I am feeling like a hippie just knowing Wyldflower, hell, protest is sexy. Maybe if everyone knew that the protest moment started the summer of love, this whole thing can work out after all.

... in the latest episode...

During the last few days, the security guard who signed the complaint against Mr. Downs was fired from his $8-an-hour job that he had held for nine years. Our organizers had spoken with him and he apparently is sympathetic to our cause. He has stated that he was told by his supervisor that he MUST sign that complaint. (He will be talking on various radio shows this week.) Our organizers, believing that Mr. Williams is being scapegoated, added a demand for his reinstatement to the demands for clarification of policy and for an apology to Mr. Downs and to all people who feel intimidated about shopping in the mall while wearing a tee shirt or button advocating peace.

Women Against War and other protesters arrived at Crossgates mall today around noon. Our organizers had arranged that they would meet with mall management, while the protesters held an "eat-in" at the food court. (Several of us also went shopping, and I had a tee shirt made that says "Peace is Patriotic") After about an hour and a half, Erin O'Brien (one of our organizers) came and asked us to hang in, they were still trying to negotiate with the management, and hoped to have a joint press release soon. About 45 minutes later, she returned, and led us to an area outside where she could conduct a press conference (BTW, The Guilderland Police were very helpful and cooperated with us to make this transition easily...)

Mall management refused to discuss the firing of the security guard at all... they waffled on policy, even to the point of saying "we have no policy on tee-shirts" and of course did not apologize for their actions. They refused to even produce a press release of their own that could have been the basis of a joint release. And of course, did not participate in the press conference, although they were asked to.

So WAW is initiating a new action against Crossgates Mall Management. We are not condoning or promoting any boycott, since we do not wish to hurt the businesses or the workers in the mall... so we plan to inundate the Mall Management office with phone calls,emails, faxes and letters, denouncing their actions. (Crossgates Mall, 518-869-3522 or their PR firm, E-3 Communications, 716-854-8182)

Meanwhile, we have a war to stop, and we will be largely focused on the March on Washington for next Saturday. I'll be heading down that way with friends, rather than the bus...

<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

(from the Albany Times Union)
<FONT size="4">If the shirt fits, make 'em change it </FONT s><FONT size="2">
By CASEY SEILER

TO: Mall security staff
FROM: Management
RE: T-shirts

Recent confrontations between customer/activists and our security staff have caused many of you to request clarification of mall policy concerning what T-shirts are approved/rejected for use by customer/activists. The following list provides several examples of shirts that are currently banned:


"BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY." Management believes that this shirt references former U.N. arms inspector Scott Ritter.

"WWJD?" Management suspects this message might mean "War Will Jeopardize . . . " followed by something beginning with D, which we have yet to determine.

"FRANKIE SAY RELAX." This is a clear reference to Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., one of the Bush administration's staunchest foes. This type of shirt might fly at malls in Paramus, but not here.

"MY PARENTS WENT TO (BLANK) AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT." This is exactly the sort of generational conflict that hobbled our troops in Vietnam. The whole family needs to come together to support the national effort.

"UNDERGRAD COED NAKED LACROSSE TEAM." Management suspects this lacrosse is a game of French derivation, suggesting that this shirt gives aid and comfort to this country's diplomatic enemies.
Management has, however, approved "Undergrad Coed Naked Surfing Team" shirts for use by customer/activists. (This same policy applies to the pro-German sentiments of "Funkengruven" T-shirts.)


"MY GRANDCHILD IS AN HONOR STUDENT." As opposed, we can only assume, to the much more patriotic "My Grandchild Is a Sniper with the 10th Mountain Division." Detain all wearers.

"I'M WITH STUPID" Do not allow customers/activists to stand next to you while wearing this shirt.
One additional note: Despite recent confusion, shirts advising readers that "You Can Have My Gun When You Pry It From My Cold, Dead Fingers" are currently approved for use by customer/activists.

We hope this helps you as you help us provide a safe, rhetoric-free shopping space. Remember, the only "right" guaranteed on our property is the right to use cash, check or credit card.

Casey Seiler is the Times Union's entertainment editor. </FONT s>

Anyone following this thread should see my post titled "Peace Rules" elsewhere in Topical/Tropical Discussions. Geez, maybe the fascists in this country will make the owners of the horse that just became one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby change his name to a more politically correct one (can't use War Emblem; he won the Derby last year).

Peace T-Shirt now in Museum (or is this another instance of "revisionist history"?
<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/laugh.gif" width=15 height=15>

Maybe the original posters with the word "PEACE", along with the ones from Epcot with it missing, should be there too.

Perhaps we need a national Revisionist History museum?

Stephen Downs is one totaly Grovey dude. I wish I could have come and worn a T shirt with you all., bet it was fun. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15> <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>