Metroplex Atheists
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George W. Bush Appearance Demonstration 2000

Shelly's Report

Since the rally was going to start at 8:30 am and the predicted high’s for the day was 105 degrees, we decided we needed to show up to the Southern Methodist University Moody Coliseum at 6 am. For an impromptu protest (one day notice to our members), we had a nice turnout of six people: Randall Gorman, John & Shelly Hattan, Everett Cox, and Danny and Ginny Barnett. Since we got there so early, we scoped out our protest site right in front of the Coliseum in the public right-of-way. We had a nice barrier separating us from the growing crowd and even had some high school students come up and ask us questions about our signs.

The lines started growing and an officer came up to Randall Gorman and told him we had to go to the barriers, which was the designated protest area. The area he pointed to was located about a football field away from the front of the Coliseum. Randall pointed out to the policeman that the folks waiting in line would not be able to hear or see our protest. The policeman also stated that we needed a permit to protest. Shelly Hattan asked the policeman for the permitting criteria and the policeman disappeared into the Coliseum. A more official looking gentleman with a suit and tie came out and told us that if we did not go to the area, we would be removed from the area. A Channel 5 reporter was there with a cameraman recording the whole conversation. We started moving towards the designated area and asked the suited policeman for specific boundaries we could protest in. He had a group of policemen move a barricade up close to the original area we were protesting from, but located across the street from the crowd. We felt we had scored a small victory by not being pushed around by the local police.

After we were settled in, the protest went very well. We were shouted at, and we would return the shouts with nice smiles and explain our positions politely. Some of our favorite shouts:

Religious people started this country.

I’ll pray for you (the standard at every protest).

I hope the government taxes your organization, lady (in response to a “Tax All Church Property” sign)

Go back to Costa Rica (?)

Go back to Russia

A few brave people actually crossed the street to come and talk to us. A couple of folks wanted to know if we were going to protest Gore when he comes to town. “You bet,” was the enthusiastic reply.

The lines continued to pour into the Coliseum until 8:45 am. We decided our work was done and headed home.

Channel 5’s report on the Republican Rally included a quick segment about the American Atheists protest.

All in all, it was a good protest. Can’t wait till Gore/Leiberman come to town.