Text Messages to Mobilize Inauguration Protesters

[Rose Siding]

About 400 demonstrators who plan to protest President Bush's inauguration Thursday will take their cues from a higher power -- the cellular airwaves.

The organizers of Turn Your Back on Bush will use a free service called "TxtMob" to coordinate their silent protest against the president. As the presidential motorcade travels down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House after Bush's swearing-in, protesters lining the parade route are expected to turn their backs.

Turn Your Back on Bush plans to use TxtMob to provide "updates on the action" as well as more practical advice such as which security checkpoints people should avoid because they are too crowded. A separate message list for the media will also be maintained.

"People are familiar with a large march or protest model so the act that we're doing is something different and new," set Jet Heiko, 31, spokesman for Turn Your Back on Bush. "In a sense, undermining the message that George Bush would like to have on that day requires us to communicate in a different way with people."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21737-2005Jan19.html

[NYC]

1. Text messaging played a large part in the "flash mob" protests

in Spain after the train bombing.

[MADem]

2. They better have a back up plan, with, say, hand signals

It wouldn't surprise me if they suddenly find themselves in a "dead zone" where nothing goes in, nothing goes out. In fact, they probably should count on it.

[BeHereNow]

4. Exactly- the grids will be shut down.

The protesters have forgotten WHO owns the
cell-tel towers.
The Cabal will simply shut off the reception
in the interest of "national security" of course.
BHN

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. Well, the American People technically own them, since

we own the airwaves...

but, yeah, they will act in our stead.

[alfredo]

7. I think they will do that because cell phones

can be used to set off explosives.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

8. I think that happened in London during *'s visit

They did it for the same reason -- to keep protestors from using their cellphones to organize.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Brilliant, you idiots.

So much for cellphones working in DC tomorrow.

[MADem]

5. Would have happened anyway

This technology is what the insurgency uses to deploy IEDs in Iraq, they aren't going to take any chances. Count on not using a cell in and around the area where Chimpy and party are. They can make the no-comm zone move with him, but there will be blackouts, I'll bet.

[SoCalDem]

9. Gee...now I'm SURE they are democrats.. Why not take out ad space

in the Washington Post with a diagram and photos of all the participants while you're at it :grr:

I know these things take coordination, but I sure wish "our side" would stop grasping for headlines, and just DO whatever it is they are planning..

They are all afflicted with "I'm-a-gonna-do-itis".