Soldier burned in effigy stirs outrage

[Ban Hammer 14,448]

Some photos that surfaced on the Internet revealed a darker side of the recent Iraq war protests in Portland.

Photos taken by Rachael Palinkas, a Linfield College student, showed masked protesters burning an effigy of what appears to be a U.S. soldier in the Park Blocks.

Thousands marched in Portland downtown streets Sunday to protest the fourth anniversary of the start of the war. As the march along 24 blocks ended, a group of young people led police on bicycles, horses and motorcycles through downtown.

A few scuffles broke out, with police using pepper spray at one point, and several people were led away in plastic cuffs.

The photos showed protesters gathered around a figure wearing U.S. military fatigues and a crude skull for a head as it and an American flag were lit on fire.

Other black-clad, masked protesters carried a black banner that read, "No Gods, no country, no masters," and a circle A anarchy symbol.

Palinkas went to the protest march Sunday because some friends were going and she thought it a good opportunity to snap photos.

"I was shocked! Cause I haven’t seen anything like that before, you know, so I was kind of scared and confused like, ‘what's going on who are these people?’ I'd never seen anyone burn the American flag or any act of burning an effigy."

She published the pics Sunday on her Facebook account. The Drudge Report grabbed it Wednesday and it took off nationally.

She's received dozens of email in angry reaction to publishing the photos.

“They and their friends are not anti-war: they are for anyone opposing this country,” one viewer wrote in the Vanguard blog, where the photos appeared. “The people they hate most are the American soldiers (whom they term “mercenaries” and in a different era called “baby-killers”) who dare bring freedom to an oppressed people under our flag.”

There was no word on the identity of the protesters.

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[mRx 16]

This doesnt surprise me. It was only a matter of time until the anti-war aggression shifted towards the military.

[Fuzzness 2]

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[one...two...tree 2,762]

There was no word on the identity of the protesters.

Until we know who is exactly behind this, I'd be highly skeptical of it.

It sounds like Protest Warrior trickery to me. Think about it - these people are protesting the war - they're against violence.

[mybackpages 0]

There was no word on the identity of the protesters.

Until we know who is exactly behind this, I'd be highly skeptical of it.

It sounds like Protest Warrior trickery to me. Think about it - these people are protesting the war - they're against violence.

The photos were discivered (according ot one local nes source) by indymedia- a liberal, grassroots activists organization what does support the troops and is opposed tot he war. From some of the photos also posted, there are signs of this being a radical fringe anarchist organization - having nothing to do with the worldwide protests. BY signs I mean there are anarchist symbols on some banners- doenst prove who they are.

Edited March 26, 2007 by mybackpages

[one...two...tree 2,762]

There was no word on the identity of the protesters.

Until we know who is exactly behind this, I'd be highly skeptical of it.

It sounds like Protest Warrior trickery to me. Think about it - these people are protesting the war - they're against violence.

The photos were discivered (according ot one local nes source) by indymedia- a liberal, grassroots activists organization what does support the troops and is opposed tot he war. From some of the photos also posted, there are signs of this being a radical fringe anarchist organization - having nothing to do with the worldwide protests. BY signs I mean there are anarchist symbols on some banners- doenst prove who they are.

In any case they aren't the typical anti-war protestor. Anarchist are not for peace - they're against any form of authority and will use violence to achieve that goal.

[mybackpages 0]

In any case they aren't the typical anti-war protestor. Anarchist are not for peace - they're against any form of authority and will use violence to achieve that goal.

Agreed! You say it better than I tried to. It could be Protest warrior or a fringe left organization. Their actions mean very little in the whole picture and do little more than create a smoke screen to move the discussion away from a legitimate debate.

[Jasman0717 9]

This doesnt surprise me. It was only a matter of time until the anti-war aggression shifted towards the military.

I sure hope it doesn't lower itself to the way we, military personel, were treated back during the Viet Nam conflict

[Ban Hammer 14,448]

This doesnt surprise me. It was only a matter of time until the anti-war aggression shifted towards the military.

I sure hope it doesn't lower itself to the way we, military personel, were treated back during the Viet Nam conflict

that was my first thought when i read it. and i hope it does not reach that low level either.

[Alex+R 0]

Guys, one crazy fringe group does not represent the norm for people against the war, as much as you apparently wish it did.

[Ban Hammer 14,448]

Guys, one crazy fringe group does not represent the norm for people against the war, as much as you apparently wish it did.

i'm sure some had the very same thoughts when the university of berserkly started demonstrating in the late 60's

[Alex+R 0]

Guys, one crazy fringe group does not represent the norm for people against the war, as much as you apparently wish it did.

i'm sure some had the very same thoughts when the university of berserkly started demonstrating in the late 60's

Ok Charles. Only time will tell if you are right, and that this small group of what seem to be hateful youngsters sets the standard for the country's anti-war population, which is of course the national majority. I can just see us, a nation of anarchists angry at the troops, teachers, doctors and students alike wearing black and marching in the name of anarchy in the US.

[Ban Hammer 14,448]

Guys, one crazy fringe group does not represent the norm for people against the war, as much as you apparently wish it did.

i'm sure some had the very same thoughts when the university of berserkly started demonstrating in the late 60's

Ok Charles. Only time will tell if you are right, and that this small group of what seem to be hateful youngsters sets the standard for the country's anti-war population, which is of course the national majority. I can just see us, a nation of anarchists angry at the troops, teachers, doctors and students alike wearing black and marching in the name of anarchy in the US.

that is pretty much what happened in the late 60's - early 70's, was it not? a small group grew to immense proportions, and it became fashionable to protest the war?

yes, time will tell. and yes i hope i'm wrong too.

[Alex+R 0]

Guys, one crazy fringe group does not represent the norm for people against the war, as much as you apparently wish it did.

i'm sure some had the very same thoughts when the university of berserkly started demonstrating in the late 60's

Ok Charles. Only time will tell if you are right, and that this small group of what seem to be hateful youngsters sets the standard for the country's anti-war population, which is of course the national majority. I can just see us, a nation of anarchists angry at the troops, teachers, doctors and students alike wearing black and marching in the name of anarchy in the US.

that is pretty much what happened in the late 60's - early 70's, was it not? a small group grew to immense proportions, and it became fashionable to protest the war?

yes, time will tell. and yes i hope i'm wrong too.

Protesting the war is not the same as protesting the soldiers. You are not going to find that in mainstream anti-war USA. You're just not.

[Robor007 0]

Guys, one crazy fringe group does not represent the norm for people against the war, as much as you apparently wish it did.

I agree that these people do not represent the majority of people who are against the war. I'm against the war but I don't blame the military or have any anger toward them. The military is only carrying out the wishes of the President. I place the blame solely on his shoulders.