Buffalo Rally Pics March 19, a sorta essay.

[frictionlessO]

We got downtown to Lafayette Square a half hour early. There were about 20 people picketing in front of the military recruitment centers across the street another 10 or so in the square proper. Weather was awful but could've been worse (about 30 degrees with 35 mph gusts). I was really worried turnout was going to be under 50, but at about ten till 2pm they showed up in droves.

I think we could've gotten another 50-100 if the weather had been just a bit better. I wish more would face the weather and inconvenience, but it did make me admire those who had showed up even more.

A short and sweet intro from the WNY Peace Center followed by a prayer from a female Eps minister. A student also spoke out against the war. After that a soldiers father whose son was back from Iraq but preparing to ship out again, he said his son is against the war. A reading of NY fallen soldiers followed. Closed with a short pep talk from a local activist from Buffalo War Resisters.

Cops only came around a few times and were pretty friendly, I shot one a quick peace sign, he smiled and waved.

My estimate is about 150 or so, may there be 1500 or more next year.

Ok here are the pics I promised... with some commentary.




This was about 10 minutes before things were getting started.





This is the sign that says it all. No argument to be made.





Crowd begins to gather.





I like this pic....





More.





More still.





Peak level, notice people from end to the other.




Behind the crowd was this little display (a rarity for Buffalo).


I almost stepped on them, so I had to take a pic.




Had to get this pic a little bit later.




I don't know why but I kept thinking this guy was Will Pitt. He had a good vibe about him and started waving that flag like he was in a U2 video, for the pic.




Finally Little Boots George showed up and claimed responsibility for the whole thing... the bastard!

[frictionlessO]

1. Please look at my pics pretty please....

[katinmn]

2. Thanks for these! Looks like more than 150 in the pics

I hope we're not still doing this next year.

I think we need to do it every month until our numbers get so big that we have half the country out!

P.S. Nominated for greatest page!

[frictionlessO]

5. Thank ya, and that is the hope.. not having to do this again.

From what I understand, there are suppose to be actions from now through summer... I hope this stuff happens every month.

[diamond14]

23. thanks for the photo essay....great work...

:hi:

[frictionlessO]

24. Hey Diamond! Thank you! and thank you many many times for

all the kickin' of the protest threads! You've been absolutely awesome!

[concord]

3. The last one says it all

Thanks for the pictures.

Good for Buffalo!!!

[frictionlessO]

6. hehehe, thats why I placed it last... sums it up nicely.

and you're welcome.

[diamond14]

25. bump

:toast:

[Robbien]

4. It is nice to see people from all walks of life coming out

and nice to see such big PEACE signs. That is the message.

Great Pictures.

[frictionlessO]

7. There really was a great mix there.... whats more

is that I saw a lot of middle aged, middle class white people there. As well as young and old.

Whats less however was the lack of Buffalo's' Black population. Most of whom are completely against the war. I am going to call the local organizers next week and try and brainstorm with them on how to get these events more widely known in Western NY. Specifically the poorer areas and the trendy clubs of the college group. So many more would have shown if only they had known. I have access to some awesome color copiers and a small printing facility that they might be able to make use of.

As an aside about the peace flags... Before the first couple showed up I was having a case of nerves, an Air Force recruiter came to the door and laughed at us and a friend who'd just got off work said her replacement was like "theres only 10 or 20 people out there, they look kinda silly". It was about 5 minutes later the first flags showed up and my heart swelled, I found that moment to be quite reassuring and very grounding. The peace flag is the only one I will pledge to these days.

[Robbien]

10. That is another good report

hopefully the people in the recruitment centers got the word the big crowd showed.

Also, your pictures were the exact right size because they downloaded easily on my dial-up. Some of these protest pictures in other threads take way too much time to download. I was surprised at how fast your pictures appeared.

[frictionlessO]

13. Oh something tells me they knew, because...

In the third pic in my OP the front facade of the background building are all the branches recruiting centers. They actually start just about where the pic ends on the left side if Im not mistaken. We were sorta right there.

Who knows though maybe the AF guy was laughing in a good way?:shrug: Maybe not at us at all? I don't know, except it made me feel weird for a few minutes.

I resized all the pics so they'd fit better. When I first started posting here at DU the lounge folks helped me out a bunch in that regard. You want more people to read your links and see your pics than the easier you try to make it for them.

Thanks again Robbie!

[Toucano]

8. Good job. n/t

[Toucano]

11. kick n/t

[frictionlessO]

17. and a big double thank you!

and a big double thank you!

[WoodrowFan]

9. good pics, thanks

but where was the "massive" freeper counter-demonstration? :eyes:

[frictionlessO]

18. Not a single peep out of a freep.

Seriously.

Which was just grand by me. I hate porta potties!


(Unless I really really need one)



:hurts:

[JimmyJazz]

12. Wow, baby!

Those pictures are awesome! :toast:

You rock! :hi: :loveya:

[frictionlessO]

15. How the heck are ya Ms. Jazz?

Thank you!
:toast: :hug:

[aeolian]

14. Always nice to see the hometown crowd represented! Nice job.

...also nice to see a protest at a place OTHER than Elmwood & Bidwell :)~

[frictionlessO]

16. Were ya there?

I keep hoping some other DUers might've been there.

It was a good place for a rally thats for sure... not a single heckler. Some of the city workers gave us honks, a bus driver and a metro train. I would've thought they were honking at us not with us, but I saw them waving and throwing up a fist.

Was good stuff.

[The Kicker]

19. Great pic essay!

Thank you,frictionlessO!:thumbsup:

[frictionlessO]

20. No thank you!

Great name, and welcome to DU (again?).

[The Kicker]

21. here's the kicker

:kick:

[Wilms]

22. .