Attention local peace
activists:
We think it is
perfectly safe to attend the "virtual rally" US Representative Tom
Allen is hosting tomorrow against the Iraq war. I know, I know - you wouldn't
really think so, given Allen's general practice of having protestors arrested.
But we here at the
Portland Phoenix have a sneaking suspicion that people who attend the rally
will not be arrested (at least not at Allen's request). You can mark the fifth
anniversary of the Congressional vote to authorize using force in Iraq with
Tom, without fear.
And even though the
rally starts at 5 pm, those who stay past regular working hours will not be
arrested, either, we think.
Nor will people who
continue protesting after the rally's scheduled end time, of 5 pm on Friday,
October 12.
Well, not unless you're
at Allen's congressional offices, in which case you're on your own and should
write the phone number of a good lawyer on your arm with a Sharpie.
We feel especially
certain about giving you these pieces of information because the rally is, as
noted earlier, virtual - that is, online. So you will not actually be
protesting in a public place at all - rather, you can protest from your couch,
or futon, or your front porch.
So, if you want to
register your protest against the Iraq war in an online forum only viewable to
people who go looking for it, visit www.tomallen.org/rally. If you want to tell
the world that you oppose the war, go stand outside somewhere.
But protesting online is much
better, in the eyes of the man who wants your vote for Senate. And it's better
for you, too. Because as we all know, if you protested in a public place, he'd
have you arrested.
PS - This isn't legal
advice, so if you get arrested, don't look at us. But do look at Tom Allen - he
has ordered the arrest of dozens of his constituents just this year!