Ottawa Freedom Rally Report

[Grig]

WOW!

We did Good!

Thousands of people showed up on Parliment Hill in spite of the cold rain. There were probably more umprellas than signs, but more flags than umbrellas.

It started with singing O Canada, then we turned towards the US Embassy and sang their Anthem. The speakers were great and included both Stephen Harper, and Lowell Green (local talk radio host). I hope the speeches are all put online soon.

The crowd was great, well behaved, committed, and included people of all age groups. One lady was dressed up like the statue of liberty and I think I saw a couple Uncle Sams too.

On my way out I gave an interview to a film crew doing a documentary. I said that all Canadian need to unite against the Liberal Party to protect the very existance of Canada in the future.

If someone has a place I can make my photo available online, let me know. I'm only giving a very short report because I got very wet and a little chilled and I'm missing my daughters birthday party so I have to go now.

[coteblanche]

Good report Grig. I'm still thawing out too :-).

I'm sure Connie and Entropy Squared will want to give a full report but I will share pictures of the event, so everyone can get a feel for what happened today. Connie and Entropy Squared were fabulous!


<center>Connie and Mark speaking to the crowd.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/ConMrk.gif>

<center>A Canadian veteran

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/CanVet.gif>

<center>A Desert Storm veteran. His eyes filled with tears when I thanked him for his service.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/Dsrtstrm.gif>

<img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/HomeofBrv.gif><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/IstndBsh.gif>


<center>This lady sang the National Anthems of Canada, the US and Great Britain.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/Katz.gif>

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/MsLibrty.gif>


<center>This is a US Marshall from Denver Colorado with a sweet lady.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/USMarsh.gif>


<center>Here is that sweet lady again :-). She was eighty if she was a day. She was there when I arrived shortly after ten and shouted and cheered and sang until the very end. She amazed me.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/oldldy.gif>

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/UncleSam.gif><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/dog.gif>

<center>Yesterday we discussed what kind of a crowd we expected. Debbie Jodoin, the oranizer of the rally said it was going to be huge, Entropy Squared said it was going to be huge, Connie and I hoped it would be huge.

<center>This is the crowd starting to form.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/arrival.gif>

<center>This was the end result. Debbie and ES were right.

<center><img src=http://d21c.com/coteblanche/Rally%20Pictures/crowd2.gif>

<p>Debbie Jodoin, Connie and Entropy Squared are to be commended for what they have done here today. Bravo you three!

[JFD]

Congrats on the successful protest!

Question, was there pro-GW pro-US stuff that one could buy there? As in that licence plate that lady was holding.

I'm tired of ordering stuff of the net and waiting so long for it to get here

-Jim

[coteblanche]

<i>Congrats on the successful protest</i>

Organizers were very careful not to call it a protest. It was a rally in support of the coalition forces.

The rally was organized in about three days. No, there was nothing for sale. Free bumper stickers were given out though :-).

[Oldtory]

Just back from the rally- fabulous crowd, anyone have an idea of the 10,000 mentioned was any where near? I went by the American Embassy afer - scuzzy looking crowd of maybe 3-400. Broke a someone's Bush baby killer sign as I passed - juvenile but made me feel good. It was good to see John Reynolds and Stephen Harper ( wasn't he just great cote *S*) there. Most disappointing to note that not a federal PC cared to participate.

As I stood there I could not help thinking - such a big spirited crowd -not many RCMP- maybe we should have talen over that building . Just kidding

[dontvote4liberals]

CRFA is reporting 10,000 to 15,000 at the Hill, less than 500 anti-war goons at the US Embassy.

As for buying stuff there, I didn't see anything, but there were some stickers handed out free. I'm working on something that will help fix the problem of having to mail order everything. Stay tuned...

[Ipberg]

Great pics!

I missed today's Calgary rally down at Olympic Plaza however I plan on attending the one tomorrow at the University of Calgary's Mac Hall (my old stomping grounds, Class of 1997 ). And I'm bringing my digital camera so hopefully a couple of pictures will turn out.

[Blackadar]

It was a great day. I did encounter one nut bar. I think he may have been one of the people the crowd booed at one time. I was standing at the flame waiting for my husband to come back from finding a place to park. I was looking around for him when I saw this creep looking at me. He had a camera and said to me "Can I take your picture?" I was a little suprised at his boldness and said emphatically "No!" at which point he took a picture anyway before I could turn around. Then he laughed and walked off. I told him what I thought of him. Stupid jerk. So if anyone sees a picture on one of those leftist sites of a middle aged, rain-soaked woman in a camoflage rainsuit and a blue hat that says "Iroquois", that's me. Heaven only knows what spin will be put on it. Likely something to the effect that only red-necks favour the war. I also have some pictures but, having just acquired the digital camera, I'm not too sure how well they turned out or how to post them. I will have to practise my skills for next time. It was nice to see you, Connie and Ed. Connie, you and the others were wonderful!

[MacTher]

Any Media there??
Will I hear about this on the news tonight?
Was anyone from the US embassy there to take the message of our support to Bush?
I so much wanted to be there.



What a crowd...with such a short time to organize. Great Job!!

[albertabound]

Way to go gang I looooove you.

[Ipberg]

Any Media there??
Will I hear about this on the news tonight?

Corus Radio Network's Calgary station QR77 just reported on its 3pm newscast about the Ottawa rally. It said "thousands" were there in the rain, that there weren't a lot of young people, but there were a lot of US and UK flags. The report named Connie Wilkins as the organizer but there were no soundbytes from anyone at the rally or crowd sounds. I think the announcer was just reading from a news release. The Calgary Olympic Plaza rally and Red Deer rallies were also mentioned.

[albertabound]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/879403/posts

Check the response from our brothers at F/P it is awesome. Way to go Connie.

[dontvote4liberals]

I saw many adults of all ages there, from college kids to the elderly.

[albertabound]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/879446/posts

A second Free Republic link amazing response.

[WestViking]

Demonstrators hold pro-American rally in Ottawa

CTV.ca News Staff
Sat. Mar. 29 2003

More than 5,000 demonstrators braved pouring rain in Ottawa on Saturday as they gathered on Parliament Hill to voice support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Canadians seeking to ease rising tensions with their southern neighbours carried American flags and pro-U.S. banners.

One banner read: "Thank you Liberal party of Canada for shaming our country."

The relationship between Canada and the United States has slowing been disintegrating over Canada's refusal to join the U.S.-led war in Iraq without United Nations approval.

Many in the U.S. are also upset with anti-American comments made by top Canadian politicians. In the most recent such incident, Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal characterized Bush as a "failed statesman." He sought to clarify those comments on Friday, saying they were misconstrued.

The damage might already be done, and that's why pro-American rallies were also planned for Red Deer, Alta., and Winnipeg on Saturday. On Sunday, similar demonstrations are to be held in Calgary and Vancouver.

"You can agree or disagree with the war, but when they start calling Bush Hitler, a Nazi, it's gone too far, it's gone overboard," said Mike Cancade, an organizer of a rally in Winnipeg on Saturday.

Others, such as farmers, are worried their products won't sell in the U.S. if this anti-U.S. sentiment continues. For vegetable wholesaler Larry MacIntosh, business is down by 20 per cent already.

"They're saying they aren't happy with Canada's position on the war," MacIntosh told CTV News.

He sent a letter to U.S. customers offering his condolences and prayers for U.S. soldiers. However, he doesn't expect things to change soon.

"It's really tough to call a customer out of the blue and say: 'We're from Canada. Wanna buy some potatoes right now?' They're not interested in talking to us," he said.

On Friday, hundreds of people took part in a pro-American rally in southern Alberta. The farming community of Picture Butte, about 100 kilometres north of the border, raised Canadian and American flags.

Calgarian Audrey Hawthorne said she thinks Canada should back the U.S. no matter what and has ordered a custom-made $130 jacket with the U.S., Alberta and Canadian flags sewn over the heart to express her personal support.

"I have a lot of friends in the U.S. and when I go down there to visit them in May, I want to show that support," she told The Canadian Press.

Organizers hope the rallies this weekend will stay peaceful. Last Saturday in Calgary, tempers flared when pro-U.S. supporters crashed a peace rally.

"I just hope that all sides will respect the views of others and stay away from the violence and silliness that goes with it," said Alliance member of Parliament Myron Thompson, who is scheduled to speak at the Sunday rally at the University of Calgary.

With reports from The Canadian Press and CTV's Roger Smith