In Anchorage, Alaska, a group of average women decided to hold a small rally to let it be known that their Governor, Sarah Palin, does not represent their views on many of the issues that are important in their lives.
They put together a press release and sent it to the Anchorage media outlets. A local right-wing talk show host broadcast the names and phone numbers of the two organizers over the air. They began receiving a series of harassing phone calls for the remainder of that afternoon. The leading TV station picked up the story on Thursday. Alaska Public Radio Network put up some audio.
An anonymous caller contacted the local media on Friday afternoon and told them they were one of the organizers, and the rally had been cancelled. Someone even faxed forged a document saying the Secret Service had cancelled the permit for the rally, even though no permit is required. Some people were putting an awful lot of effort in to making sure no dissent would be heard from Alaska.
Well, it didn't work. Despite overcast skies and a forecast for rain, there was a rally here today. Oh man, was there! In fact, it was by most accounts the largest protest rally in the history of Alaska. The Anchorage Daily News wrote that the rally drew an "estimated" 1500 people. Let me be clear: the organizers used a hand-clicker and counted at least 1,483 Alaskans, mostly women, who showed up to say that Sarah Palin does not speak for them. They also counted 93 McCain/Palin supporters. The national media loves to say that Sarah Palin enjoys an "80% popularity rating" in Alaska. Do the math on today's rally, and you'd need a faith-based calculator to get 80%. This was grassroots activism at its best - Alaskans coming out to speak their minds on a host of issues.
10 comments:
That's interesting.
I sent out the link in some emails, and will post it on my blog tomorrow. Good find, Karen.
I love it Karen. I hope to this spreads and word gets out. I am heppy to see Palin Paling. The more we see the more of an insult her nomination is. My concern is if she has to be dumped Romney is as bad if not worse than McAssHole!
I want to go to Alaska. I'm tired of hurricanes and hot weather.
One of the ladies with Knitters for Obama was involved with this!
The more I read and hear from Palin, the more I dislike her. My 2 1/2 year old found a picture in Time magazine of an elk she had shot. She was so disturbed and kept telling me "that lady shot that reindeer". :( Poor thing. Anyway, not necessarily against hunting, just saying that's one more thing...
My wife thought that Palin had a resemblence to Tina Fey. Wouldn't you know it Tina noticed it too, and so did SNL.
LAMO
Glad to know that the women in Alaska persevered and had their rally.
did you see the Daily Show video on Palin and the Gender Gap? I linked it to my post on Saturday? You'd get a kick out of it!
this is the url:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card
Thank heavens there are women of substance up there...and thank heavens for you Karen for the letting us know out here in the real world that there is such people. Gives us hope.
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