused unprincipaled behaviour.

[Straight Shooter]

41. Thanks, neweurope!

:thumbsup:

[paineinthearse]

42. Hey EU????

Can New England join your confederation?

[hatrack]

43. Wir danken Ihnen sehr!

Ausgezeichnet!!! :hi:

[signmike]

54. Ja ja mich auch. Ich sage auch gesundheidt

;-)

[karlrschneider]

44. Thanks for this!

:D

[Cleita]

45. Thank you Mainz.

You don't know how we appreciate what you are doing. Bless you!

[guajira]

47. What a Coinkidink - O'Really Just showed Mainz

A quick shot of the demonstration. Only place I've seen it on American TV!

Jon Stewart had funny shots of Condi, sitting behind B* looking very mean and unhappy! What a pair - the narcissist who constantly laughs at his own stupid jokes, and the stern mother figure!!

[annabanana]

48. We are starved for news here in the US!!

Sadly we must rely on the "internets" and our friends worldwide to fill us in on what's really going on.

[DemonFighterLives]

49. Thanks for your participation and report

Olberman showed some of the pictures. Number 1 Terrorist! They had a bloody statue of liberty with a missile in her hand. Then knucklehead, er you know who I mean was on calling the chance of war in Iran ridiculous, and the last part of the sentence was all options were on the table. Smirk, smirk, smirk. Same way he started Iraq with his disclaimer. Of course the situation will change by tomorrow and bombing will be planned.
:freak:

[paineinthearse]

52. photos

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3167667

[dflprincess]

53. Countdown reported one sign was confiscated. It read:

We had our Hitler. Now you have yours.

[NYC]

55. Congratulations!

Thank you for protesting.

I've been reading newspaper reports about Mainz, mostly about the "lock down".

Thank you for your detailed report, and I truly thank you for protesting!

[golden voyages]

57. Most excellent!

Please make sure to tell lots of people that many, many folks on this side of the pond wholeheartedly support the protests and join you in spirit.

:bounce: :yourock:

[Karenina]

58. Kick!

:kick:

[flyarm]

59. thank you for report can you answer this for me??

just heard here on mike malloy that instructions were given to people there not to look at * on his drive into the city..if people were anywhere near the motorcade, no one was to look at * is that true??

he did that here for inaugeration with the people in hisown parade..they were told not to look at him..did it really happen there too??

sounds like our little hitler is getting like the german hitler!!

thanks for your report..too bad americans aren't taking to the streets!!

they will eventually..but i fear it will be too late!

fly

[neweurope]

62. People in Mainz were told not to open their windows that day and

evidently in the "security zone" (which somebody not living there was not allowed to enter) they had to leave their blinds down, at least that's what I read.

------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[dandrhesse]

60. The pro bush demonstrators were probably the same 20 people that

showed up at every Kerry/Edwards rally in our state! I swear it was the same 20 people! maybe they have gone international!

I am so happy to hear that you had a good experience and that it was mostly young people. I also am glad to hear, always that they are anti-Bush rallies and not anit american rallies. We are fighting and trying to change things but he is in control for the time being and I am glad that the world recognizes that fact.

That is another reason I feel so strongly about the election fraud issue, it was not the voice of the people who spoke!

thanks for the report! Post picutres if you took any, you know a picture is worth a thousand words!

[The Minus World]

61. Thanks for the great post

A humanity which is essentially gentle and good will universally frown upon cruelty, bigotry and hatred.

These people who claim to be "Republicans" have done nothing more than house the engine of a dictatorship in the body of a democracy. It simply cannot last, as it is against the will of the people; such successful demonstrations are proof of the world's awareness of that very fact.

[blindpig]

63. thank you

Your people have learned the hard way, I'm afraid we shall have to also.

[Suziq]

64. My Heartfelt Thanks . . .

for your post since our media has their heads so far up Bush's ass, we would not get to see the protests (even though we knew they were happending)!

I am proud to be of German heritage . . . .


:hippie:

[Spike from MN]

65. Thanks so much for everything you went through

-- getting up at 5, the transportation headache, the freezing cold -- to get out there and protest Bush. And thanks so much for the report. We would never hear about this over here without people like you keeping us informed because the right-wing media here would NEVER report on something like this. Kudos to you and all the others who attended the protest!

Also, I'd love to see a picture of the "We had our Hitler. Now you have yours." sign that KO (and dlfprincess) mentioned. If anyone comes across one, please post it here. That's a classic!

[MellowOne]

66. Found this part very interesting!

By the way: The "town hall meeting" the Americans had wanted didn't take place because even our ministry of foreign relations said they wouldn't go for pre-fabricated questions and answers - couldn't be done in Germany. And there was a pro-Bush demonstration (organized by an American): 20 people


What they don't allow pre-fabricated questions and answers in German like here in the US? The shame of it! (sarcasm intended)

[mwb970]

67. Not a word about this in my newspaper...

The Columbus Dispatch ran a medium-length article, but there was no mention of thousands of protesters.

[sagesnow]

68. Worm welcome for W in Germany

Evidence of W's welcome has been buried by the Main Stream Media in this country. Germany obviously knows a fascist dictator when they see on.

[gandalf]

69. Danke für den Bericht!

I very much respect everyone who had the courage to go and was willing to invest his time.

[gandalf]

70. The Bush visit was topic No 1 at Schmidt Late Night Show

The only real Late Night Show in Germany, Harald Schmidt, dedicated 3/4 of its time to the Bush visit.

Example:

"Wer Georgie in die Quere kommt, wird durchaus schon einmal weggebomt".

-> If someone gets in the way of Bush, he runs the risk of being bombed.