Gold Star Father Kicked Defending Dead Son's Memorial (!!!!!) Damn freepers!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

Monday, September 17th, 2007
Gold Star Father Kicked Defending Dead Son's Memorial ...by Mélida Arredondo

Mélida Arredondo is the stepmother of Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, killed in Iraq, Aug. 25, 2004.

Carlos Arredondo, 47 year old father of two sons, arrived in the nation's capitol on Monday, 09/10/07 to share a memorial he has made to honor for his eldest son, Alex. Carlos has visited thirty of the United States with the traveling memorial to his son Alexander. Lcpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, USMC was killed on 08/25/04. He was 20 years and 20 days old. The memorial consists of a casket, poster- size photographs of Alex when he graduated from boot camp, before his second tour in Iraq, lying in state at his wake, and a photo of Alex with his younger brother Brian.

Saturday, September 15, 2007 consisted of first a rally, a march towards the capitol and then a die-in. Carlos pulled the memorial along the march route approaching the rotunda near the capitol building. Several of the marchers requested for him to speak about the memorial where a crowd gathered around him. After finishing, several people walked with Carlos as he pulled the memorial. Several pictures of Alex dressed in his blues were attached to the display.

As Carlos passed counter protesters, one man ripped a picture of Alex from the memorial. Carlos leaped on the man to retrieve the picture. It was at that point that approximately five others all began to attack Carlos by kicking him in the head, legs, stomach and back.

The Capitol police bicycle patrol then appeared to break up the fight. Several officers including a female officer were engaged in breaking up the fight and were able to stop any further injuries from occurring. Hannah Jones who was walking with Carlos was also assaulted.

A bystander named Ramesh witnessed the whole encounter and also retrieved the picture of Alex for Carlos. He was quite distressed at how he watched the men yelling epithets follow Carlos as he pulled the memorial, and eventually take Alex's photograph. Soon, an ambulance showed up as well as many concerned activists. The paramedics provided first aid to Carlos but he did not seek further medical attention. Carlos sustained bloody cuts on his shins. He also reported bruises all over his torso and head where he was kicked.

I will send updates on Carlos and his work in DC as I am able.

Mélida Arredondo,
Remembering Alex Arredondo and all those
who died too young at war to aid the Iraqi people
and his own nation, the USA,
and while protecting his buddies...
08/05/84 - 08/25/04

http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=919

[AnnieBW]

1. And let me guess

None of the "brave Eagles" who assaulted this man were arrested.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I want to know that too

This just makes me ill. I know Carlos. He is an incredibly gentle man. This is just an outrage!!

[malaise]

35. Good grief

Those attackers are scum.

[Cha]

39. That's the saddest

picture! :(

[QueenOfCalifornia]

42. here is another

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21332191@N00/1395101574/in/set-72157602040418840/

Sent to me from a friend who was there....

[Cha]

43. Yes, it is..something about

seeing Carlos' face with the picture of his son Alexander Scott on his tee shirt and holding his boots really got to me, though.

Seeing the all the pain in his face.

[LWolf]

88. Seeing the pain in his face,

and seeing the brightness in his son's.

:cry:

[Cha]

128. Yes, the juxtaposed

contrast..the faces of the misbegotten War On Iraq. :cry: :(

[liberaldemocrat7]

165. Attention people "Support the troops and "Honor the troops" appears a double standard

that Republicans have for everyone else but not themselves. If everyone else does not support the troops, they run such commercials at election time.

If we challenge them on this issue their supporters don't care because it appears about the tax cuts really and not supporting the troops to them.

[Maraya1969]

50. The father is so young!

His father could be in the military fighting also. How awful. :hug: May peace follow you sir.

[TankLV]

220. That's what blew me away too... so fucking sad - and a WASTE!!!

[JDPriestly]

53. Thank you Carlos. Thank you Alexander.

Your sacrifice is so great. Our country can never repay you.

[Raksha]

80. Alex was such a good-looking kid too, and so young...

it's absolutely heartbreaking.

[Richard Steele]

6. My first thought as well. Recommending this thread. nm

[roguevalley]

52. this reminds me of that father in Florida who was so upset when the

marines came to tell him his son was dead that he set himself on fire. God bless everyone who suffers. This is going to go on forever.

[raven880]

66. Carlos IS that man.

[roguevalley]

189. Oh god?!? Oh god. Bless his broken heart. I couldn't stop thinking

about him for weeks. :(

[tblue37]

56. They call this "support the troops" and "honor the troops." n/t

[Ian David]

90. I saw a bumpersticker yesterday...

"If you're not going to stand BEHIND our troops, please feel free to stand IN FRONT of them."

In the absence of any other bumperstickers to give it more context, I assume it was a chickenhawk freeper.

We need one that says something like, "There are only TWO ways to Support Our Troops: Bring them home or JOIN THEM!"

[proud2BlibKansan]

98. Good grief - what a stupid bumper sticker!

And how fitting for a chickenhawk.

[fudge stripe cookays]

146. That's a great one Ian.

You should market that. I'd be the first to buy it. I just bought a new car, and need some new stuff to put on it!

[Ian David]

187. Thanks! Here are two ideas for "There are only TWO ways to Support Our Troops"

To make your own stickers, go to:

www.MakeSticekrs.com

[FREEWILL56]

176. I too have seen that sticker

and it's obvious that they imply that you must also support the commander in chief and ergo the war itself. Not so in my book and if that's what it means then I would stand in front of the troops in harms way as a noncombatant. See they also imply that you are the enemy and they do treat us like we are even to illegally spy on us. If it's a case of I'm being deemed an enemy, then when did the US government declare war on its citizens because of being against a war? History not only repeats itself, but it gets worse each time it seems.
I like your sticker btw.

[Ian David]

185. In a completely different context, that sticker COULD have a different meaning...

But where would I find room?

[FREEWILL56]

186. How about the front?

2 thumbs up on your stickers.

[Ian David]

188. On the front, Right next to the Coexist, "No-W," HRC "Equality" logo, and "Bush's Last Day" Sticker?

Yes, I have stickers on the front, too.

And on the side...

[TomInTib]

2. And nobody was arrested?

That is when all of those pacifists should have gone active.

[lonestarnot]

8. It was their fucking duty! Where were they?

Son of a bitch this pisses me off!

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I am just seething.

[TomInTib]

16. I cannot believe that the anti crowd stood still for this shit.

I would have beat them with their own fucking flagpoles.

And I would have enjoyed every moment of it.

This was the guy who set himself on fire after learning of his son's death.

Sorry chickenshit motherfuckers.

On both sides of the fucking road.

[lonestarnot]

18. I may not have had any teeth left, but I would have fought them with every breath those motherfucker

snakes! Gang fucking cowards. Fuck 'em!

[raven880]

68. I tried....see my post #63 below.

There were very few peace marchers available to help Carlos. We were in "enemy" territory so to speak. The counter protesters had apparently been given a permit to demonstrate in that location.......which happened to also be the only location for porta-potties at the end of a very long day. So peace marchers had to go into the counter protest area to use them. When the fight occurred a friend and I were sitting, waiting on other friends at the johns. We had been verbally harrassed by the thugs too.
Before going to the march people had told us if a fight broke out to get away and stay out of it. Don't continue it. I think that the few peace marchers in the area then followed those directions and generally speaking they are correct......if it's truly a fair fight. But this was not. It was a crowd of bullies pounding a single lone man into the ground. When I went into the center of it to try and get them to stop, I did not know who was being beaten. Didn't even, at the time, know who was peace and who was counter. I just knew it was not a fair fight and the guy on the ground could be killed so I screamed at them to stop as their own guys pulled them off.
The rest is in the post below.

[create.peace]

183. i can attest to this

they had the corner, with tree and 'bushes' and had been across the street taunting carlos just previous to this. we had just turned the corner, in front of the lawn of the capitol, and the peace people still around were up where the die-in was supposed to take place. carlos had lost most of the people who had been walking with him, i think he had pulled off for a bit, and was left with just a few who like me, thought he needed company. there were about 3-4 of us near him when this happened. i know carlos, and had turned around to accompany him. he was not headed to his truck as has been said. if you were there, it was between the portopotties and pennsylvania, in front of the 'protected' statue and roundabout. we were outnumbered, nearby, but i am still amazed that the ones to intervene were raven880, and me, both around 6 decades old women.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. First time ever I want to join all their disgusting message boards

and post this story just to watch them defend it.

[lonestarnot]

41. Ack not joining a fucking thing they've got, made, done will do ever!

[nxylas]

119. They won't, though

They'd just ban you and say "bye-bye, troll". Just as we'd do to them if they started posting their crap here.

[frylock]

145. you and me both, friend

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. They are worried for their safety now

This is tragic in many different ways.

[NOLALady]

107. Right.

That is a part of the story that I do not understand. How could anyone pacifist or not, stand and watch this attack?

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[frogcycle]

4. Here is LCpl Arrendondo's tribute page

http://legacy.com/WashingtonPost/Soldier/Story.aspx?personid=3097995

For those who may wish to add a note to the family.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Carlos is the father who burned himself when he found out his son had died

It's just a horrific story.

[TomInTib]

12. Oh, Hell, this is so tragic in so many ways.

I would have beat the shit out of them with their own fucking flagpoles.

Excuse the profanity, ma'am, but that's the way I feel right about now.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. No problem

Curse words are pretty appropriate about now. :hi:

[toadzilla]

9. I believe this is a picture of him and his memorial

i took this in dc on saturday

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Yes that is Carlos

Here he is at the VFP Convention with other Gold Star Dads.

[alstephenson]

19. What sad, sad faces....

you can feel the pain behind the eyes. Too many tragedies, too many young lives ended before they began. END THE FUCKING WAR!

[Quantess]

198. Kick. So tragic.

[gratuitous]

10. Freeper logic

That's what this guy's family gets for dying against orders. If Arredondo had been a true superpatriot, he would have won the Iraq war single-handedly, and the Freepers will show them how it's done as soon as, euh, there's nobody around to shoot back at them.

[jwirr]

111. I would also suspect that the same pro-war idiots who did this also

see Carlos as an "immigrant" because he is not one of them.

[judaspriestess]

168. Immigrant is too kind of a word

they would see him as a goddamn "Mexican" illegal piece of shit(no matter what Latin origin he is) They didn't need him anyway is probably their stupid justification in attacking this young man's father. What a gorgeous young man he was too.

This is so heartbreaking.

[jwirr]

207. Yes, unfortunately.

[sharp_stick]

11. Stories like this remind me

why I hate freepers with every thread of my being. Those chickenshit bastards make me want to puke.

[smoogatz]

17. Freepers? More like brownshirts.

They see an image that contradicts their pinhead worldview and their first impulse is to resort to vandalism and thuggery. I think Mr. Arredondo may require a security detail at future events.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Brownshirts

Thugs

Assholes

Bullies

Cold Hearted Criminals

Dipshits

Fuckheads

[Bluzmann57]

149. One more descriptive word

Cowards. Each and every one of them.

[The Wizard]

151. They are the

Ku Klux Klan, skinheads, American Nazis, and most of all, Republicans.

[FREEWILL56]

195. Add neocons, republicons, traitors and hypocrites.

There are many more words to describe them that would also be appropriate, but I'd just get angry.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Same thing.

[skids]

59. Or mole agitators trying to cause an incident...

...we're going to be seeing more and more attempts to instigate violence at rallies. If you go to one, try to find an anti-violence workshop that will help you hone your protesting skills beforehand. Many organizers run them if you show up early enough.

[BreweryYardRat]

152. About that security detail.

At any events within 100 miles of Tampa, Florida, I'll be pleased to provide one.

[smoogatz]

156. Yep. If Mr. Arredondo's planning any appearances around the Twin Cities

I'd be more than happy to walk with him.

[FREEWILL56]

196. I think we need more cameras to capture

these thugs in action. It would also help in prosecuting them.

[create.peace]

218. here is a video!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_l8FRRLkNk

first actual video i have seen:

"During the protest, Carlos Arredondo was pulling a casket, which was in honor of his son, Alex, who was killed in Afghanistan. Suddenly, a neo-com counter-protester ran up and took the photo of Alex that was on the casket. Carlos ran after the neo-con to get the picture back. The neo-con attacked Carlos. Then another neo-con tackled Carlos to the ground, whereupon several other neo-cons punched and kicked Carlos. When a female police officer arrived on the scene, the neo-cons got off of Carlos. While Carlso was dusting himself off, and while the female officer was talking to the neo-cons, a gang of male police officers rushed Carlos and tackled him to the ground. There was no reason for the policemen to tackle Carlos to the ground. Watch the clip."

[Kumbaya Dammit]

22. Words fail me

This just made me weep when I heard about it. I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with Carlos both in Crawford and DC in the last couple of years and he is a lovely person.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Yes he is a gentle man; this just makes me so angry

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Kumbaya Dammit]

30. Thanks Proud

I've lurked for years but only recently posted a couple of comments - workload shifted, temporariiy I have a bit more time. Hope to see you you next time I'm in KS -

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Yes be sure to look me up!!

[Raster]

62. Welcome to DU! You are among friends.

:hi:

[Kumbaya Dammit]

77. Thanks!

[ThatsMyBarack]

23. It's all too painfully heartbreaking.

If an activist had beat up/assaulted some Freeper eagle, the activist would have been locked up lickety split!

I salute the Arredondo family. :patriot:

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. It also would have been the top story on Faux Snooze

Someone needs to send this to Keith Olbermann.

[me b zola]

25. So this is how freepers honor our veterans & their grieving families

:grr:

[Faygo Kid]

44. The SA. As others have said, Brownshirts. "Gathering of Eagles" = Bushbot thugs.

All you have to do is check out the threads from this group on Free Republic ("Eagles Up!"). They are in business to bully and intimidate any and all who would dare dissent from Herr Bush's war policies. They are definitely moving to a Brownshirt type mentality and structure, and it's no surprise that violence is becoming their stock in trade. Once Bush attacks Iran, they will move even more aggressively to quell dissent, including violent intimidation of this revolting type. And worse. These are not the type who stop to consider what American values they ostensibly support through their activities (like the Constitution), they support Bush and war and are really, really angry that other Americans do not.

[Tarc]

109. Pretty much sums it up

The Eagles are just a bunch of thugs who couldn't get their way at the ballot box so now the only thing they can do is pick their knuckles off the ground long enough to commit acts of savagery like this.

They should all be rounded up and sent to Gitmo, see how the shoe fits on the other foot.

[jwirr]

113. Wonder how many of them have served in the military or how many

of their children are serving now?

[Castleman]

153. Well here's how you handle Brownshirts....

You STAND UP TO THEM AND KICK THE SHIT OUT OF THEM!!! In 1925 the German police still had some cajones and they crushed the Nazis in short order. Let's LEARN from that example and NOT LET THEM PUSH US AROUND! One of these so-called 'Eagles" takes a swing at me, he's getting his ass handed to him in short order. No question about it, no pacifism whatsoever. I'm sorry people, I love peace and I have no real desire to fight, but if we just stand back and try to set a good example, they'll roll right over us.
I love this country, and I'm ready to fight for it.
I'm not going to be one of those cowards who gets accused of just sitting back while scum takes over our once great nation.
Sure, some Brownshirt might take me down, but there will be others who will swarm him under, and if there isn't, then this land is truly dead.
THIS is the time to stand up for what you really beleive in, and yeah, some of us are going to fall, but goddamnit, isn't America worth fighting and dying for?

[ThatsMyBarack]

26. *One other thing:*

Seems to me only a place like DU would inform me about this. I can't picture this ever showing up in CNN or Faux.

[cali]

29. heartsick with tears in my eyes. n/t

[Raster]

64. Likewise. I CANNOT fathom what would motivate someone to act in such a despicable fashion.

Dangerous, dangerous persons.

Wake up, America!

[Dystopian]

32. Too horrific for words. k&r n/t

peace~

[uppityperson]

33. k&r. That is just too much. My best wishes to Carlos.

[followthemoney]

34. Somehow, in these twisted minds this will turn into...

an America hater spitting on a vet and them doing God's work.

These people just can't see how ugly they are. In some perverted way they are going to walk away with their heads held high and be saluted and admired by their cohorts.

[cui bono]

36. What a bunch of fucking hypocritical insensitive ASSHOLES.

I don't know what else to say.

:grr:


(edited to change idiots to assholes. fuckers!)

[TacticalPeek]

37. Bastards.

They showed what kind of people they are.

[midnight]

38. I knew when Bush said he was bringing compassionate

conservatism to the white house to restore it from the fornicators we were in for a nightmare. Just the way he says it makes me uncomfortable.

[BrklynLiberal]

40. There really are no words to adequately describe my disgust with those that would do this to a man

who lost his son fighting in a war that these chickenhawks go around supporting with their words and fists on THIS side of the ocean, but never volunteer to put their asses on the line where it counts.
Obviously they have no concept of the meaning of the word compassion.

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. Here is an audio report of what happened

from a peace activist who was with Carlos when the freepers attacked him: http://williamscraig.com/WilliamsCraig/Brandon/

The link is on the right hand side. "Hannah Johns story"

[proud2BlibKansan]

46. If you want to help Carlos

www.peopleunited4peace.org

or

https://www.communityroom.net/NPOMission.asp?400

[1620rock]

49. It must be very unhealthy to harbor the anger and hatred I have

for the people who did this.:grr:

[pamela]

48. K&R n/t

[lostnotforgotten]

51. And You Winder Why I Support Gun Rights?

These Freepers will be motivated to hunt us down when TPTB decide that we can no longer be tolerated.

It happened in Germany, It can happen here.

It Can Happen Here - Sinclair Lewis

http://www.amazon.com/Cant-Happen-Here-Sinclair-Lewis/dp/0451525825

[Doremus]

105. I'm with you on that.

And I've never owned a gun in my life.

As to It Can't Happen Here, check my moniker. ;)

[krispos42]

54. When the people that did this die...

preferably soon, and in a flaming car wreck, the images of what they did that day will be displayed over Saint Peter's shoulder just before Saint Pete pulls the lever for the trapdoor express to Hell.

Until then, those people are cocksucking motherfucking sons-of-bitches.

[Horse with no Name]

55. Yet the MSM allows THEM to frame the debate

We are ANTI-WAR...they are PRO-TROOPS.
Pro-troops my ass.
:mad:

[Ilsa]

57. Scumbags can't handle the truth in pictures or reality.

That poor family, having to put up with attacks from putrid thugs.

[progressoid]

58. Good Lord.

I suppose they went home and gloated about their triumph over a grieving father too.

Scum.

[MilesColtrane]

60. Just another day on the job for the American Ordnertruppen.

There's a special place in Hell for those motherfuckers.

[keroro gunsou]

191. oookay...

my german's pretty rusty, Ordnertruppen ordinary trooper... beats me i ever lered t other than what my grandfather tried to teach me...

[MilesColtrane]

194. Nazi thugs whose purpose was to beat down the opposition

They later started wearing brown shirts and called themselves the Sturmabteilung (SA) .

I just used this term because the assholes that attacked Mr. Arredondo weren't in uniform....yet.

From Wiki:


"In Munich in the fall of 1920, Hitler created the Ordnertruppen, a body of ex-soldiers and beer hall brawlers in order to protect gatherings of the Nazi party, from disruptions from Social Democrats and Communists.

On November 4, 1921 the Nazi party held a large public meeting in the Munich Hofbräuhaus. After Hitler had spoken for some time the meeting erupted into a melee in which a small company of Ordnertruppen distinguished itself by thrashing the opposition. After this the organisation came to be called the SA."

[Dukkha]

61. cowardly evildoers like them deserve no freedom

They should be shipped off to Gitmo or Abu Ghraib. They'd be more at home there.

[raven880]

63. I am the older woman who helped Carlos in the attack.

I'm so glad to see this post here. I was hoping to be able to contact Carlos to find out how he was after that deplorable attack. When he was buried under several counter protesters, reputedly from a group called Gathering of Eagles, I was taking photos. But when they continued to kick and punch the man's head into the cement, I pushed in to help him and get them off. I did not know at the time it was Carlos. I was screaming for them to get off and leave him alone. Some of the other counter protesters were pulling their guys off him. I leaned down to help the man on the ground. He was bent over , hands over his head to protect it and was not fighting back or trying to continue the fight. When I leaned down and saw his face I knew immediately it was Carlos and said, "Are you Carlos?". He just nodded. Didn't speak. I kept my arm around him and helped him up and tried to take him away from this group of madmen (and women) but at least 3 of the "Eagles" formed a line directly in front of us and shook their heads. I demanded to be allowed to pass through and said that he was injured and I was going to get him help. They shouted at us, called me a "F*cking Bitch" (nice little old grandmother like me! <g>) and circled us. I had my arm around Carlos still and together we walked forward to get through. I had hoped they'd just back off but they did not. Instead, they all immediately attacked us again. Carlos went down and I began to go down under all those legs and arms when someone behind me pulled me out. My daughter who saw it happen said it was actually a "green shirt" (Eagle) who saved me but it was so he could jump in on Carlos. By this time my daugther and others were screaming for the police who ran in just as the fighting stopped. But the head "eagle" was straining against the people holding on to him to go back at Carlos. THEY were claiming Carlos had started it all by attacking them! Carlos had just chased the guy down to get his son's photo back and when he got to the guy, the thug's friends jumped Carlos. It was a set up.

One of my friends and I had been verbally accosted by two different counter protesters while we sat waiting for the rest of our group who were lined up at the porta-potties. It is interesting that the ONLY porta-potties available had all been stationed within the counterprotester area. We managed to get rid of them without a fight. Then we saw a man pulling a coffin along the street. He was being harrassed all along the way by these thugs but he passed by us without incident and it was a few minutes later we saw a flash of men running and punching and pummeling this guy to the ground. It was after giving my statement to the police that we discovered these thugs.....who claim to support our troops.....had so dishonored one who had died for THEIR cause by ripping his photo off.

The counter protesters at this march were the most angry, hate-filled bunch of people I've ever encountered. I understand they are just a small fringe group who don't really represent the majority of conservative people but they are the ones who get the attention. It's disgraceful.
I would like to contact Carlos if someone would tell me how.

This was my 4th march and likely will be my last. I drove from Indiana to get there.....again......only to find fewer people marching than should have been at this point in the war and to find no one was in the Capitol to witness the event. Almost nothing has been in MSM about the march and the little that was mentioned was primarily about the damned counter protesters.......not the 100,000 people demanding peace. I'm disgusted by our congress people. I'm ashamed of my current government and I do not have much hope that it will change. At 60, I may not be around long enough to see the total disintegration into totalitarianism but my kids and grandkids will and that makes me sad.

Paula

[Solly Mack]

67. Thank you! and WELCOME to DU!

No words....too disgusted....too heart-sick.

[raven880]

69. Thank you, but

I've been here a long time. I"m just a very quiet person. I don't know what possessed me to dive into the middle of that fight. I just didn't think about anything except keeping the man on the ground from being killed. My daughter was returning from the johns and saw me go into it and started running to help me but by the time she got over there, I'd been pulled out. I was lucky. I only have a bruise on the bridge of my nose where someone hit my eye glasses. And I didn't feel that until last night. Carlos was not so lucky.

[Solly Mack]

87. I admire you for stepping in to help...and the kind of person you are

for doing so ...a truly good one. I'm glad you weren't hurt too badly.

I just have a lot of respect for what you did.

[BreweryYardRat]

150. .

"I don't know what possessed me to dive into the middle of that fight."

It's because you're a good person, and you instinctively did the right thing. How is he?

[SaveAmerica]

70. Did he press charges against those haters? Did the police do anything to them?

[cascadiance]

72. I hope you got enough photos of these Nazis to put them away for a LONG time!

These filth should NOT be tolerated!

[raven880]

93. Doubtful.

The main thug involved in beating him was screaming that he wanted to press charges when his guys pulled him off Carlos. I don't know what he said to the police. They were claiming it was all Carlos' fault. Neither was arrested as it came down to "he said,he said". Tho most of the witnesses were counter protesters taking the side of the thugs, there were a couple of us who gave statements for Carlos.
Paula

[CC]

74. You should email this to Countdown.

If nothing else maybe the freeps would make worst person in the world. The email addy is [e-mail] and since you were there it would be best if it got to Kieth from you.

[raven880]

94. Good idea. I'll do that.

[Julius Civitatus]

76. You should publish your photos. Send them to the police.

PRESS CHARGES! Those bastards are true fascists of the "brown shirt" kind.
This can't go unpunished.

:mad:

[raven880]

95. Not much use.

My photos didn't turn out to be of much use.....mainly just a pile of blurred , flying legs and arms. There was only one that clearly showed the face of one of the "eagles" but it could have looked like he was pulling his guy off Carlos just as much as if he was going in to beat him. The others showed people at the point it started trying to crowd in but it was their backs. I'm short and had a hard time pushing thru to get the shots.

[me b zola]

117. Please post the good picture that shows the faces of these thugs

There are people at DU who are quite resourceful and may be able to find out who they are. At the very least these thugs should become the poster children for what freepers really stand for.

Thank you for helping Carlos. I have not had the pleasure of meeting him, but he has had a place in my heart since I first heard of him.

[proud2BlibKansan]

81. Welcome to DU raven!

I know Carlos and his wife and heard from her last night. In fact, she sent me this story. She said they are afraid for their safety. Carlos has some cuts and bruises but is doing okay physically.

I sent her a link to this thread and she really appreciates all the nice thoughts posted here. I know she will appreciate knowing how you helped Carlos.

Thank you so so much!!

[raven880]

99. I'd be worried too.

As the right wing nutjobs become more and more worried about losing out on their little occupation in Iraq, they become more desperate to make the peace groups look like the crazies. Carlos is well known at this point and is going to be a target at these events so he's going to have to develop blinders and let these guys make fools of themselves by ignoring them no matter what they do.
Their disrespecting of those who have died for their little war is baffling to me. You'd think they would show respect for the families of those people no matter what they think of their desire for peace.
Frankly, I think they are just hate-filled crazies who don't really believe in anything and use the peace movement as an excuse to vent their rage.

[proud2BlibKansan]

134. They have been after Cindy Sheehan since the day she first spoke out

So unfortunately, this doesn't surprise me in the least. These eagles are brainwashed by Faux Snooze and too stupid to see how they are being used.

There was a group of them on their way to DC last week who stopped here and held a press conference announcing that since Saddam had been responsible for 9/11, we need to stay in Iraq and kill all the al qaeda members. And of course our local media was right there covering them.

As long as they lie to the American people and twist the truth to fit a warped agenda, and the media allows this, we are screwn. So we absolutly must get stories like this out and let the public see how Gold Star parents are treated by those who claim to support the troops. I hope everyone reading this sends it to Keith Olbermann and begs him to tell this story. If this doesn't qualify for Worst Person, I don't know what kind of story he is looking for.

[Mad_Dem_X]

96. God bless you!

Bless you for helping Carlos. I simply cannot wrap my head around what these people did to him; it's just despicable.

[frogcycle]

106. thank you for your service, ma'am n/t

[jwirr]

118. Your description of Carlos and yourself is truly the definition of a

pacifist. Facing danger with courage but not letting it change your belief in peaceful resistance.

[cyberpj]

140. Welcome to DU Raven880 - And Bless You for YOUR service to our country.

I too have been depressed and disgusted by the lack of coverage and attention paid to these marches ever since the first Bush inauguration marches. Would it make a difference to get a million people together? Not without media coverage. And even with a huge majority wanting this war over and Bush impeached, I see a million Americans caring enough to try; the main reason Bush Corp uses Blackwater and others instead of instituting the draft again.

Again, bless you. And please consider writing an Op Ed to The NY Times or any other media outlet in the off chance you could further your story.

[jackster]

143. Paula,

from one grandmother to another, with tears in my eyes, thank you. There's nothing else, just thank you from the bottom of my hurting heart.

I weep for my country and for what we have become and for the future that awaits my precious 3 grandchildren.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

162. Welcome to DU!

Your story has me typing through a blur of tears...

Were those thugs arrested? Were your injuries serious?

I'm so sorry this happened to you. :hug:

[AuntPatsy]

178. God I am so sorry, I am an American against

this illegal war and yet, here I sit. I am so sorry and at the same time I wish to thank you for your time and bravery. My heart goes out to Carlos and his family and friends.

I honestly hate this war and those that begun it are the most vile of creatures.

[liberaltrucker]

65. Looks like Berlin c 1932

Only this time, we have the internet. The Brownshirts have met their technological
doom. Liberals can "think out of the box", conservatives can't think anything their
"leader"(fuhrer) doesn't tell them to. The future is indeed bright!

:toast:

On edit, also PGP 512 bit encryption. :evilgrin:

Vibes to Carlos and :patriot: to Alexander.

:cry:

:mad:

[Arugula Latte]

71. Lurking Freepers: Are you proud of this? Is this how you "support the troops"?

By beating the crap out of a grieving father? Those are some values you have there, Freepers. I guess the free speech was just too much for your tiny little brains.

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. I wonder how soon they will post this story

on their little disgusting boards.

[nxylas]

114. I had a look to see how they defended it

Surprise surprise, no mention on the Free Republic Gathering of Eagles board. Just a lot of stuff about the 190 protestors who were arrested, which just goes to show what thugs these commies are etc. etc.

[proud2BlibKansan]

115. Thank you

Please let me know if this story is posted over there. I know we have DUers who belong there - mainly to post stories like this.

[lligrd]

73. Eagles My Ass

They are vultures. This is disgusting and intolerable.

[EnviroBat]

102. Apparently they will beat on defenseless elderly women too...

Way to go "tough guys". I can't go to rallies because of assholes like this. I'd bring a motorcycle helmet, a night-stick, and a big honkin can of pepper spray. I'm sure things would get very ugly. Best I stay home and make phone calls instead. Our pacifism seems to be getting us no where.

[tomreedtoon]

75. Nonviolent protests...get this treatment?

I'm just wondering. If...and I am not advocating violence, or impugning even the Freepers, but if SOMEBODY came to the demostration strapped and started shooting...would the police stop it? Or sit back and watch?

The people doing the antiwar protests are not like the old New Left guys, prepared to fight back. They are mature adults. They expect everyone else to be mature.

The Freepers aren't mature. They like God, Guns and Guts. Not their own guts, but those of other people, spilled on the sidewalk.

Get yourself psychically prepared, people. Those sad people who only wanted their sacrificed sons and daughters remembered are going to be taking lead. Very soon, most likely. And when it happens, WE will be blamed.

[raven880]

100. The police were actually very restrained and treated people respectfully.

Yes, the majority of us were mature peaceful people but there were still a lot of the younger crowd full of piss and vinegar (remember how we felt in our 20's?) and they were doing all they could to bait the police during the die in at least. The police stood firm in their line and did not react to the childish antics of the youthful demonstrators. All it all, it could have been a very bad situation if they had over reacted , but they didn't. I'm sure many of them are sympathetic to our cause and really didn't want to be there but it's their job.

I agree, tho, that the right wing nuts are getting more desperate and they're trying to make us look bad.

[FREEWILL56]

197. I dissagree that they like God at all

because what they say and do is the farthest thing from God that you can get. If they say it, it is a lie and the proof is in the results of what they say and do. What? They lie? How dare I imply freepers, neocons, or whatever bs they call themselves now could lie? You know it was once said to me about evil that evil doesn't know or believe that it is evil. Strange but true, huh?

[PDenton]

78. The language of violence and power

See, trickle down does work.

[The Doctor.]

79. I'd like to think this isn't true... but these people are fed on a constant diet of lies.

They believe their fellow Americans are the enemy.

If they were afraid of the 'evil Islams' destroying America, they could not have done more to help. Al-Qaeda has won.

[Joanne98]

83. The cops should have arrested them.

I'm tired of the police letting the RW get away with breaking the law! When they start GOING TO JAIL them it will stop!

[raven880]

101. Honestly, they couldn't.

It was such a confusing mess when this happened and there were dozens of counter protesters saying it was Carlos' fault and only a few of us defending him. There was no clear "fault" so they couldn't really make an arrest since everyone stopped fighting. It had ended by the time the police were on the scene.....the whole think only took 5 minutes or less.

[ieoeja]

130. What about theft?

I realize the assault and battery is somewhat mutual (which means they arrest everyone or noone), but Peterson is clearly guilty of theft. Actually, given that the theft means Carlos was protecting his property, the assault and battery becomes a one way street: the thief and his gang fighting against the man trying to protect his property.

A link in another post in this thread goes to a National Review article that identifies the thief. So Carlos can still swear out an arrest warrant for this man.

Which brings up the question, "why bother?" I will answer that. To put it on record that THEY are the ones engaging in violent protest, not YOU.

[proud2BlibKansan]

132. Wow what link?

I looked but couldn't find it. Could you please post it here? Thanks!

[ieoeja]

167. See post #125. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

169. Thank you!!

[HughBeaumont]

116. They did all THROUGH this protest.

Leapt fences, assaulted women, threatened teenagers, assaulted others.

NARY AN ARREST OF A RIGHT WINGER.

Yet peaceful civil disobedience on our side gets 190 people tossed in the clink.

Does anyone need to GUESS which side our "protect and serve" securitate is ON at this point?

[raven880]

126. I don't mean to be a defender of unjust police but

these "eagles/vultures" are very clever. The police can only arrest what they see themselves. The vultures hit and run and aren't seen. The peaceful marchers deliberately stepped over the wall so they could be arrested and they were. They too had an agenda but it was, in my view, the right one...the honorable one and that is to draw attention to the wishes of the vast majority of people who the MSM refuse to acknowledge. The arrests did gain a tiny bit of publicity.
A young man in the peaceful crowd was burning sage and perfuming the air. It was rather nice. He was arrested because the police SAW him burning stuff. I have no idea if it was illegal or not but he was handcuffed and taken away. He was not treated roughly. However, during the march itself, the "vultures" released some sort of stink bomb that smelled like rotten eggs when we walked by. No one there arrested because the cops didn't see it. It could be, I suppose that the police were deliberately NOT watching the vultures and were watching us for any infraction. I just don't know.

I don't have any family members who are police. I just don't want them ragged on when they really were very restrained and doing their jobs.

[HughBeaumont]

137. The police SAW the freep jump a barrier, assault a photog AND one of the CPers and did NOTHING.

Fair's fair, it's right in the damned video. You see an assault, especially male on female, do your job and ARREST THE FREEPER. Arrest SOMEONE. I don't want to hear that Carlos' attackers were these stealth thugs who disappeared into thin air. The Kleegles aren't that smart.

The police, ESPECIALLY the CHP, have NEVER been on the side of anti-war or liberal demonstrators. Maybe you didn't see the Sept 2005 or Inauguration videos, where rounded-up protestors were pepper sprayed with a hose despite no resistance, or hit in the face with a club. I've SEEN the brutality. They get no pass from me at all.

[frylock]

147. that's why people need to videotape their actions..

just designate someone to monitor them, and keep the tape rolling all day.

[Swamp Rat]

84. k&r

[unhappycamper]

85. Here's another Carlos story

When we set up Arlington East in Cape Cod last year, Carlos set up Alex's coffin in front of the crosses. He had pictures of Alex on both sides of his display. On the left side, the side closest to the Iraqi children's markers, he had a picture of Alex pointing a .50 caliber weapon, and the weapon was pointing at the children's markers.

Some of the Cape Codders for Peace and Justice were not appreciative of the symbolism, and asked him to remove that particular picture. Carlos refused, and things started looking a bit dicey.

I was construction manager for the exhibit, and someone found me in the display and asked me to come up front because there was a problem. When I got up front, I immediately saw what the problem was.

Carlos is an extremely passionate person. He was pissed that someone wanted him to move (or remove) his picture of Alex. I sat down with Carlos for about 10 minutes and we talked. I told him that the CCPJ folks did have a point, and he grudgingly agreed. I asked him if he could move his poster at least to the seaward part of the display. He moved the picture, and looked at it again.

After a few minutes, he removed the picture and got another one out of his truck. The problem was solved.

He apologized to me for almost a year about saying angry things to me on October 14, 2006. I keep telling him he has nothing to apologize for.

Carlos is a sensitive human being who tries to honor Alex in every way possible.

I love you, Carlos. And you too, Mel.

[proud2BlibKansan]

91. I remember that story

Thanks for the great picture too!

[raven880]

103. I hadn't heard that story. Thanks for posting.

[unhappycamper]

112. Welcome to DU, raven880

:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

86. Hope the father will know how many people support him, and grieve for his loss.

Who would have DREAMED people could get so twisted they would attack a man who is paying tribute to his son, taken from his life far too soon, in the service of his country?

What a shame the son was taken and the scum remain safely behind, free to gang up and kick people who have been forced to lose their beloved children.

[proud2BlibKansan]

110. I sent his wife a link to this thread

And I am sure she appreciates the support DU is offering.

[Ian David]

89. Every Republican deserves a Gold Star! Fucking freeper bastards. n/t

[Mad_Dem_X]

92. Oh my freakin' GOD!

How can people be this disgustingly cruel to another person, let alone a father who is only trying to remember his son killed in a war. Jesus, Mary and Joseph - there has got to be a special place in Hell for people like that! :grr:

[democrank]

97. This sickens me.

~PEACE~

[cadaverdog]

104. Check out my video of some of the pro-war thugs here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ95b__RUgk

[me b zola]

122. Where is sanskritwarrior when you need him?

There are some freeper freaks wearing the uniform improperly.

[proud2BlibKansan]

135. LOL!!

:rofl:

Uniform police, paging the uniform police!!!

[me b zola]

144. I was confident that someone would understand my reference!

WWSWD? What would sanskritwarrior do?

:rofl:

[TomClash]

108. Let's call these "attackers" what they really are

Fascist Brown Shirts.

Brought to you by the Republican Party

[Emerald]

124. No video cameras?

I should think the organizers of the march would ask people to bring their video cameras, if they have them. I have found pointing a video camera at a mob of folks who are behaving angrily can often modify their behavior. Of course, videotape can also serve as evidence, should it be needed.

My heart goes out to Carlos, and my gratitude to all those who tried to help him.

[RoccoR5955]

120. "Gathering of Eagles" is more like a "Gathering of Vultures..."

Or turkeys, or chicken hawks.

I was there as the incident was happening. It happened so fast that there was little time to act. The freeper went to where all his buddies were, and Carlos went running after them. I do not feel that this was the correct thing to do. Violence only begets more violence. I called out for the police, and they came within two minutes. I saw them carry someone away, and I was hoping that it was the freeper who ran off with the picture. The guy who took the picture seemed to come out of nowhere, and run back into the crowd of these right wing thugs. I wish that I could have done more, but I am not one to resort to physical violence, as it accomplishes nothing. If you attack the attackers, you are only as bad as they are. Many of the "eagles" ran away as the police came upon the scene. A few remained.

During the march, when the march passed by these right wing "things," I shouted, "The people behind the barrier have been brainwashed. Pay them no mind, and move along." I know that they heard me, because some of them were commenting. I think that the best thing for us to do in a situation like a peace march, is to let them have their little area, and ignore them. After all, this is OUR moment, and they should not be allowed to rain on our parade. Let them scream and shout all they want, but do not acknowledge their presence. I did notice that they were mostly of draft age, all were white, and were not particularly creative or intelligent. These "people" are only a small part of the population, and it is up to us to be the change we want to see in the world. By attacking them, we become them, and that is not something I will be.

Check out my pics of the rally and march at http://tinyurl.com/22997y There are 114 pictures of the march and rally. NONE of the floundering chicken hawks.

[proud2BlibKansan]

123. Carlos had every right to want his son's picture back

and the freepers had no right to take it in the first place. They started this by grabbing the picture.

You say you saw the police carry someone wawy. Was it one of the freepers? I am friends with Carlos and his wife and they are wanting to know if anyone was arrested. Thanks!

[raven880]

127. I do agree.

But when I went in to help the man on the ground, I didn't go in to fight and I didn't fight. I was only trying to save the guy on the bottom. It was the vultures who attacked and no one on our side fought them back. As for Carlos' action in chasing after the guy who ripped the picture of his son off,...sure, he should have let it go. Photos can be reprinted. But, you know they were harassing him all along the way and we have no idea what cruel thing they might have said to him when they "stole his son". I'm sure he just had a gut reaction to the insult to his dead son and went for it. I might have done the same. But it was NOT Carlos who attacked any one. He just grabbed for the photo and the thugs who were by then surrounding him just dove on him and took him down. It was truly a bunch of cowards attacking a lone man who was not fighting back. And, yes, like the cowards they are, many of them ran off.

When my friend and I who were just sitting there, doing nothing but resting , were verbally attacked by two different members of that group, we at first spoke back and then just told them we weren't there to fight with them and to move along. They, of course, continued to spew curses and hate but they did move along because we ignored them.

[iamthebandfanman]

121. Oh my, the freepers shouldnt be taking it the violent route

they mite go and cause the revolution to occur prematurely ;)

[flvegan]

125. But, but...National Review has it MUCH different...

"Arredondo was bringing up the rear of the march; almost everybody was already on the Capitol lawn when he came by dragging his casket. Fred Peterson, an ex-Marine, was standing off to the side of the road. Peterson was upset, not just as a participant in the counterprotest offended by the marcher’s politics and their perceived lack of patriotism, but because he felt exploiting the death of a fallen Marine crossed a line. Fred walked out into the street and snatched the picture off of the casket.

Arredondo didn’t even know what happened until it was pointed out to him by others. By the time Arredondo figured it out, Peterson was walking away. In a rage, Arredondo took off and tackled Peterson from behind at a full run. Arredondo was pulled off Peterson very quickly by a number of Peterson’s fellow veterans and counterprotesters, but not before Peterson was bloodied in the ensuing scuffle."

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWI5MGZmM2Y2NzNhMjlmODY4ZWQ5YWE3MmZlMjIzNzU=

There are pics there, too.

Arredondo was totally at fault. NRO doesn't even mention the other people kicking Arredondo like a bunch of thugs. No, it couldn't POSSIBLY have happened the way Melida has stated it.
:sarcasm:

[raven880]

129. Disgusting!

Yeah, the so-called marine was bloodied......and I'm glad of it. I think he was, too, as I saw him a short time later strutting around like a banty rooster showing off his "war" wound and laughing. He got what he wanted, really. I think he was a victim of his own guys. When Carlos grabbed for the photo and the vultures attacked, mr. marine was in the middle and went down too. Hard to say who actually took him down.
What it comes down to is that they are getting desperate and were looking for a fight.
Most of the guys who were in this group all looked like they were on steroids.....bulging muscles and hatefilled eyes. Their women weren't muscled but were bulky and mean.
I'm bulky........but not usually mean. <g>

[ieoeja]

131. Theft

I realize the assault and battery is somewhat mutual (which means they arrest everyone or noone), but Peterson is clearly guilty of theft. Actually, given that the theft means Carlos was protecting his property, the assault and battery becomes a one way street: the thief and his gang fighting against the man trying to protect his property.

The National Review article identifies the thief. So Carlos can still swear out an arrest warrant for this man.

Which brings up the question, "why bother?" I will answer that. To put it on record that THEY are the ones engaging in violent protest, not YOU.

[flvegan]

133. Hi, raven880. I read your post upthread.

Thanks for the additional first-hand insight into this story. They're political hooligans. Nothing more, nothing less.

Welcome to DU.

[tuckessee]

210. Why is this guy a "so-called marine"?

He's like the vast majority of marines, active or retired, that I've ever met.

Try walking into a bar populated by jarheads and start talking some leftist anti-war stuff & odds are you'll get your head cracked open.

[proud2BlibKansan]

136. Oh thank you so much!

I will send it to Carlos. I doubt he has seen this. He needs to know the name of the person who stole his son's picture.

Thanks!! :)

[flvegan]

Please give him my regards.

I knew they'd glorify their own. Cesspools celebrate shit.

[spoony]

138. Another awful part of that article:

"While Arredondo is leaving, four young boys are walking by and hear what happened. They walk up to Peterson and made a point of shaking his hand. They’re all barely out of high school, “8th and I boys” as they’re known in D.C., after the address of the local Marine barracks. As soon as Peterson hears this he exclaims, “My brothers!” and is all smiles and backslaps. He gestures wildly toward the thousands of protesters on the lawn above him and tells them, “One drop of your blood is worth more than all of theirs, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” They nod respectfully and say “Yes, sir.” It’s too bad they met like this — if Peterson could have met Arredondo under different circumstances, he would have told him how valuable his son’s sacrifice is."

What rancid shite. So these young thugs congratulate an old thug about beating on a Gold Star father. Then the old thug tells them that humanity is worth either more or less based on whether it wears the right uniform. They they AGREE. Then the statment that if he weren't so busy beating up on the fellow, he would have told him how much his son meant to HIM. Not his mourning father, no, to the guy pounding on him.

FUCK this asshole and his ilk.

[raven880]

157. Makes me want to puke.

I didn't see this happen and I"m glad I didn't. I was already pretty full of adrenaline at that point, having just been pulled out of a trampling. I'm not sure I'd have been able to hold my tongue.....tho my daughter would likely have pulled me away. They really aren't worth our breath.

[create.peace]

174. while you were over with carlos

i was 'holding the flag' which had caused such a violent attack. it was reversed on the pole. they had been threatening him for a long while before the picture grabbing. after the chicken ran back to the mob, i gathered up the flag and put it on the casket. i was also assaulted by a jerk who tried to take it away from me, the flag i mean. to hear my story - p2Bl posted the link upthread. if you can't find it pm me. that goes for everyone. hannah

[create.peace]

219. photo from freeper

me (orange kerchief), carlos behind, after police done questioning him.

sorry this is so big, will get smaller one after i put it on flickr

[proud2BlibKansan]

172. Wow what a biased report!

"Carlos Arredondo went home, still disturbed and grieving. Peterson went home still feeling dishonored."

DISHONORED?? What about Carlos's son? What about Carlos?

[valerief]

139. These freepers are insane and retarded! nt

[redqueen]

141. Cowards... attacking a grieving father instead of fighting the war they support.

:puke:

[Supersedeas]

142. don't expect apologies from Freeper brownshirts after the fact or at all

[ejbr]

148. Heaven FORBID!

Heaven forbid anyone call a General a NAME! But it is okay to kick and punch the father of a soldier who died for his country. Let me guess, the liberal media will go on for days about this outrage as they did for General Betrayus, right? EEEEENH! WRONG!

[proud2BlibKansan]

160. Great point!!

What hypocrites they are!!

[sonias]

154. Shameful behavior for those who claim to support the troops

They have dishonored the memory of this soldier who lost his life. May Alex rest in peace and I hope that Carlos will not let this episode dissuade him from his mission.

:cry:


Sonia

[tbl92666]

155. The video of the Freepers says it all

What filth they are. Complete vermin. Not rising to the occasion of being human. Their actions vis a vis Carlos speak even louder than their words. I long for the day when we finally expunge them, by weeding them out of the genepool; then Darwin will be proven right.

[Maestro]

158. Disgusting and pathetic

These are the same asswipes that would probably shit a brick if they were ever really in combat and experienced the horrors of war.

[PianoBlack]

159. So...let me see if I understand this correctly....

When we protest people get arrested and charged with crimes to get them off of the street. Old ladies get dragged away kicking and screaming, reverends get beat up and even college students get tazed. They BEAT DOWN the father of someone who died in the war and nothing happens!?!?

[proud2BlibKansan]

161. Yes I think you got it.

[PianoBlack]

170. Oh! Thank ya

I just wanted to make sure we didn't get sucked into an alternate universe...ya know...things were fair and equal for all citizens.

[RestoreGore]

163. How despicable

What a sad picture. His son was only twenty years old! Those who attacked his father are scum, period.

[Redstone]

164. A tough decision for those of us who have foresworn violence because we've been so scarred by it,

but I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open for when that man will be somewhere with his memorial, close enough to where I live that I can be there to walk next to him.

Fuck a bunch of the MS that's eating my body.

Fuck a bunch of the injuries that have left me in hideous pain every day, and essentially disabled.

Fuck all that. I'll walk with that man if I can possibly do it, and if any rightwing asshole punk fucking cowards (ex-jarheads or not) attack him, I'll make sure there will be eyeballs in the gutter before enough of them pile on me to make me stop.

I'm old and all beat to hell, but I ain't dead yet. I'll take a few with me.

Redstone

[jimmil]

166. Where are the pictures?

In one of the posts (#63) above the lady said she was next to Mr. Arredondo taking pictures. Are they posted anywhere? Are there any shots of the attack? I would love to splatter those all over the internet decrying what chickenshits the Eagles (not Philly) are.

[Redstone]

173. I don't know. I'm afraid that you'll have to go back through the posts carefully

if you want to find them.

Good luck, and welcome to DU.

Redstone

[proud2BlibKansan]

201. Here are pics of the freepers who attacked Carlos:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1828529&mesg_id=1842255

[AuntPatsy]

179. I feel the same way, I hope you get your chance.

[Redstone]

180. I have NO doubt I'd end up in the hospital, but it would be worth it.

Redstone

[AuntPatsy]

181. And again I would have to agree with you. I am really sick about this story and I detest

violence and yet, I swear I would enjoy watching them pounded to the ground. God forgive me.

[derby378]

171. Just one more reason to support concealed carry...

Neo-fascists physically assaulting peace protesters. Despicable.

[dgibby]

175. Gold Star Father

Thanks for the excellent post and f/u comments. Some suggestions for those involved in this nasty incident: First, although it's a great idea to send this to Keith O, he is presently recovering from an emergency appendectomy, so perhaps you could send this to Lou Dobbs and Jack Cafferty. Also, I would most definitely send this to reps/senators (both sides) and see who REALLY supports the troops. I would also send this to local and national news media, and last, but certainly NOT least, I would notify the Commandant of the Marine Corps, since this incident allegedly involved a former marine in an act of theft, violence, and intimidation. Perhaps there's a dishonorable discharge in this guy's future (which would deny him any/all military benefits). As a retired Navy officer, I can assure you this could cause him quite a great deal of heartache and trouble! PS, I would also send this to Iraq Vets Against the War. Good luck, and my best to Carlos and his family. To Raven, you ROCK!!!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

177. Welcome dgibby, & thank you for your service. If enough of us forward

this, perhaps justice will be done. This story breaks my heart. The thugs who assaulted Mr. Arredondo are nothing but cowards. Ganging up on a grieving father - despicable.

[raven880]

190. LOL! Thanks!

Even my son and his wife were impressed and that hasn't happened with any of my kids in a long time. ;-)
If I were to hear from Carlos that he wants any of this in the national news, I'd certainly cooperate in writing to various organizations. But until we know if there is any legal fallout for Carlos.....remember, the Vultures are blaming him......I'd rather not make it too public. I don't know Carlos personally....I had met him only once at a march in January. I have no way , except thu DU, to contact him so I'll just have to wait to see what happens. It's his call.

[shano]

182. write National Review

If you dont want to sign on there. The address is: [e-mail]

They need to have some rebuttal about who started this terrible act toward a peacefull man. Peterson should be charged with distubance and assault, at the very least.

Carlos and Arredondo family, my best wishes and condolences.

[flyarm]

184. honest to pete..i never remember this kind of shit in all my 55 yrs until pissy pants..

really..this is just disgraceful..and these mother fuckers will tell you they are religious..what a fucking disgrace!

who are these pigs other than fundies and sick sick mother fuckers!

i hope they rot in the hell they are so sure they will not be going to..but i know they will be seeing a very very hot afterlife!

they are the pigs of the world..

and i can honestly say..i do not remember in my 55 years this kind of shit going on until these fuckers got involved in this administration and this government..they so remid me of all i have read about hitlers brownshirts..what filthy rotten scum!

this makes me sick..and it makes me ashamed of what my country has become..a bunch of religious zealots..and filthy scum....and bullies who think they own this country and the rest of us..i hate these sick pathetic filthy pigs!

and trolls take this to tha bank..you will rot in hell..a hell you so deserve!

fly

[raven880]

192. Green shirts this time around

They all were sporting some shade of "army" green shirts. That must be this century's "brown". Their women were in white....at least some of them.
I googled Gathering of Eagles last night and found one web page about a big seminar they had in Chicago and the classes were mainly in various forms of karate. Preparing them for.......peace???? I'd guess not.

[create.peace]

193. photos of the perps

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/carlos/pages/196951021-M_jpg.htm

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/carlos/index.htm

[proud2BlibKansan]

199. They look so proud of what they did

[B Calm]

200. Republicans spit on Gold Star Mothers and Fathers

and the corporate owned press is silent..

[create.peace]

202. oh boy, they respond, and haven't seen pictures yet!

http://gatheringofeagles.org/forum?forum=3&topic=1002&page=1

"My teams broke up at the Capitol,
mission accomplished, and I was walking alone back to the Mall when I saw
the photo-image of a proud young Marine in dress blues being held hostage in
company not of his own choosing and affixed to a coffin not his own.

The insult to his honor and disrespect to his Corps and cause by his captors was
immediately obvious and intended.
These same peddlers of provocation are
paid to push their coffin-prop all over the country they revile. They subvert
a common will and undermine the cause and country for which this hostage-Marine
had sacrificed his very life. "

[raven880]

203. My god,

This makes me sick to my stomach. Who gave them the right to determine who can carry a photo of a dead soldier! If they truly did not know who this was ( and I don't believe they didn't) they should have tried to talk to him and find out why he was pulling that casket. These people are truly the lowest bit of excrement on earth. And those in the pictures aren't the the primary ones involved in the beating.
This organization is the very antithesis of what this country used to stand for and believe in. They claim to be patriots and to love their county but they want to end those things this country stands for......first and foremost, freedom of speech. Only those who agree with them are to be allowed to speak.

My daughter saw me in the middle of the crowd of thugs and first tried to get help. Then after the police arrived she took pictures and has a photo of the guy who grabbed the photo and who drew Carlos into the midst of these beasts. My daughter has written a wonderful piece about the march that I believe she intends to send to national newspapers and post to some blogs. I encouraged her to put it up here, too and she is going to do that. Because she wasn't a member of DU she had to sign up and wait the 24 hrs until she can post so keep an eye on this thread for her part of the story.

[PaDem]

212. I've read this whole thread......

and I must say I don't feel well. The whole thing stinks, and these comments from this "Eagle" are beyond disturbing. I've been trying to find reasons to be optimistic and hopeful with regard to this country's present and future. This thread and what happened to this poor father have put a damper on my hopefulness. Reading through that "gathering of eagles" website borders on terrifying. God help us all.

[raven880]

204. Attempts to report this beating

to the Mike Malloy show fell on deaf ears......or eyes. I sent a fairly detailed description of the incident to Mike Malloy because his show "seems" to want to make people aware of the abuses of our government and those who support it. I was sure Mike would at least express some kind of outrage about the beating of a peaceful man. I sent the email out to him on Monday afternoon. But, no mention of it at all. I didn't expect him to read MY email. But he could certainly have talked about it. He spent all of Tuesdays show screaming about the Nazi like behavior of the campus police who taser'd the college student who dared to ask too many questions of Kerry (and it WAS something to rage about) but not a word Monday night or Tues. night about Carlos or any attack on the father of a dead Iraq soldier or the thugs who did it. I have enjoyed Mike's show for sometime but lately I've had doubts about his choice of topics. I know he is highly critical of the new Air America and the majority of it's less than liberal show hosts so I can't imagine he's buckling under to management. Maybe he just doesn't consider this event an important sign of where our nation is heading.

[create.peace]

205. raven880

http://williamscraig.com/WilliamsCraig/Brandon/ part way down page on right

have you listening to my story? did we see each other? you haven't been at du long enough to pm, please email me a create dot peace at yahoo dot com? we maybe could work with all our stories, plus carlos and another guy who was there, mentioned upthread, and get the story out. as it settles in, and more is written by the hate-filled eagles, i feel we should get it out. i am still in dc, dont know where you are. i will be her for awhile yet. walked from blackwater offices to the state dept today.

hannah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLAm0SLoJqw 1:20 mark

[raven880]

208. Hannah

I listened to your story and it was interesting to see the event from another perspective. I saw it from the middle of the pile. You were past my location when the Vulture ran out and grabbed the photo but I had seen the casket go by and heard the heckling this group was doing to Carlos....tho I didn't realize it was Carlos at the time. It wasn't until he ran up onto the sidewalk and the group of vultures jumped on him , in front of me, that I saw that something had happened. At first I moved back and then thought I should get photos of the guys doing the beating and moved in to get closer shots because I'm short and was blocked by the big guys surrounding the fight. But I pushed thru and that's when I saw that the guy on the ground was being kicked and pounded into the cement and I had to try and stop them. The rest is history I guess.
Since you know Carlos, would you ask him if he remembers a woman trying to lift him up and trying to get him through the line of men? Would you ask him what HE wants us to do as far as publicizing this goes? If they are afraid now because he may be a target of these thugs, he may prefer it not be made more public.

[create.peace]

209. hey, raven

last i talked to him he wanted the true story out there EVERYWHERE. that is why the pictures got posted on afterdowningstreet.org email me for more info about it. i encourage you to record your story like i did, it could be used as voiceover on the photos. the more i read on their sites and blog, the more i am concerned about their capacity for senseless violence. i will be more wary, as i said, but won't stop.

[raven880]

215. Agree.

We can't stop until our guys come home and the Iraqi people are allowed to decide for themselves how they wish to be governed.
I watched the video clip you posted and I could see myself in the background as Carlos (and you?) were walking by. I'm the lady in the white t-shirt and black pants.

[indythinker1776]

213. Thank You for Helping Carlos.

I have never met Carlos but I have seen his memorial many times. Please continue to tell your story. It is important to let the public know all about these so called patriots.

[morningstar4peace]

211. Why is it so hard to get this out?!

I am Raven's daughter. I was maybe 10 feet from Carlos when he went after his picture. I did not see what that jerk did to him, but did see the rest. Here is the letter I've been working on to send to newspapers and blogs and stuff. Wish I'd had it done before now, but the daily drudge of life has gotten in the way. Anyhow, thought you all would like to read it. I will also try to post the picture I took of the guy who started the whole thing.

This past weekend’s peace march has left me with a heavy heart. Nearly
100,000 peace activists travelled to Washington D.C. for a peaceful
demonstration to tell Congress to grow a backbone and tell the Bush
administration that the time has come to bring our troops home and end the
war in Iraq.

Protest organizers warned us that there would be counter-protesters there
trying to provoke a confrontation, but encouraged us to ignore them and not
sink to their level as we exercised our First Amendment rights. I never
expected however to encounter the level of hatred and violence that spewed
forth from this group whose web site makes the claim (patently false as we
would see) that they oppose the use of violence, vandalism or verbal
assault.

As we marched peacefully towards the Capitol, we were yelled and cursed at,
threatened, pelted with debris, and assaulted by the smell of a vile
concoction set off as we passed by. I thought they could sink no lower until
one of these self-proclaimed defenders of our nation's veterans ran up
to one of the peace activists, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq, and
snatch the photo of his fallen son from his hands. As he ran to recover
this treasured possession, he was surrounded and attacked by the
counter-protesters. Like a scene from the streets of Berlin or Rome in the
1930's, these animals held him down while one of them kicked him repeatedly.
Hitler's stormtroopers would have been proud. Even the intervention of my
own mother (60 years old and a fraction of the size of the attackers)
wading into the pile to try and protect him failed to stop the attack. The
beating stopped moments before the police arrived. They saw none of it and arrested
no one.

While the attack on this brave man was unprovoked and shameful, the coverage
of the incident by the media can only be described as pathetic. None of
the reports made any mention of the disgraceful actions of these
counter-protesters or their attack on a father still mourning the loss of
his son. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. Since the attacks of 9/11, the
media has cowered with its tail tucked between its legs, afraid to question
the Bush administration, afraid to dig for the truth, and afraid to protest
the erosion of the freedoms on which their existence and our liberty depend.

I will never forget the feeling of being let down by America at this march.
Let down that only 100,000 people attended. Let down that our elected
representatives are more interested in covering their political backsides
than what we the people have to say. Let down that the media continues to
be a Bush Administration mouth-piece. Let down that the people of this
country still have the wool pulled over their eyes and do not realize how
many of their freedoms are already gone. I will never stop fighting to
bring back the freedoms we used to have in this country. If you sit at home
ashamed of the direction our country has gone, then it’s time to speak up or
one day you will realize you no longer have the right to do so.

I need to stop playing editor with it and just start sending it out! Here's the best picture I got after the cops showed up. I didn't even think to take any during the skirmish. The man on the left in the green is the jerk who took the photo and did most of the beating. He also was the first one to cry fowl and kept yelling that he was pressing charges. He didn't say that after the cops got there though. You can see Carlos in the middle giving his statement too and then there are some more men to the right in the background in darker green shirts who were also involved in the beating. It happened so fast and was a pile of green clothes so it's hard to remember who was doing what.

" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[raven880]

214. Welcome to the DU,Christina!

Thanks for taking the time to write this up and post it here. I feel we cannot let this incident go unnoticed because it is indicative of how the Right is starting to behave. I guess you could say their true colors are coming out. That man took all the honor out of being a Marine with his and his friends' unconscionable behavior.
And I'm proud to be your mom! <g> You're a better writer than I.

[create.peace]

216. thanks, morningstar

everyone still here in dc is going to be happy tomorrow to read your account! the GOE site has been noticed now, and that is good. Certainly not a no spin zone, even indicating that the pics on afterdowningstreet are staged.

we just have to keep on trying to get the story noticed. this is more important than oj for sure.

hannah

[raven880]

217. A couple extra pics

Most of my pictures that I took at the start of the fight were too blurred to be of use but I will try to put a couple of them on here. I'm not sure how well this will work. If the photos don't show up and you have to go to the links, click on "All sizes" to be able to see them large enough to see what's happening.



This is Carlos as he walked past my location before the Eagle guy ran out and took his photo off the casket.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1426319498&size=l

This is just before I stopped and went in to try and help him. All those legs you see are the guys ON TOP of Carlos.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1425437553&size=l

[ck4829]

206. Kick