Deeply grateful and proud of Atlas readers who made it their business to attend these god awful, evil rallies against Israel, the Jews, America .............. everything that is right with this sick world. I am proud to be in your good company and held in your regard, in this I am blessed.
MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA: Atlas reader Darrin
LOS ANGELES: Atlas reader Da wolf reports:
There were more of them than us and a few incidents where if the LAPD had not been there, it could have become ugly. The rhetoric of 'Fakenstinians' is typically ugly. They were screaming for 'Jews and Christians to get out of Palestine', and one Pali man in his 60s told my friend 'Hitler Should Have Finished off the Job'. ( I won't tell you what she told him, but he was in shock). So many LAPD were there, including the riot police. It's says a lot about who they are when most of the cops and riot people were posted on 'their' side. Also, as the Pali's rode by in their cars, they shouted 'Fuck You, Fuck you Jews' (which shows their limited intelligence). Of course we were also called 'pigs', 'dogs' accused of 'Genocide' (very rich coming from them). They are just looking for a violent fight and confrontation. Someone on our side had to call the police to come and protect us as they tried to come over to our side and start something. Amazing, that we as Jews are facing such vile hate in L.A. in America. Wish I had a camcorder. Glad we went. Next time we need to be larger and louder
Los Angeles photo
TAMPA FLORIDA: Atlas reader Karen:
Thanks for the info on the planned CAIR rallies. I attended the one in Tampa, Fl this evening.
For 2 hours today, I experienced a little bit of what it is like to be Israel, surrounded by a mob who hates you.
Arriving at the site, and surveying the lay of the land, I decided to stand with two fellows wrapped in the Jewish flag, across the street from about 200 "anti Israel" protesters. That was it, me the two jewish guys and one muslim on one side of the street and a whole sea of Palestinian flags, megaphones and mania on the other side. I am a Christian, and was warmly welcomed by my new Jewish friends, and coldly received by the lone "anti Israel" protester on our side of Dale Mabry highway.
This guy really wanted to argue with me, which I refused to do, and I finally shut him up when I asked him if he had been out protesting the death of thousands of Americans on 9/12 or was he dancing in the streets? He muttered something about "you must pay, America must pay and the Jews must pay" and ambled away.
Their side send several instigators to "our side" to try to intimidate us. A few young men even came and swiped one of the Jewish flags right out of the guys hands. He bravely went across the street to retrieve it, God bless him, and finally a cop got it for him.
I guess standing on the street and holding a sign wasn't enough "action" for these folks, so a whole "contingent" of young men and women marched across the street towards us. Three teenage girls came and stood right in front of me, to block my sign - I just stepped back and held it higher. We were quickly surrounded by this mob of protesters "for peace" - yelling and chanting at us, and telling us we were "outnumbered" and to go home. That's when it occurred to me that this is EXACTLY what Israel is like - surrounded by a mob of people so hyped up on emotion and inaction and frustration, that they have to find someone to blame, to target, to hate. This mob decided to hate us. This mob, holding up signs that said "honk for peace", could not stand the fact that 3 people stood across the street from them and disagreed with them.
I heard one of the "leaders" attempt to calm this mob down and move them back over to their side of the street to no avail - the young men, and girls were determined to scare us away. They ignored the leader, and even said
"This is American and it's a free country, I can stand wherever I want to". Imagine that! One teenage girl ripped a protester sign out of his hands, two others screamed in an older lady's face, all the while the entire crowed of them swarming in and around us, chanting, pounding their fist in the air and spewing hatred.
It wasn't until Tampa's finest (most in plain clothes) showed their badges that the crowd began to make their way back across the street. It wasn't until a SHOW OF FORCE other than their own leader, who tried in vain to calm them, broke up this mob. I would venture to say that if the police weren't there, we would have all been seriously beaten by this gang of "honk if you love peace" protesters.
I don't know why I was compelled to go today, it was something that I could not not do. Perhaps God wanted me to see what His children are suffering with. To have so many hate you for simply being you, for being faithful, and for standing for God.
I was told point blank, that I must "pay", that America must "pay" and that the Jews must "pay" by one of these "honk if you love peace" protesters. I am reminded, that I am always forgiven even when I didn't do anything wrong.
San Francisco, Calif, Israeli Consulate: Atlas reader Jeremayakovka
TransAmerica building, SF's signature skyscraper, w/ Hamas flag held aloft in
front
The answer my friend is blowing in the shofar
Very few surprises at tonight's ANSWER-sponsored demonstration outside San Francisco's Israeli consulate. The public needs to know, however, real details about the event that the mainstream media (despite their several network trucks, light poles, and cameramen) may ignore.
The Numbers Game: Pro-Israel activists, no matter how principled and committed, were heavily outnumbered by pro-Pali activists by about 4 (or 5) to 1. The Pali-crowd owned one side of the street, while the side with Israelis was about evenly divided among partisans. The radical left-wing site Indybay claimed that thousands turned out for Palestine – that's bunk – there were hundreds, maybe 500, and maybe 100 for Israel.
The Logistics Game: Pro-Pali people had mounted speakers, bullhorns, professionally printed banners and signs (I ended up standing next to the guy who'd printed the signs – the ABC News affiliate filmed us talking to each other), flags (including a Pali flag with the al-Aqsa mosque printed on its white field) and even war drums. Pro-Israeli people had pre-printed signs, many big Israeli flags, and a shofar – all good, but the Palis had the bigger and more portentous act.
The Propaganda Game: The Palis employed all too common slander and very calculated sloganeering to manipulate their several cases. This is key: they were present not merely to protest the Israeli campaign in Gaza, but to present a public face for "FREE PALESTINE!", for "The Right of Return", to "Free The Jena 6" (which some signs described as a "Legal Lynching"). Important to note is the Palis' sense of inevitability: "VICTORY IS OURS!" This includes their case against the US as well as against Israel. One common sign urged to "Stop the US-Israeli Genocide."
Solidarity vs. Solitary: If non-Jews came out to show solidarity with the Jewish State, they didn't show their colors, but non-Palis visibly stepped up to the plate for their pet cause. An average-looking American carried a Hamas flag on a tall pole (he has no direct ties with Hamas – I asked him); an Episcopalian contingent draped a large banner over the police barricade; so did ANSWER. The latter two were on the Pali-owned side, which suggests pre-event planning. An hour into the rally, an aggressive spokeswoman took the bullhorn for the Pali side: she was Asian-American looking and kicked off her remarks with a shrill "Brothers and sisters!" This is par for the course in San Francisco, but anyone who considers himself pro-Israel should note that, by appearances, not one non-Jewish individual or organization dared share sidewalk space with Jews. How existential.
Small world: At one point I found myself alongside Osha Neumann. Osha's a longtime Berkeley radical lawyer, a self-described artist, and a veteran of the 60s anarchist groupuscule, The Motherfuckers. He's also author of the recently-published Up Against the Wall, Motherf**ker, a memoir of going from liberal Jewish kid with a graduate degree from Yale to the more daring fringes of American radicalism. in the book he renounces nothing, but he does admit some of the more bizarre and dangerous elements of modern American radicalism (e.g., willingly submitting to totalitarian organizational structures, submitting oneself to "criticism" in order to become a better radical, etc.).
Most of the Israel activists were young, under 30 & teens.
WASHINGTON DC: STATE DEPARTMENT: John L was there and posted all of his reportage here:
We were ringed by police, but we were on State Department property in downtown DC, not everyone there was protesting. I saw at least one panhandler fleecing the crowd.
And it was several hundred people
At five o’clock some of them prayed, but certainly a small
portion of them. I guess that’s as deep as most of them took those shouts of
“God is great” I heard.
The most important thing is to listen to the rhetoric and lies
in the videos. Notice there are very few Palestinians, very few Arabs speaking.
The Arab Community, like IVAW, like every other group of “victims” are being
used by the anti-war community to work us all up into a lather. But you can see
that for yourself.
TACOMA WASHINGTON: Atlas reader Janey Barnhart
Just got home from standing as the lonely voice for Israel at the demonstration in Tacoma WA. We are terribly civil here in the Pacific NW, so it was me and my large Israeli flag in uneventful, solitary solidarity with 25-ish 'anti-violence' folks. Just doin' my part as a Christian to support Israel's right to defend itself against slaughter. Thanks for letting us know about these events
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN: Rick reports:
Well, we had a pro-Palestinian/anti-Zionist demonstration here in Dearborn this afternoon. This happens every once in a while whenever somebody other than Israel gets bombed.
It was quite well attended by Palestinian supporters (who in Dearborn are chiefly Lebanese).
So I made my presence known on the other side of the street. Which was not easy, since I was the only one over on that side.
I have to ask, where were my brothers and sisters who believe in the peace that the gospel of Christ brings? Where were my friends who support Israel's right to exist?
We cannot and must not be afraid to bring truth to the forefront.
NEW YORK NY: Pamela covered it beautifully (more coverage here):
To
see all the pictures click picture
We had a COUNTER at this one . Stand With Israel did a great job!
UPDATE More reportage thoughts from San Francisco. Atlas reader Peter
Just wanted to add my take on the confronting of savages in S.F. If it was pandemonium elsewhere it was absolute anarchy and mob rule in S.F. The last such rally I attended the police managed to separate the two sides. Yesterday, they just swarmed over to our side, the inept police just standing idly by. Outraged, I asked several police why they are allowing it, and they replied that I'm obviously not a native San Franciscan, where everything goes and nothing can be.prevented. It was revolting to watch some of these barbarians intimidate some of the frail, elderly Pro-Israeli supporters. I almost got into a fight coming to the defense of one such lady. When I suggested rearranging the cowardly Pali's face, he made as though he was calling to the police. My wife eventually convinced me to leave as I was becoming more and more agitated and couldn't contain myself any longer. Being 6' 2" and 210, I'm no pushover, but suffering from chronic sciatica due to a back condition, I didn't want to chance being attacked by a wave of hyenas. Walking back to Market the main thoroughfare in S.F to catch a bus home, my wife noticed throngs of savages making there way up Market towards us. I noticed the presence of S.F Commandos and thought they were there to prevent the Pali's from disrupting the rush hour traffic.and otherwise causing mayhem throughout the city. Apparently they were there to contain any possible violence. I again approached several officers asking how they could permit this clearly illegal march to take place. They replied they were inept to do anything as the head dhimmi at City Hall, Gavin Newsome had given them free reign. Unbelievable...So basically an entire city was held hostage to a band of thugs, because the powers that be were intimidated into acquiescence. As it goes in S.F. so it goes the world over. Very scary shit, when even my habitually indifferent scientist-academic wife, finally admitted that my forebodings as to Stealth Jihad are in fact very real. Anyhow next time I'll be better prepared with my sign which would read, " Anti-Israel Jew Hating is none other than " The Swollen Envy of Pygmy Minds" ( Mark Twain). I think this curt saying says all that needs to be said.
UPDATE: Albuquerque Anti/Pro Israel Rallies
Noticeable at these anti-Israel protests as compared with protests of earlier years was the vocal presence of local Arabs from Israel, the many kefiyehs and Palestinian flags, and the rowdiness of the young people and young adults. Evidently they feel more confident now than in previous years, or have moved out from under the council of prudence. Perhaps conditions are such that they are moving into phase II or III of a plan. The honking of passers-by to show support was much more frequent than in earlier years, and many of the drivers were Muslim, but more weren’t.
Anti-Israel sentiment is growing in Albuquerque in main part because it is growing throughout the world and the US, and has become socially acceptable. To most of the public, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish are synonyms. The bigotry has also been growing in part because the local “pro-Palestinian” groups have been active for years, patiently and successfully working to produce this sentiment in schools, the university, the media, local government and the public at large. Indeed, some synagogues and Jewish leaders have promoted this movement.
[...]
At the evening protest, two passers-by joined me with my lone pro-Israel sign, and we held up an Israeli flag and took the harrassment of the Arab young people together, which made us stronger, even later, when there were only two women. None of us knew each other, but the two supporters were both Messianic. Coincidence? To us, Messianics seem strange, but many have courage and conviction in this matter, that others lack.
Because I was the only Jew with a Pro-Israel sign at the anti-Israel protests, I got my picture taken and got interviewed three times. I doubt my statements were aired. My statements that Israel is right to attack Gaza, and if the Arabs of Gaza are suffering, they brought it on themselves by electing and supporting genocidal terrorist leaders, is socially unacceptable in polite gentile society. Indeed, it is unacceptable in polite Jewish society, but it is true.
At these protests I saw a stridency and rowdiness in the Arabs who showed up, that was not apparent in earlier protests. I saw that the majority of passers-by were either active supporters of their view, or non-committal. While we pep-rallied privately in the the JCC, with security, the public was turned a shade more against us, and we had no effective response.
UPDATE: ATLANTA, GEORGIA Orit reports:
Re: Atlanta Pro-Hamas Rally 12/30/08 (Israeli Consulate) Part 1
There were about 250 people.
Here are some notes though:
Chants:
no justice, no peace
long live palestine
US out of the middle east
Free, free palestine
1-2-3-4 we don't want this racist war, 5-6-7-8 israel is a terror state
occupation is a crime, israel out of palestine
gaza is under attack. what are we going to do? fight back!
what do we want? Justice. When do we want it now? Now.
allah akbar
US, israel you can't hide, we charge you with genocide
not a penny, not a dime, israel out of palestine
Hitler, Olmert all the same, all they have is different names
they kill, they lie, but palestine will never die
free, free palestine, long live palestine
Signs:
gaza solidarity
stop Israeli terrorism
sympathize with gaza t-hirt (in hebrew and english)
stop war on iran
gaza you are not alone
stop the massacre in gaza
stop US, israeli war crimes
I am not a terrorist (held by little girl)
honk for gaza (MARTA -- Atlanta public bus honked)
zionism equals (sign) racism
The protest was arranged by the Atlanta International Center. They had a permit from 4-5:30pm to demonstrate in front of the Israeli consulate which is in midtown Atlanta. Car traffic was heavy the entire time, and there was a constant flow of people into the demonstration. Women were coming with their young children in strollers and older people wrapped in kefiyahs came and set up chairs.
Representatives from CAIR were there as well as the student movements of Students for Justice in Palestine at Georgia Tech and Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine. At 5:30pm they made an announcement that they must leave the premises, so they marched into the street -- walking in the opposite flow of traffic -- shutting down the street entirely and establishing themselves about 1/4 mile away.
There were about 4 cops from the Atlanta police department ensuring people's safety: staying on the sidewalks and crossing the street. About a block away there were about a dozen police on motorcycles. The cops I talked to said they were there in case there was a counter protest. As I found out afterwards, there were also undercover, plain-clothes police officers around the entire time.
Local media were there as well and there was at least one local channel (NBC affiliate) which interviewed people for their 6pm broadcast.
I have no idea why there was no counter protest planned. I only found out about it through the Muslim Student Association at Georgia Tech the night before, so there's was no time to arrange anything.
There was a big press conference earlier in the day with the ambassador and the incident involving Cynthia McKinney. But, as far as I know, no one commented on the pro-hamas rally specifically.
UPDATE:BOSTON, MASS: BENJAMIN was out covering the action in Massachusets here - Park Plaza
BROOKLINE MASS: Benjamin has a great post here:
UPDATE: BERLIN, Germany - Gudren has this
Videos der “Gaza-Soli-Demo” in BerlinPosted 9 videos about 2000 Hamas activists in Berlin, December 29, 2008: "Israel Murderer of Women", "Israel Murderer of Children", "Zionists Faschists", nobody, no policeman no politician said anything against ist. More demos to come all around Germany, Hamburg p.e., on January 2, 2009.
