As a gray-haired white man with some familiarity with firearms, today's gathering in Richmond,

[Atticus]

Virginia is embarrassing. It would be giving these misfits too much credit to call them "punks". They are vacuous strutters snarling practiced false talking points before breaking into ear-to-ear grins when someone admires their penis substitute.

I did not see one weapon carried at this "rally" that was not designed to kill PEOPLE. There were no bird guns; no bolt action deer rifles. There were, however, plenty of "mow 'em down" pieces.

And, what can one say about the "GI Joe" costumes"? Lots of camo; bullet-proof vests; bandoliers; Kevlar helmets and, of course, assorted "edged weapons". Several of these "warriors", however, could barely fit into there "can't see me suits" due to the extra fifty pounds or so of belly they were carrying in addition to their weapons.

All in all, these people sucked big time. And, since nearly all of the idiots were white men, I felt the need to state my hope that they will not be considered representative of the rest of us.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Thanks Atticus

The dress code looked like someone had been shopping for costumes in an Army surplus store.

[DemocracyMouse]

55. The dress code, apparently, was to situate the event on MLK day.

The gun lobby is dressing itself in MLK Day in order to send the message that "Blacks beware."

I am apalled. This country is a piece of trash until it deaks with this unrelenting Nazism.

[soldierant]

123. One article on this gathering

contained a pointed quotation from Driftglass -

"[W]hite supremacy in America has always been about the Almighty God of Jefferson Davis, Strom Thurmond and George Wallace locked in mortal combat with the Almighty God of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

"In other words kids, for Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Incel Irregulars, and roughly 60 million Republican supporters of Donald Trump, this is a holy war.

"And holy wars do not have a history of ending well.”

[C_U_L8R]

2. They definitely weren't bird hunters and hobbyists.

It looked like a bunch of over-privileged lardasses whining about their expensive death toys while playing dress-up in pathetic faux army gear. Grow up. Geez.

[Aussie105]

6. Those are the dangerous ones.

Don't set them off. Don't threaten their self declared feeling of importance.

[C_U_L8R]

14. Impotence.

[robbob]

92. If they're going to BE impotent...

they want to LOOK impotent!

Sorry...punch line from an old joke...

[calimary]

126. Probably more than a little truth in that joke.

WHY does somebody want to amass an arsenal of massacre machines like that? Are they going to war? Are they ready to go on offense? Do they think the dreaded “black helicopters” are on the way to GIT ‘em!?

Gotta say to these jerks - doesn’t matter how many guns you’ve got. You’re no match for the 82nd Airborne.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. A bunch of chickenshit snowflakes who are so perpetually fearful

that they think they have to take an AR-15 with them to go grocery shopping.

[Ahpook]

36. Yes

Fucking wimps!

My dad was petrified to go anywhere without his pistol. When I lived in DC he wanted to come visit me, but said he is packing a pistol because you know, all the "problems" there. Code words!!!!

It must super suck to go through life that terrified of everything

[dewsgirl]

4. It was like Comic Con for the MAGA crowd.

[Skittles]

5. they're gun humping COWARDS

fuck them all

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. But, it appears to have been a peaceful gathering.

[Hoyt]

11. Klan members, Nazis, 3%ers, unorganized racists, etc., is not a peaceful rally.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

12. I've seen no reports of violence.

Even if the crowd consisted of only those groups you named, which is not certain, even deplorables have the right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[Hoyt]

18. Intimidation on MLK day by a bunch of ignorant white wing racist gun-humpers

is not peaceful, anyway you cut it.

[SQUEE]

24. Yet no violence.

I was assured there was no way this could happen without bloodshed.

Maybe talk to the people of VA for choosing the date.

[Hoyt]

35. Klan/Nazi/3%er rallies on this day may not be violence/intimidation to gunners, but it is to me and

I suspect most here.

[SQUEE]

41. I saw very little representation of the people you BELIEVE to be behind this there.

You're narrative is fading Hoyt.

Pink Pistols, JPFO and even Antifa vocally supported, and marched to support our freedoms. Freedom from armed robbers, as well as racist and homophobic nut jobs in the government.

[Hoyt]

46. Didn't see any of those you listed, although I wasn't there protesting on MLK with a bunch of white

wingers.

?crop=4804,2703,x0,y400&width=1320&height=744&format=pjpg&auto=webp

[SQUEE]

47. Again, thank the state of Virginia for the date.

I wish I had you amazing talent on judging race, religion and orientation from a screen shot, how do you do it?
Perhaps your previous proffesion gave you special insight?
Democrats own guns Hoyt, even Liberals own guns Hoyt. Your false narrative and decisive ideas are not only divisive, but toxic, I have never advocated NOT voting Democratic Party because my own personal fears.

[paleotn]

50. You're fucking joking...right?

Right?

Toxic? White jackasses with shootin' irons coupled with the idear dat they a gonna take on da govumunt if they try and take dem guns.

[SQUEE]

51. See, toxic.

And wonderful regional bigotry.

Think what you want, but you'll not convince me to disarm, no more trains for my family, or yours. Thank you for your calm and rational response.

[Atticus]

94. A simple question: who is asking you to "disarm"? You don't need a 50 cal. Barrett or

an AR-15 with a 30, 50 or 200 round magazine to "defend" yourself. Or, do you?

[AncientGeezer]

112. Really?

[paleotn]

49. What they represent is violent and sick....

No different than "peaceful" nazis marching through Skokie. It's a mentality that allows Newtown, Stoneman and Columbine to occur as simply the price innocent children have to pay so they can stroke their cold steel manhood. It shows an entire segment of our population has deep seeded psychological issues, that if not addressed through legislation and mental health services, will mean MORE Newtowns, Stonemans and Columbines. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of these weak, jackass, mother fuckers. And don't give me this personal protection horseshit. They're about as likely to shoot themselves or a family member as confront an "armed robber". So, I'm particularly tired of their apologists. Easy to be an apologist when it's not YOUR 6 year old lying in a pool of their own blood in an elementary school class.

[Cosmocat]

33. S P O T O N

The whole guns rights thing has ALWAYS been an intimidation campaign.

Today was a big ass intimidation rally with a FU cherry on top by doing it on MLK day.

[AncientGeezer]

101. It was Lobby Day...set by the State of Virgina....MLK happened to be the same day.

What about the AA 2A supporters that were there? You know they were there also.

[Hoyt]

104. No one made the losers show up with their racist, gun-stroking BS. It was not mandatory.

[AncientGeezer]

105. They only get ONE Lobby day per yr...not mandatory but time sensative.

Nobody made them show up...BUT...they had the Right to show up per Virginia law.

These guys attending Lobby day are racists....I didn't know that. You know I have more AA attendee pictures
?w=1200&h=675&ixlib=react-8.6.4

You know I have more AA attendee pictures

[Hoyt]

108. The 10 white wingers behind them are likely racists, just waiting for a reason to shoot.

[AncientGeezer]

111. Tryin' way too hard dude....you have no clue what the people behind think.

You're the 1 that locks doors to keep cops out. You admitted that.

Racist...this guy?????

[Hoyt]

117. No, that man and other 4 like him yesterday are telling white wing gun-humpers to screw themselves.

I applaud them for standing up to the militias, 3%ers, NAZIs, racist groups, masked dumbf#%ks and other gun-strokers, protesting on MLK's Day.

[jmg257]

118. I think its worse than that - one group of PoC being interviewed had MAGA hats...all is lost!

[AncientGeezer]

119. Yeah...keep thinkin' it .....you're a funny guy....

It didn't go as you hoped it would....we know that.
This is a saver thread.....like the other.

[sl8]

107. Do you have a cite for that?

When did the state select Lobby Day?

Thanks.

[AncientGeezer]

113. I do not....I mistakenly thought VCDL organised on a day set by the state of Va.

It's an annual deal by VCDL.....that's my f'up.

[sl8]

114. No worries.

Last edited Wed Jan 22, 2020, 07:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Before even reading your post, I'd spent about 30 minutes searching for information on Lobby Day in Virginia. I didn't come up with anything really definitive.

Thanks for the response.

[yellowdogintexas]

121. Lobby Days are scheduled by the State Legislature in Texas

Mostly we get to visit our reps and receive recognition by the House and Senate. Lots of picture, some speeches etc

[sl8]

129. Interesting, thanks.

I don't even recall hearing the term "Lobby Day" before this story.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

43. Perhaps you missed the numerous reports of arrests of people who planned

to commit serious violence. Thankfully, police were tipped off about a number of small groups, including one who had plans to shoot from several different directions to cause chaos and a stampede, then pick off people one by one.

Sometimes, it's not what WE read, but what has happened behind the scenes due to good law enforcement detection and observation of dangerous people. And tips from the community.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

59. They didn't have plans to peaceably assemble.

Good job by law enforcement.

Those who intend to commit violence forfeit their rights. Those who intend to protest peacefully do not.

These are true whether we agree with the protesters or not.

[AncientGeezer]

106. Weren't those dirtbags arrested out of state...and 1 was a Canadian(yes)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

27. Yes, very fine people.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

58. Now that's a bridge too far.

[ramen]

63. their bridge or yours?

sorry, i am having a hard time discerning which is which.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

64. Suggested reading: U.S. Constitution, 1st Amendment

[ramen]

78. It's my favorite part.

Do you have a specific point you wanted to make surrounding it?

[azureblue]

90. I do

If this group was black, you know they would all shot / beaten / arrested, etc. This group is made up of terrorists - that is why they were strutting around with their toys - to scare people. They should have been arrested, but since they are white, they get a pass.

[ramen]

116. 100% agree, this is privilege in motion.

Imagine if the group were of any color at all.. I would anticipate very different results. No argument there. If you think I am defending these 'protesters' then let me assure you that I am not.

[AncientGeezer]

122. Really..."They should have been arrested, but since they are white, they get a pass."

I have many more attendees that weren't "white" you know, got a pass.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

80. Orange shiticus fits in perfectly.

[ramen]

62. Phew. Thank god that this particular rally of morons was peaceful.

Otherwise, we might have to acknowledge that their ideology is based solely in racist fearmongering garbage cloaked in states' rights and misappriated originalism. Close one!

tldr: fuck these people. a lynch mob without a noose is still a lynch mob.

[tenderfoot]

65. You seem impressed...

[Hermit-The-Prog]

66. I am. We know there are nutjobs looking for excuses to terrorize.

The fact that this gathering of armed protesters went full course without a mass murder or attempted murder is a welcome surprise. I think it is safe to assume that the good people of Virginia are relieved to have not had a repeat of Charlottesville.

Law enforcement prepared and acted.

[tenderfoot]

67. I don't recall seeing much of a law enforcement presence...

must have been because of all the white angry men that attended. They were afraid they'd mistake one of their own as one of the participants had a fire fight broken out.

Glad you don't have to worry about getting a background check. Happy fearing.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

68. the emergency ban resulted from law enforcement intel

You may want to look around for other reports of some violent nutjobs arrested before they could get to the state. There have been threads by DUers in Virginia. Also, above, there is a reference to arrests in the post: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=12890847

Why would I "worry about getting a background check"? What should I be "happy fearing"? I don't understand you.

[Atticus]

77. I saw lots of LEOs, including a few uniformed idiots who joined the gun fetishists. nt

[The Wizard]

76. One pack of firecrackers

changes the equation.

[maxrandb]

8. WTF? No Codpieces?!

Probably sold out of the infant size Codpieces.

[sprinkleeninow]

23. Yah, "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".....

shrub, the mad cowboy on the battleship...🙄

[Hoyt]

9. White wing racists. I doubt gunz were the real attraction.

[aikoaiko]

10. Self-defense, to the point of killing aggressors, is a legitimate reason to own a gun.

You might say the basic design of the AR15 was created for war. Yes it was

So was the pump-action or autoloading shotgun you use to shoot ducks.

So was the bolt-action rifle used to shoot deer.

The distinctions you're making just don't make sense.

[Atticus]

21. They make sense if you are not disingenuous. nt

[metalbot]

32. Let's put a slightly different way

There's absolutely no constitutional protection of hunting. It would be Constitutional for hunting to be outlawed in every state and on every piece of land owned by the federal government. Even if an individual state had some constitutional protection, the federal government could certainly use the same argument used by Wickard v Filburn to act nationally.

So what would be the relevance to a bunch of guys showing up with bird guns and hunting rifles?

The whole point of the second amendment related to the need for a civilian populace (with or without the supporting concept of a militia depending on how you choose to read the amendment) to kill PEOPLE, or at least to have the threat of killing people as a credible counter to other people who were armed.

[Atticus]

48. Gee, I guess you are right. The constitution doesn't even mention the word "militia", does it?

Oh---wait-------

[reACTIONary]

56. The whole point of the second amendment....

.... was to prevent the federal government from establishing a standing army as the sole defense of the nation. As it turned out, however, a standing professional army is the sole practical defense of the nation and, de facto, the only defense of the nation.

An armed citizenry is a quaint, obsolete ideological obsession, that was almost obsolete before the bill of rights was even ratified.

[USALiberal]

124. LOL, ok! nt

[Maine-i-acs]

13. "A Well-regulated Militia" ...

Too many People who love the second amendment cannot respect the FIRST FOUR WORDS of it ...

[B Stieg]

16. +1,000 nt

clap: :

[Beartracks]

25. The Second Amendment in clear language.

The 2nd Amendment is kind of written a little funny; re-phrasing with "because" helps out a lot:

"Because a well regulated Militia is necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."

The Founding Fathers led with the importance of having a well-regulated militia.
The purpose of the Amendment is to ensure the country has that militia, not to ensure that each citizen can have a gun -- otherwise they would have led with that part of the sentence instead of the other way around. At the time, the country did not have a standing army, but now and for a long time we have had such an army -- a "well-regulated militia" -- so the purpose of the Amendment has been fulfilled. Restrictions on private gun ownership, whether in terms of types of weapons, or how and when they are obtained, or whether each and every citizen of "the people" is eminently and permanently eligible for gun ownership, can be implemented -- and probably should be, for the security of the people -- without violating the spirit of intent of the Amendment.

Just my two cents.

==============

[AZ8theist]

54. A "Well regulated militia" was needed to round up runaway slaves. No other purpose at the time...

[Maine-i-acs]

57. Except defending against indigenous attacks and British oppression.

Slavery was bad.
Genocide against the indigenous peoples was bad.
But we were also under the thumb of a foreign entity at the time.

Colonists needed to muster for their common defense and also wanted to keep track of where the muskets and powder were.

My home city was burned to the ground, once by indigenous peoples led by the French, and secondly by General Mowatt's ships. (the third by a rogue fireworks display).

[jmg257]

81. You should read the Constitution again...

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States..."

15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

Of course putting down slave insurrections were considered an important function, one very much discussed in the ratification debates in states like VA, but the Militias were VITAL - the people, armed by themselves, and uniformly well-regulated - were THE front line of defense for securing the guarantees made in the Constitution, all in the hope in minimizing the need and pretext for large standing armies. Washington petitioned the 1st congresses numerous times to come up with Militia Acts.

Also of course all this intent in NO way resemble the clowns we saw yesterday all proud of their private militias and ridiculous riot gear.

On edit - the Militia Acts may help too:

"That whenever the United States shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion from any foreign nation or Indian tribe, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, to call forth such number of the militia of the state or states most convenient to the place of danger or scene of action as he may judge necessary to repel such invasion, and to issue his orders for that purpose, to such officer or officers of the militia as he shall think proper; and in case of an insurrection in any state, against the government thereof, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, on application of the legislature of such state, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) to call forth such number of the militia of any other state or states, as may be applied for, or as he may judge sufficient to suppress such insurrection."

That whenever the laws of the United States shall be opposed or the execution thereof obstructed, in any state, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by this act, the same being notified to the President of the United States, by an associate justice or the district judge, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to call forth the militia of such state to suppress such combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed"

[AZ8theist]

125. I have read the Constitution. Have you read The Fugitive Slave Clause?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugitive_Slave_Clause

Reading the document is one thing, understanding the history at the time is another. The south was unable to control their slave population (which far outnumbered the slave holders) such that many compromises were made in order to get ratification. One being the use of militias.

[jmg257]

128. As mentioned above - agree slaves was PART of Militia role.

Debates say as much.
There was much more for them to do. And they were used in those other roles, by Washington for instance.

Thanks - I’ll read what you posted!

[spike jones]

15. Honey, does this holster make me look fat?

&exph=400&expw=600&q=fat+gun+owner+picture+hostler&selectedindex=9&qpvt=fat+gun+owner+picture+hostler&ajaxhist=0&vt=0

[Butterflylady]

34. Yes!!!!

[Docreed2003]

17. Malcolm Nance said it best

They looked liked Chairborne operators from MealTeamSix

[warmfeet]

19. K and R.

Pathetic, posturing pustules. They are nothing but pimples on the buttocks of humanity. Time to lance, and drain that pus.

[Perseus]

20. The Darwin Award March

[SCVDem]

22. I get my 1911 A1 Colt 45 on Thursday.

Am I a gun nut? Nope! Just a Marine Corps veteran who refuses to let these pussy ass cowards make me look bad!

This is my only firearm and I am highly trained!

Don't push your bullshit agenda on me!

I don't need to cower behind a 2nd amendment!

[gay texan]

28. I had to use a firearm for it's intended purpose today

and i don't like it, but it had to be done. A animal was trying to kill my outside cats, i got it in an 80 yard shot. I hate that i had to do that, but there was simply no other choice. I feel like shit for having to take the life of something...

[SCVDem]

38. I hope for only paper

and tin!

[PatrickforO]

26. Well, certainly present company excepted, Atticus.

So...you really think these men might be compensating for something?

[weissmam]

29. typically most of the giun nuts are just

NUTs and have small you know what

[Eko]

30. Protesting laws that you don't like with firearms says a lot about their belief in the Constitution.

It absolutely implies violence if you don't get your way.

[relayerbob]

31. Thank you

And yes, as another gray-haired white dude, I want nothing to do with those cowards flaunting their penis substitutes. Those are the dopes and babies, indeed.

[Opel_Justwax]

37. I'd say that they are a group of wanna be soldiers.

[SCVDem]

42. Who would run like hell

at the first shot.

These asshats are so fat they make a bigger target!

Or maybe they never considered that.

[90-percent]

39. My righty buds post the same two pics

of maybe the two black gun nuts at the rally. I guess the message is sometimes blacks have to cosplay to compensate for a small penis also? Probably more than two, but geeez, what a biased and false slant on the demographics of today's Richmond crowd.

The dorkiest gun nutters are experiencing 15 minutes of internet fame today. Prob an incel, but he looked to be enjoying all the attention.


-90% Jimmy

[The Mouth]

120. The new face of the NRA :-)

[AtheistCrusader]

69. You realize this is a right-wing meme targeting Michael Moore, right?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

70. You can't be serious

Look at the cosplayers who were at that demonstration. Most of them have so much junk in the trunk they'd have a massive coronary is they did any sort of military training.

The meme(s) "Meal team six" (yes there are several of them) are clearly aimed at people like these.

[AtheistCrusader]

71. That is Michael Moore's head photoshopped onto some overweight 'tacticool' guy.

It was created in response to Moore's 'we're coming for you' anti-trump tweets and other activities.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

72. Oh spare me.

It's an old meme that' was around before Trump was in the Whitehouse.

Welcome to ignore.

[AtheistCrusader]

73. Ignore all you want. That is Michael Moore's head. You are peddling a right wing meme in your glee

to fat shame people you don't like. With your attention to detail, I suppose it's fine if you ignore me too.

Here's the original head:

[JBoy]

44. Mall Ninjas n/t

[AllaN01Bear]

45. if they want to play military personnel, then let there be a draft and let these people get

selected first . this should fit the well regulated militia part well.

[MontanaFarmer]

52. They're a joke.

I, like many in this thread, own and use guns for hunting (upland birds, big game) and for protection of property, in this case farm animals and pets. The fact that these clowns with their AR-15s think they speak for the average gun owner is almost comical. Except it's also scary. The "protection from tyranny" argument slays me, always has. "Need my AR for when the damn gummint comes after me." 1) you're talking about the damn US military, you clowns. If the us government ever turned tyrannical, its instrument is the US DAMN MILITARY!! WTF is your AR 15, or all the AR 15s on earth, in the face of that? 2) most of them have a "support the troops" sticker on their car. You know, the instruments of potential tyranny from up above? Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid.

[Mersky]

60. Rec'd for 'penis substitute'

(Lol, I’m gonna have to borrow that.)

And generally agreeing with everything you said.

[Wawannabe]

61. And these people have the weapons!

And body armor and ammunition. Most liberal thinkers do not own guns as weapons against other humans and a good many don’t own any weapons. It kinda puts us in a grave position should there ever be a “rallying cry”. It’s hard to imagine how far all this has come in a relatively short period.

[dustyscamp]

74. ...

[img][/img]

Some special little guy
[img][/img]

[PJMcK]

79. Those are such radical ideas!

How will the weekend warriors ever be able to protect Democracy from Tyranny?!

[mnhtnbb]

75. For an interesting historical perspective

on the reason for the 2nd amendment, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/02/22/what-the-second-amendment-really-meant-to-the-founders/

Free blacks, slaves, and Indians were originally excluded from gun ownership under the 2nd amendment. I don't think it was a coincidence that all these white male gun advocates were strutting their killing machines on a day meant to honor Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Liberal In Texas]

82. Cosplay for morons.

The brainwashed with their dangerous toys.

And not a black face among them.

[WVJoe]

83. There were quite a few minority groups represented

Including African Americans.

Tried to edit to add pics but don’t know how.

https://www.fultonsun.com/news/national/story/2020/jan/21/pro-gun-rally-ends-peacefully/813060/

[marble falls]

84. So what proportion do you think they made up? I sure didn't see any on the news ...

were you there?

[WVJoe]

85. No

I wasn’t there. If you look at some of the pictures you will see some diversity. I’m sure it is a smaller % than the national population, probably equal to the % you see in rural areas, where a lot of the protesters are from.

[marble falls]

87. So these "protester" were a bunch of marginal hayseeds? They really don't represent the majority ...

of the US, do they?

[WVJoe]

89. Not sure what you're getting at...

Because a group of people are a minority they shouldn’t have a say?

[marble falls]

93. Everybody deserves a right to say, but not everything a marginal group (gun owners) ...

says needs to made law. Or unmade as law.

[AtheistCrusader]

96. I don't think this is a safe line of rationale.

I get it, but this event is so politicized, every single aspect of it, including the reporting, is suspect.

There were a lot of minorities there. There were some BLM, I saw photos of a group of Koreans, there were Pink Pistols. On the political side, there were ANTIFA there, and everyone got along fine.

If you want to see photos of the diversity that was present, you'll have to venture into right-wing media, which sucks. Both because, who the fuck wants to give them clicks and page visits, and also, they are deliberately using that coverage to highlight minorities because this one example is convenient to their political stance on the 2nd amendment, and for no other reason.

Like, technically, DU's own site rules prevent me from linking to the image hosts/news sites that hold the photos that could be used to answer your original question. (And I don't want to send traffic there, because they get paid.)

Between Orwell and Huxley, I think Huxley had it right. I used to think the political tensions would just work out over time, but now I'm not so sure. Things have changed.

[marble falls]

97. You had me until "RW media". I think the coverage of this was too low key but was ...

balanced. I also think that if there was any significant number of PoC on what is commonly known as a white male issue and on MLK day, that would be front page news and all media - RW thru LW - would be covering the hell out of it from different angles.

The RW would be crowing "see this is a cross the board issue" and the LW would be saying "what are these PoC thinking?".

[AtheistCrusader]

99. The right wing IS crowing that.

But it's also disingenuous because 99% of the time, they couldn't give a shit less about minorities. Just on this one issue, the optics of minorities participating benefits them. Basically they're using them to control the optics.

So, yes, there were minorities there. But to your point, maybe not statistically relevant numbers. I can't tell, because nobody I trust to be objective has in any useful way captured that data.

There are certainly photos circulating of diverse members of the protest, but what's relevant? A hundred unique individuals? 500? I don't know. (I have not seen as many as 100 distinct individuals, in what I have seen and what has crossed my facebook feed.)

[marble falls]

103. We agree.

[AtheistCrusader]

95. Conservative leaning news made a point to showcase a variety of minorities at the rally.

Center/left media avoided them. One side is over-representing, the other under-represented.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. Statistically, they were likely a small number of participants, but I am uncomfortable with the narrative being so tightly controlled I have to deliberately seek out different forms of news media to get the whole picture.

It's supposed to be the fucking news, an impartial reflection of the facts/events as they happened. Not pre-chewed viewpoints to be consumed without challenging the target audience's specific personal views.

[marble falls]

98. A show case of a hand full in a crowd of 15,000+ people who look exactly like me.

[AtheistCrusader]

100. I would say, from what I saw, the crowd was overwhelmingly white and male.

But LIT said "And not a black face among them." and that is only a valid conclusion from one side of the media's point of view. (I realize this was not your claim.)

[marble falls]

102. No, but my claim is few enough to count as none. You and I are realists.

[marble falls]

88. That's one.

[Blue_Tires]

86. +1

[heckles65]

91. I imagine a lot of people in Yugoslavia in 1991,

or India/Pakistan in 1947 looked much the same way. The old regime is gone and these people are hoping, hoping they will get what they've dreamed of their entire wretched lives: the chance to kill Those People.

[samir.g]

109. in a sane society they would all be in PRISON

for intimidating with weapons of war

[Rogerpatterson]

110. Gun rally

I heard it compared to a Star Trek convention with everyone in costume

[jmg257]

115. Its good to know that all these fat, hayseed, costumed punks are

nothing we need to worry about.

Small penises and video gaming/Rambo fantasy children with their toys are an annoyance, but isn't it great to realize that all the violence warnings came to nothing, and apparently they never will.

According to most threads - just mock them, make fun of 'em all, have a good laugh at their expense, and move on!

[tazkcmo]

127. They paid for their cammo

I got paid to wear it. Stupid posers.