

P.O. Box 81, Swarthmore, PA, 19081-- brandywine@juno.com (610) 544-1818
MEDIA, PA - NO MORE OF THE SAME: BUSH WAR MCCAIN Demonstration Sept 22, 2008
YESTERDAY, September 22, John McCain and Sarah Palin came
to "Everybody's Home Town", Media, PA, the seat of Delaware
County. Media, PA was the birthplace of the Brandywine Peace
Community in 1977 and we have held many demonstrations in
Media over the years.
Yesterday, as busloads of Republicans (and undoubtedly more than
a few of just curious), rode by Media's main intersection at Baltimore
Pike and Providence Road, we vigiled with signs and banners and
chanted: "NO MORE OF THE SAME: BUSH WAR & MCCAIN"
beginning at 1:30PM. At 3:30PM, we walked up Baltimore Pike and
through Media to reach the McCain/Palin Victory Rally, where we
continued the chant holding for our message of "NO MORE OF THE
SAME...". See video by Monique Frugier at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAvTywx7sIM
Video link by Keystone Progress that covers more of the wider demonstration on Monday, September 22:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnp91OSclZI
Many thanks to all our friends from Veterans for Peace #31, the
Main Line Peace Coalition, the Delco Green Party, others. Many
thanks to Melissa Elliottwho stayed up late to make the gorgeously
bold lead banner. Peace and Thanks! Below see listings of
upcoming peace and anti-war expressions. Keep the chant going!
Protesters, Dems voice their opposition
By: Amy Brisson, Delco Daily Times
09/22/2008
MEDIA - Republican White House hopefuls Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin may have come to Delaware County Monday afternoon to energize their own base, but they sure managed to do a good job of exciting their opponents' supporters, as well.
"No more of the same! Bush, war and McCain!" chanted a group with the Brandywine Peace Community, as GOP voters dressed in red lined up to enter the rally.
The event drew more than 400 protesters, estimated Mike Morrill, a Keystone Progress employee who helped arrange for a variety of progressive groups to make an appearance. Morrill said the Delaware County turnout was "by far the largest" he had seen among protests around the commonwealth.
The reasons for opposition were diverse, with one woman waving a "Hockey Mom for Obama" sign standing hip-to-hip with a man toting an "I'm just here for the riot" placard. Some signs made the most of technology, putting Palin's head on a skimpy, bikini-clad body, or melding McCain's face with President George Bush's.
And almost everyone had a different bone to pick with the candidates' positions.
"We're tired of the war and body bags coming in. We need peace, not war," said Anthony Novotny of the Havertown section of Haverford while holding up one end of an anti-war banner.
At the intersection of State Street and Veterans Square, a gathering of women in pink Planned Parenthood shirts shook pro-choice signs.
"Someone has to stand up for women's rights," said Kalai Herko, a Glenolden resident who works at the Media Planned Parenthood clinic. "The world is changing, and we're really sick of the same old same old."
One thing the crowd seemed to agree on was an effort to make their voices heard during the speeches.
Protesters were contained behind yellow police tape almost a block away from the main rally in front of the Media Courthouse. But they could still be heard chanting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's name all the way up to the stage.
While most of the protests went off peacefully, several angry GOP supporters exchanged verbal volleys as they walked by. One man chanted back at the Planned Parenthood group to "Keep your legs closed," and another Obama supporter said he was called a pedophile.
There was one report of an altercation involving a protester, but it could not be confirmed by police Monday night.
The day's loud protests underscore the importance Delaware County will play in the upcoming election, prominent county Democrats said after the event.
"They had a rally and it was a great rally for them, and it energized their voters, I'm sure. And Obama and Biden are going to carry the county," said Democratic Party Chairman Cliff Wilson. "There really isn't any question in my mind that the voters in Delaware County are going to go with the Democratic ticket."
He pointed out the surge in Democratic registrations during the primary season, and the fact that Democratic candidates have carried the county for the past 20 years.
Nether Providence Democratic leader David Landau said Palin's presence on the Republic ticket is unlikely to sway most of the area's voters.
"This is a moderate county. It is not extremely liberal, it is not extremely conservative," said Landau. "Her views are not going to help McCain in this county because she is so extreme. She is so out of step."
Right or wrong, one thing is for sure: Delaware County hasn't seen the last of its heavyweight visits leading up to the election.
"This is a pivotal county," said Wilson. "The person who wins Delaware County will win Pennsylvania. And whoever wins Pennsylvania will become president."