So along with Sons of Anarchy stars at Comicon in Phoenix, some cosplay will occur with RWNJs in 30 minutes, as Jon Ritzheimer tries for his 15 minutes of fame. Unfortunately, the bar designated for the rally's after-party has decided to close for the night, given the possibility that the bikers who are attending the rally might want to test their shooting skills with local police as some other bikers did at an event unrelated to blasphemy in Waco Texas recently. There is a counter-demonstration addressing the provocative nature of this action and at this writing outnumber the protesters. There is a significant police presence with controlled street access and air support. Kudos to the
NBC affiliate for keeping a livestream going. Cops continue to do their jobs - must be miserable in dark uniforms and riots gear, standing around in the heat, keeping an eye on the armed protesters in their desert camo, but maybe they get hazard duty pay. Hopefully the demo won't last after the sun goes down, otherwise other craziness could ensue, much like any protest does when the cops decide the streets need to be cleared.
Fox News Phoenix
ABC News Phoenix
Cosplay Is Not Consent.
What this means, for those who are unfamiliar with the phrase and the movement behind it, is that anyone at a convention dressing up as anyone they please should be treated with the same respect and courtesy that you would give them if they were dressed in their "street clothes."
Organizers of the event, called Freedom of Speech Rally Round II, are advising participants to bring weapons.
“People are also encouraged to utilize there (sic) second amendment right at this event just incase (sic) our first amendment comes under the much anticipated attack,” according to a statement from organizers on a Facebook page.
Pick-up truck beds make the best art galleries
The event is timed to coincide with the Friday night communal prayer, jummah, at the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix. Rally participants are encouraged to bring guns to the event, despite the organizer’s claim that it is a “peaceful” protest.
Only stupid First Commandment folks conflate Second Amendment privileges with First Amendment rights.
On Friday evening, a group of self-proclaimed “patriots” will demonstrate outside of the Islamic Community Center in north Phoenix to “protect [their] Constitutional rights to freedom of speech.”
According to the event’s Facebook page, the rally “is in response to the recent attack in Texas where 2 armed terrorist, with ties to ISIS, attempted Jihad.” The group held a similar rally on May 17, which organizers say drew a crowd of about 200.
During the protest, attendees—many of whom are part of the motorcycle group, RidersUSA—will march with signs and American flags. Event organizer Jon Ritzheimer tells New Times the protest will be peaceful, and that he plans to “pull the reins in on people who want to do stupid things like throw bacon” at the center. He will also be selling black T-shirts that read “Fuck Islam.”
Ritzheimer scheduled the rally to coincide with Friday evening prayer, and is encouraging people to bring cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammad to enter into a contest. (The winner will be selected during the “after-party” at a nearby bar, Wild Bills.) There will be at least “two state militia groups to provide security,” but he’s still encouraging folks to bring guns “just in case our first amendment [right] comes under the much anticipated attack.”
Fri May 29, 2015 at 5:45 PM PT: ABC News Phoenix Link: http://live.abc15.com/...
Fri May 29, 2015 at 5:47 PM PT: CBS News Phoenix News http://www.kpho.com/...
Fri May 29, 2015 at 5:48 PM PT: NBC News Phoenix http://www.12news.com/...
Fri May 29, 2015 at 6:22 PM PT: less than 50 protesters are present while double that number are counter-protesters
Fri May 29, 2015 at 6:37 PM PT: larger crowd now as seen in an aerial view http://www.abc15.com/...
http://www.12news.com/...
Fri May 29, 2015 at 7:27 PM PT: crowd begins to thin, although more interesting is how the cops facing the armed protesters stand with hands on their sidearms whereas the ones facing the unarmed counter-protesters are more relaxed, and some officers shadow the armed protesters as they stroll up and down their side of the street.
Fri May 29, 2015 at 9:10 PM PT: after hours of yelling, some have resorted to bullhorns
Fri May 29, 2015 at 9:20 PM PT: looks like an arrest is being made. The NBC channel is using the DOT traffic camera feed
Fri May 29, 2015 at 9:22 PM PT: unlike Ferguson, the PHX cops like a lot of light including from their helicopter
12:42 PM PT: By late Friday night, virtually all the protesters and police had left the area with no reports of violent flare-ups or arrests.
