A Single Southern Guy in America

February 24, 2004

Evil Firefighters

Tonight I wrote a statement for a friend of mine regarding what the"Firefighters for Kerry" did on the night of the debate rally during the New Hampshire primary. As much as I love fire fighters (especially considering my dad is a captain of a firefighting company), I feel as if you all should now what they did in New Hampsire. In any event, you get to see at least a small part of the campaign trail...

We had completed our set up and preparations by 5 p.m. that day in cooperation and with collegial relations with the other campaigns present at the designated visibility area. At the time, the vast majority of participants consisted of Clark and Dean campaign supporters. However, it was understood that the Kerry campaign supporters intended on gathering approximately a 1000 yards away, and march down into the designated visibility area where all of the other campaigns were assembled. Clearly, this was outside of the approved area for visibility activities and displayed a disregard for the campus officials' directives regarding campaign activities for the event.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., I notified our field team leader that I intended to walk up the hill to the area where the Kerry campaign supporters were expected to march from to determine if there was an assembly of supporters and to gauge when they may be preparing to enter the visibility area. Upon reaching the top of the hill I observed several full parking lots and no notable numbers of campaign supporters of any campaign. Crossing the street to return to the designated visibility areas, I noticed a gentleman in a yellow �Firefighters for Kerry� tee shirt. I asked if he was a firefighter to which he responded to affirmatively. I related that my father was a captain of a Little Fire Department Ladder company. To this, he offered that there were some firefighters from Little Rock with their group and was invited to enter the pub where they were assembled before making their march down to the visibility area. The gentleman brought me in to visit with the Little Rock firefighters, one of whom was Ed Jaros, president of the Little Rock firefighters union.

Upon entering the pub, I was conducted to the Little Rock firefighters who were in the back corner of the establishment. While walking to them, I observed the vast majority of the men and women in the yellow �Firefighters for Kerry� tee shirts enjoying large mugs of draft beer. I did not accept nor drink any alcoholic beverages. After visiting with the Little Rock firefighters among the �Firefighters for Kerry� group, I took my leave and returned to the visibility area and continued to assist our field team to organize our supporters.

As part of our further visibility efforts and due to the large numbers of supporters of all the campaigns arriving, our supporters and the Dean supporters moved to also display signs on the sidewalks on both sides of the street leading up towards the area from where the Kerry supporters were expected to march down. Shortly before the actual debate event was to begin, the Kerry supporters began their march down the road. They were led by a team of bagpipes and a phalanx of people wearing �Firefighters for Kerry� tee shirts. I was on the left side of the street (if facing uphill) leading our supporters. In the confusion of the moment supporters from all the campaigns began to converge in the street as the Kerry supporters came down the hill. Somehow, I found myself in the front of group of six Kerry supporters carrying a banner. Though I did my utmost to get out of their way as they came down the street, they quickly overtook me. As I continued to move towards my right as the mass of us moved downhill, I felt the unmistakable reach of an arm from behind me, around my right shoulder, and with a hand grasped around my neck. Over my left shoulder, I looked the man in the "Firefighters for Kerry� tee shirt in the eye and advised him to not assault me. He began to violently pull against my throat and neck in an effort to throw me to the ground. I spun out of his grasp and began to seek a law enforcement officer. As I continued to walk down the hill, one of my colleagues ran to me very distraught. She explained that she had been shoved to the ground by a man with the bagpipe group holding the ceremonial mace. Together she and I found the first law enforcement officer near us.

While explaining to the officer what had happened to each of us, the officer turned and looked towards the continuing movement of the Kerry supporters into the visibility area. Approximately four feet from us stood a young man wearing Dean campaign paraphernalia and glasses facing away from the oncoming group of Kerry supporters. Literally seconds later, the officer, my colleague, and I watched in disbelief as another man in a �Firefighters for Kerry� tee shirt struck the Dean supporter without provocation, knocking his glasses off of his face. The officer was clearly ill prepared for the developing unrest and managed an admonition to the man without attempting to apprehend him. Trained as a civil affairs specialist in the United States Army, it is my opinion that the actions of the Kerry supporters and specifically the supporters in the �Firefighters for Kerry� tee shirts were criminal and bordered on inciting a riot.

Posted by Adam H at February 24, 2004 04:50 AM ~ Link Cosmos | Trackbacks (0)

Comments

Why didnt you take this up with the IAFF or ask around with the people you know within the department. These are actions unbecoming to a firefighter and its a shame the everyone lumps us together. If it was the "City Parks and Rec" supporters for Kerry, would you think all parks and rec folks are "EVIL"?

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2004 12:00 PM