Ask Your TV Stations Why You Didn't See The Biggest Rally in Alaska?!

This is awesome! Just sent via email.
The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage. Homemade signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men. I had no idea what to expect.

The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have sta rted with small groups of women talking over coffee. It's probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets. One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host.

Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally 'a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots,' and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course, received some nasty, harassing and threatening messages.

I felt a bit apprehensive. I'd been disappointed before by the turnout at other rallies. Basically, in Anchorage, if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it's a success. So, I thought to myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren't sent by Eddie Burke, we'll be doing good. A real statement will have been made. I confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by hundreds of menacing 'socialist baby-killing maggot' haters.

It's a good thing I wasn't tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody's trunk. When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep! I could hardly find a place to park. I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs.

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned. The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn't honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute. This just doesn't happen here.Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn't be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.

So, if you've been doing the math… Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin's rally that got all the national media coverage! So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the pictures around to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans. The citizens of Alaska, who know her best, have things to say.

That sure did make my day and I am so not a forward queen.

Comments

Mauigirl said…
Hi Katie, glad you are spreading the word about this demonstration. I've been seeing it in a lot of places so if the mainstream media doesn't publicize it, at least the blogs are!

BTW, I've been meaning to add you to my link list for forever so I'm going to do it right now!
Anonymous said…
Thanks Katie...this is cool stuff. I haven't seen it on the MSM either.
Cup said…
Fabulous! Let's just pray the polling places are that balanced on Nov. 4!
Fran said…
I am so not a forward queen... Oh Katie I love that.

Yes, this pesky little thing never did get on the big tee vee screens now, did it?

Great posting of it.
Anonymous said…
C'mon Katie, there were just 5 women. Ok, that's a lot for Alaska ...

I will put you on my link list, ok darling? (My team calls it "Guantanamo-list".)
Karen Zipdrive said…
Thank God for You Tube and bloggers. I get a lot more real news from them.
Madam Z said…
Thank you, Katie! I had heard NOTHING about this rally until your post. 1,500 demonstrators! That is amazing. And encouraging...

BTW, I am feeling politically ashamed. I just don't have the ambition and drive to write well-researched and informative posts on politics. If I were really gung-ho for either of the candidates and their running mates, maybe I could raise myself out of my torpor. As it is, I am not wild about any of them, though I was sold on Obama until he tagged Biden. Now, they'll still get my vote, but I'm less enthusiastic.

I do admire you and the other ambitious gals you mentioned, for your thoughtful and articulate posts. Keep up the good work, so I don't have to. I'm tired, darn it.
Doreen Orion said…
I knew there was a reason we loved Alaska when we were there a few summers ago.
Katie Schwartz said…
Hi Mauigirl; Can you believe liberal mainstream is ignoring this, too?! Such a shondj.

Thank you for the link, lovergirl.

How's by you?
Katie Schwartz said…
Right, Spartacus? That's why I wanted to post it when it was e-stalked to me. I couldn't even find it on HuffPo, which was surprising.
Katie Schwartz said…
Bethygirl, I completely agree.
Katie Schwartz said…
FranIAm, I figured you weren't forward queenie, either :)

I am so happy I rec'd it because it was too important not to post.
Katie Schwartz said…
Well, aren't you menschy, McCunt?! Who knew?
Katie Schwartz said…
Me too, Zippygirl. The blogosphere spills the beans.
Katie Schwartz said…
Oh, MadamZ, don't you fret, doll. I'm sorry you're not excited about this election. Though I would've preferred Hill because I LOVE her politics, Biden is an awesome choice (in my opinion). He's got mad foreign policy skills and he understands the working and middle class.
Katie Schwartz said…
And now you know why, Doreenygirl. Many women loathe her as much as (speaking for myself) I do.

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