Asheville unites against hate rally in downtown.

[brainshrub]

As you may remember, last week a group of fundamentalists had a hate rally here in Asheville, NC. I asked DUers for ideas for posters to display at the counter-rally.

As promised here are the signs we made from your suggestions.

This first one was suggested by Calmblueocean:



I was able to get into the pro-bigotry crowd by displaying the other side of the poster, which read: "EVE NOT STEVE!" Then I turned around, flipped over the sign with the message you see here and had my partner-in-crime, blogger Althea of AtHomeAsheville, snap a few pictures.

This next one was suggested by Leftstreet:



Here is the advertisement the fundies used to promote their rally. It just shows what kind of ignorance we were up against:



And just for fun, here is a picture that shows the irony of having the hate-rally in the shadow of the Vance Monument:



There are more signs and pictures. You can see the entire collection here: www.brainshrub.com/asheville-against-hate

[MadMaddie]

1. Good Job!! Thanks for sharing!!

[CottonBear]

2. Love the first poster! Did they notice?

Sorry to know there are such hate groups in your lovely town. My whole family is from that area.

[brainshrub]

4. At first they didn't, but when people started going "hey!" I left ASAP.

Every town has a group of wingnuts like this. By and large, Asheville is very gay-friendly.

[CottonBear]

5. I'm glad you got going before they got ugly (or uglier.)

I was just in Asheville last summer. My mom and I attended a horticultural conference at Haywood Community College. We also toured a beautiful garden at a restored house hotel near downtown and we toured the Biltmore topiary display and the winery. My mom grew up in Clyde.

[zbdent]

20. I can understand your desire to get out while the getting's good, but

it would have been nice to put the "compassionate conservatives" on trial using the video footage shot by cop #2 - them assaulting you "unprovoked" . . .

[kevinbgoode]

3. I'm beginning to think we should start rallying

for the right to deny evangelical extremists access to goods and services, employment, etc. Why should these morons be provided constitutional protection for their CHOSEN beliefs that consist of nothing more than demanding the right to persecute others?

[xchrom]

6. i think should start protesting them at their churches.

why should we leave them in peace as they come and go from their temples of hate?

[MuseRider]

7. WTG Brainshrub!

That is Beeee you teeee fullll!

You are so good.

And now that some nice person explained to me what NGU meant (I could not believe I did not know it!) I can say...NGU!

[brainshrub]

12. I have not idea what WTG or NGU means.

me <--- Very unhip.

Care to let me in on the secret?

I couldn't be as active as I am without the spiritual, moral and intellectual support from DUers like you.

:hug:

[MuseRider]

13. Here you go my friend.

WTG way to go

NGU never give up

I have had to ask some of the dumbest questions around here. I will never forget asking someone in the lounge what STFU meant. I felt so stupid.

You are too hip. I know hip when I see hip, you are hip.

[dogday]

8. Ashville is a beautiful town

But it has it's fundies...

[brainshrub]

14. Asheville is not that bad.

There was a huge outcry against this hate-rally from the community it was announced. Especially once it was revealed out that the organizer of the rally is an advisor to Charles Taylor: A Republican so corrupt, even local conservatives wince when you say his name!

It is suspected that rally was an attempt by the Taylor campaign to create a wedge issue for the coming election.

[Sequoia]

9. Hey...that's my home town!!!

Greetings from Northern California. People here call Asheville, NC the little San Francisco. I miss you all! Keep up the good work over there.

[Richard Steele]

10. WTG brainshrub!!!

LOL, that 'secretly gay' sign is too funny!

[underpants]

11. Asheville has been advertising a LOT in Richmond lately

I have noticed the ads. Good ones too.

The flier for this rally seems to fit right into what my sig line is talking about.

[brainshrub]

15. Come on down! Mi casa et su casa!

Seriously, I've been reading your posts for years - you aren't a stranger! Come down and let me be your host.

We'll have a blast!

[blindpig]

16. Good work!

Undoubtably the coolest town in the South. Used to go up there a bit for the music, not much lately.

How did Asheville get to be so cool anyway? Considering the environs I was pretty amazed when I first "discovered" the place.

[Iris]

17. I was there!

We were there for a vacation (in a liberal oasis!) When we heard about this, we felt compelled to go.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. LOL I remember that monument!

What an appropriate place for this rally.

:rofl:

Your pictures are great. Awesome job!!

[Thtwudbeme]

19. Check your pm

;)

[calmblueocean]

21. I love DU!

Only on DU does a suggestion on one thread one day become a protest sign the next! :) I feel like a little bit of me was at that protest. The photo turned out great!

That flyer was particularly odious, too. Fantastic job getting out there, Brainshrub!

[left of center]

22. How large was the fundie crowd? How large was the protest

crowd?

That advertisement had hardcore fundie talk.

What were they actually saying? What is the deal with the Ski resort?

[libnnc]

23. Exxxcellent!

Bwwaahaaaa! :evilgrin:

Cheers to you from a Haywood County girl. :toast: