Boston TV-5: Protesters Greet Ashcroft On Patriot Act

[Atlant]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/2465252/detail.html

Protesters Greet Ashcroft On Patriot Act
Attorney General To Speak On Anti-Terrorism Law

BOSTON -- U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft arrived in Boston Tuesday to talk to police about a new anti-terrorism law, which some protesters oppose.

EXCLUSIVE
Join Natalie Jacobson for a sit-down interview with John Ashcroft tonight at 6
The controversial Patriot Act, some people say, violates the very meaning of the U.S. Constitution and dozens of protesters gathered in front of Faneuil Hall chanting slogans.

Ashcroft's visit is part of a 16-city tour to tell the public about the Patriot Act, which was passed six weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. The aim of the law is to prevent future attacks. Ashcrofts remarks were made to police and law enforcement officials.

"Thanks to you we are preserving lives and liberty and the rule of law. Thanks to you we are winning the war on terror," Ashcroft said.

"Our greatest memorial to those who have passed is to have the lives and liberties of those yet to come," said Ashcroft.

<snip>

The crowd, which gathered at 8 a.m. and chanted throughout Ashcroft's speech, carried signs saying: "Ashcroft's Patriot Act: The work of a traitor", "Be a real patriot - oppose the Patriot Act" and "Ashcroft more evil than Steinbrenner," a reference to the owner of the New York Yankees.

[Atlant]

1. Another story...

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/252/region/Ashcroft_defends_Patriot_Act_i%3A.shtml

Ashcroft defends Patriot Act in historic home of Boston patriots

By Jennifer Peter, Associated Press, 9/9/2003 11:11

<snip>

''Shame, shame, shame,'' they chanted as Ashcroft was whisked away through the barricades in a car with tinted windows.

''This is eroding our liberties,'' said Christine Downing, 58, of the Charlestown section of Boston. ''It's an end run around the Bill of Rights.''

<snip>

Ashcroft said the act was ''rooted in the Constitution and the liberties protected in that great document.''

[0rganism]

5. Ashcroft says "rooted in", but means "uprooting"

He's been hangin' out with shrub too long. By the time 2005 rolls around, he won't be able to speak without a teleprompter.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Thanks for the links!

:hi:

[prolesunited]

3. Way to make news Boston-area DUers!

:toast:

This one is funny and cuts right to the heart: "Ashcroft more evil than Steinbrenner"

Funny how hundreds of protesters gets turned into dozens. You should call them on that distortion.

Also, don't forget to weigh in on the poll.

[gratuitous]

6. Ashcroft more evil than Steinbrenner

Sums it up nicely.

[0007]

10. And that is saying a bundle

Steinbrenner is the biggest piece of shit that ever lived. And could NY get rid of him about twelve years ago? Fuck NO!
Oh for a little while maybe and that didn't change a thing.

Now he's making commericals! Give me a fucking break!

To beat Steinbrenner ya gotta pretty bad. John Ashcroft is a snake of the lowest order.

[yankeedem]

21. Jealous much?

Don't make this worthy cause a joke by comparing Ashcroft, who is taking your rights away everyday, with a man who happens to own a baseball team that beats yours every year.

Geez, did they chant Yankees suck at the rally too? Get over it Boston.

[Pastiche423]

15. Da Poll

Choice Votes Percentage of 929 Votes

It's necessary to prevent terrorism. 260 28%

It's a threat to our civil liberties. 624 67%

I'm not sure 45 5%

[kainah]

17. Yes, but

at least the press seems to be covering protests again. That's a good sign. Since the press has never reported accurate numbers for protests, I'm not going to hold my breath for that. I'm just glad that they aren't being ignored. :hippie:

[Bandit]

4. "dozens of protesters gathered " ~~Still whores I see

At least they reported it. :shrug:

[WilliamPitt]

7. It was a good 300+ crowd

[Zee Miller]

11. Bandit, check this out!!

I can't believe it.

Boston Globe is quoting this police estimate!!

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/252/region/Ashcroft_defends_Patriot_Act_i:.shtml

Boston City Police estimate there were 1,200 protesters on hand outside Faneuil Hall during Ashcroft's speech.

You know, I usually ask a cop or two for an estimate. But for them to report this, too, wow.

[Atlant]

13. So Natalie only missed by a factor of 50 -- Way to go, Nat!

("Dozens" could be as few as 24, so 1200 is 50 times more.)

[Zee Miller]

14. Channel 7 just had footage

Good footage, with interviews, too, but then they quoted Ashcroft as saying we were just 1,200 people "out of touch" with the majority!

They also had quite a different breakdown from Channel 4 as to what "polls say."

[Zee Miller]

8. "dozens?" Try hundreds!

There were over 500 people there, easily. I asked a show promoter who is used to sizing crowds and he said there was well over my own estimate of 500.

And before the protest had even gathered a friend of mine heard on a morning news report that "dozens" were "expected" , so therefore, after the protest, that should've been amended to "dozens were expected but hundreds showed up..."

But "dozens" must have been a predetermined element in their storyline, along with saying "protesters" oppose the Act. How about *citizens* oppose the new Patriot Act (which is to be called the Victory Act) and the current Patriot Act, too?

Oh, and if Ashcroft is touring "to tell the public about the Patriot Act" (which I read verbatim everywhere) why is the public locked out of these speeches?

The protest was great, though; NYC citizens were blocked from the event there, but we got to press right up to the motorcade and yell "Traitor!" and "Shame!" face to face with Ashcroft! You can't beat that. I hope he regrets choosing Fanueil Hall.

[Vikingking66]

9. only in Boston...

Love the protest, but how did the Red Sox Nation get in?

[Atlant]

12. Hey -- we run a *BIG* tent up here! (NT)

[dArKeR]

16. Email feedback link. (Let's start getting a spine. Pound these liars!)

Their contact/feedback - you can do one then hit your back button and send it to their other departments:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/station/

---------------

BostonChannel.com - TV 5,

'Boston police estimate 1200', which is surely an incorrect low figure; more like 2000, but you report 'dozens'.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/252/region/Ashcroft_defends_Patriot_Act_i:.shtml

You should lose your FCC license and be sued for Racketeering, RICO.

Your story:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/2465252/detail.html

We never forgot! Unreliable lying news source. Marked liars and spreading through 'dozens' of millions of Internet users. There goes your advertisers!
--------------

[kainah]

18. my note to them

It's curious that your reporter says "dozens" showed up to protest Attorney General Ashcroft and the Patriot Act. All other news sources suggest the number of demonstrators was at least in the hundreds. I notice that this reporter is also scheduled for an interview this evening with Ashcroft. This didn't influence her reporting, did it?

[Zhade]

19. Sometimes I just LOVE technology!

I pounded every single department contact - in less than three minutes.

People, take dArKeR's advice and pound the ever-loving crap outta these whores. It's so easy it's not even funny!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

20. Done!

:-)

[David Zephyr]

22. Thanks for the Link, Atlant.

n/t

[Atlant]

23. You're welcome. Now everyone E-Mail WCVB about "Nat's Numbers". (NT)