Last evening the "Mom" group "First Monday" or whatever they are called marched in Bethlehem, PA. Rosie O"Donnell was not in attendance as was rumored. All in all a total of 75 "moms" marched. However they were met on the Fahy Bridge by 1,000 plus pro-second amenment supporters. In a show of defiance , when the "moms" got onto the bridge the pro-gunners simply turned their backs on them. The "moms" said there would have been more, but they didn't know what was going to happen with the counter demonstrators there. I didn't get to attend the counter demonstration like I wanted to, but in my support while I was out running around while this was going on, I did stop and buy ammo.
"Moms" March in Bethllehem PA
- Thread starter Rob96
- Start date
Z
zook
Guest
From the Allentown Morning Call:
http://www.mcall.com/html/news/bethlehm/b_pg001_e4b1_4gunmarches.htm
Anti-crime, gun rallies are
peaceful
Opposing groups hold events in
Bethlehem. No incidents in bridge meeting.
10/03/00
By JOE MCDERMOTT
Of The Morning Call
In the end, it was anti-climactic.
Dwarfed by a civilian militia of about 1,000 gun
owners lined up on the sidewalk of
Bethlehem's Philip J. Fahy Bridge, a small
group of about 75 anti-violence demonstrators
marched from Lehigh University to Moravian
College, followed only by an occasional catcall
or obscene gesture.
"They were scared," said Bethlehem police Lt.
Frederick Mill. "They heard what the other
group was doing and they were scared."
Participants in the First Monday 2000
anti-violence rally met the gun rights
advocates with quiet singing that seemed to
fade as they approached the gauntlet.
Gun owners who rallied over the past month to
oppose what they believed to be a
gun-control movement were instructed to turn
their backs silently on the First Monday
marchers as they passed.
"Turn around, everybody, show your
contempt," shouted an organizer of First
Freedom Rally in the Valley, which continued
at the Bethlehem Rose Garden while First
Monday participants conducted their rally at
Moravian's Community Arts Pavilion
amphitheater off Lehigh Street.
Shouts of "Hip, hip, hooray" came from some
of the pro-gun demonstrators after the First
Monday marchers passed. At least one
shouted "traitor" at the marchers and one man
made an obscene gesture with both hands.
Guidelines handed out by First Freedom
organizers instructed their participants to avoid
taunts and physical contact with First Monday
marchers.
"We're not here to bash the moms," Damian
Siekonic of Easton, an organizer of the First
Freedom rally, said at a news conference
before the march. "Our message is that gun
control creates violence."
"We are not going to be heckling," said J. Neil
Schulman, an author and gun control
opponent. "What I suggested this morning was
we link arms, sway back and forth and sing
'Kumbaya.'"
First Monday organizer Helen Ruch told
participants later that 1,500 people registered
for the march.
"In light of the counter rally, people changed
their minds," an emotional Ruch told about 50
people gathered at the Moravian pavilion. "I
want to give an extra special thanks to those of
you who did not let the others keep you away."
Addressing marchers before leaving Packer
Church at Lehigh, Ruch was in tears. "My son
had to leave with the group he was with
because of those people," she said as she
pointed toward the bridge.
She tried to leave the podium, but was
stopped by other organizers who read her
message for her.
Lauren Ritter, director of the Bethlehem
YWCA, said the teens left because they felt
uncomfortable participating.
Siekonic said First Freedom organizers
monitored radio transmissions from First
Monday participants and informed the
anti-violence group they were listening to the
communications.
As the organizers told marchers how to deal
with the First Freedom people, a father with
two children in a stroller also left.
Ruch has said her march was an outgrowth of
the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C.,
but is officially associated with national First
Monday 2000 events coordinated by the
Alliance For Justice.
"I am not anti-gun, I am pro-children. I am pro
being safe in your community," she said.
First Freedom participants, though, say the
Million Mom March and associated
organizations have made gun control a key
issue. In news conferences before the march
and counter rally, they argued that gun control
laws leave law-abiding citizens defenseless.
"We're here to educate people that they have a
right to defend themselves by any means they
choose," Maria Heil, spokeswoman for the
Second Amendment Sisters, said at the news
conference before the march.
Heil called guns "a great equalizer" that help
women defend themselves against violent men,
and called gun control "discrimination of the
worst kind. They are using children to take
away women's and children's rights to protect
themselves."
Anne Marie T. Nasek of Coopersburg and
Eileen Maguire of Concord 2000, another gun
rights group, accused marchers and the Million
Mom group of misrepresenting its motives and
support.
"They never had a million people and they were
not all moms, so right away we know they were
lying," Maguire said. "I resent them trying to
represent motherhood. I represent
motherhood myself and I don't believe what
they believe."
Hannah Stewart-Gambino and John Smith,
Bethlehem residents who marched in the
anti-violence demonstration, said they were
not intimidated by the crowd along the bridge.
"We had no idea what to expect," Smith said.
"Certainly there were a lot of rumors."
Stewart-Gambino said the opposing rallies
demonstrated the strength of America. Both
groups were permitted to assemble freely to
make their case, she said.
Yet the gun supporters admit there is little
chance of finding middle ground on any
solution that involves a restriction on gun
ownership.
"This is the abortion issue of the next few
years," Schulman said.
"There is middle ground in that no one here
wants anyone to be hurt. The question is how
do you prevent that from happening?" said
Bruce Walck, a gun owner from Shelly who
recalled making a stock for his gun in a high
school wood shop.
"That would be worth 10 years [in prison]
today," he said, showing a pocket knife similar
to one he routinely carried to school. "That
would be unimaginable today."
Staff writer Bill Tattersall contributed to this
report.
Contact Joe McDermott
610-861-3614
joe.mcdermott@mcall.com
Mordwyn.45
New member
I'd have a bit more respect for these people as apponents is they would at least have the courage of their convictions.
1500 registered for the MMM march but then all but 75 showed their true cowardly nature when they realised they would face counter demonstrations.
Like what were the pro-freedom groups going to do?
The thought occured to me that if push came to shove and it came down to an actual physical face off, these MMM people would tuck their tails between their legs and scamper off and hide. I guess thats why they have JBT to do thier dirty work for them.
------------------
"TANSTAAFL"- R.A. Heinlen
"Molon Labe"- Leonidas to Xerxes at Thermopile
1500 registered for the MMM march but then all but 75 showed their true cowardly nature when they realised they would face counter demonstrations.
Like what were the pro-freedom groups going to do?
The thought occured to me that if push came to shove and it came down to an actual physical face off, these MMM people would tuck their tails between their legs and scamper off and hide. I guess thats why they have JBT to do thier dirty work for them.
------------------
"TANSTAAFL"- R.A. Heinlen
"Molon Labe"- Leonidas to Xerxes at Thermopile
Z
zook
Guest
Yeah, right. 1500 were registered. I'm sure. 
I really wanted to go too, but "the boss" had other plans for me. Sounds like it went really well, though.
zook
I really wanted to go too, but "the boss" had other plans for me. Sounds like it went really well, though.
zook
"Addressing marchers before leaving Packer Church at Lehigh, Ruch was in tears. "My son had to leave with the group he was with because of those people," she said as she pointed toward the bridge." and "Hannah Stewart-Gambino and John Smith,
Bethlehem residents . . . said they were
not intimidated by the crowd along the bridge. [/i]
That will be their stock answer for low turnout. It also plants the seed that the pro-gunners are potentially violent.
We can laugh at their gutlessness in the face of honest opposition, but we'd better figure out a way to debunk this approach REAL QUICK or it will take on a 750,000 MMMs validity.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited October 03, 2000).]
Bethlehem residents . . . said they were
not intimidated by the crowd along the bridge. [/i]
That will be their stock answer for low turnout. It also plants the seed that the pro-gunners are potentially violent.
We can laugh at their gutlessness in the face of honest opposition, but we'd better figure out a way to debunk this approach REAL QUICK or it will take on a 750,000 MMMs validity.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited October 03, 2000).]
Z
zook
Guest
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Oatka:
That will be their stock answer for low turnout. It also plants the seed that the pro-gunners are potentially violent.
[/quote]
I think it's important for anyone attending such an event to be as polite, peaceful and respectable as possible. I'd go so far as to wear my (only) sport coat and (only) tie. Since encounters like this will continue to be publicized, take advantage of it to show that pro-gunners are peaceful, law-abiding, respectable citizens. I still like the "Gun Owners Against Gun Violence" approach. Just my thoughts.
zook
That will be their stock answer for low turnout. It also plants the seed that the pro-gunners are potentially violent.
[/quote]
I think it's important for anyone attending such an event to be as polite, peaceful and respectable as possible. I'd go so far as to wear my (only) sport coat and (only) tie.
Since encounters like this will continue to be publicized, take advantage of it to show that pro-gunners are peaceful, law-abiding, respectable citizens. I still like the "Gun Owners Against Gun Violence" approach. Just my thoughts.zook