by Christopher Cook

Update: July 13
Due to tremendous interest, we will leave this as our latest feature for a while longer...

This protest/counter-protest took place on Friday in front of the Federal Building on Wilshire Blvd. in West Los Angeles. We believe it's important that we document events like these and bring the images (along with some description and commentary) to your attention.

To that end, I attended the event in the capacity of a photo journalist. I endeavored, at least for a portion of the event, to maintain an outwardly neutral disposition. That said, I am not neutral; I am a strong supporter of Israel.
[My reasons for this support are simple. First, because God tells me to do so in Genesis 12:3 (as a Christian, I can tell you that for most of us, THAT is the reason we support Israel and the Jewish people, NOT because of some complex and selfish eschatological purpose). Second, because the preponderance of historical truth and moral rightness is on Israel's side... in other words, because it's the right thing to do.]

The differences between the protesters and the counter-protesters was stark indeed---strikingly so---and I believe that even an objective viewer would have seen it that way. It is, simply put, the difference between a culture of hatred and death on one side, and a culture of life and happiness on the other.

Here are the photos (with a few videos thrown in).
Feel free to distribute the pictures by any means you wish, but please, provide credit and a link to ModernConservative.com. Thanks!




Startin' 'em off young, eh? Well, I guess I shouldn't really make any judgments on the fact that children are among the protesters, because that is something that happens on all sides at most protests. Parents have children, children come along, children want to play a part in what's going on---it's pretty basic stuff.

Sometimes, though, I find it kind of irksome. I mean, let's face it---most adults are too busy to inform themselves adequately on most issues; virtually no child at any protest knows the first thing about what he or she is protesting. So, that kind of bugs me, but like I say, everyone does it. (Heck, I myself have done it, though my little protester is still in diapers and can't yet sit up, let alone hold a sign.)

But, since I am partisan, I find it more distasteful when the other side does it. Call it a double standard, if you wish. Then again, I know that---just like the Canaanites were once sacrificing their children to Moloch---so too may some of these children go on to blow themselves up at the behest of their benighted parents. So, maybe that adds a little justification to my extra measure of distaste.




The bloody fist, the words dripping in blood...
Now I know that it is supposed to symbolize the supposed suffering of "Palestine," but to me, it just reinforces the notion that we're up against a death cult. In fact, Islamists are actually very fond of the "you love life, and we love death" line, as if to say they'll beat us because they're not afraid to die and we are. It's utter nonsense, of course, but it doesn't stop them from saying it.
(I believe that among the people to whom that line is attributed is Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, the Hamas co-founder who was, thankfully, dispatched by the IDF back in 2004.)

So, it seems that death cult should be a epithet of which they would be proud. And by all means, let 'em keep at it. It didn't work for the Japanese kamikaze cult in the Pacific Theatre of WWII, and in the long run, it's not going to work for Islamists or Israel's enemies either.




"Occupation is a crime"

You know, I attempted to interview a number of people on their side, hoping to see if I could get any of them to explain what they mean by "occupation." Almost every one of them covered their face, covered the lens of my camera, refused to speak on camera, or directed me to the "spokesperson."

First of all---why the paranoia? Don't they WANT to get their side out? Their paranoia, by the way, existed in spite of the fact that they had no idea I was from a conservative website or that I am, in fact, a strong supporter of Israel. I was trying to project outward neutrality; apparently, paranoia is just their default starting point. Of course, the paranoia actually give way to intimidation later on, but I'll tell you more about that in a bit.

Interestingly, the ones I could get to talk to me all said that "occupation" was anything beyond the Green Line (the boundary established as a result of the 1967 War). Of course, if that is the case, why keep shelling Israel from Gaza AFTER Israel withdrew from Gaza entirely?




There was a Free Republic presence at the counter rally, and thus there is a Free Republic thread on the event, complete with a small number of pictures. One of the commenters (who was there himself) made a point that pertains to one of the signs in the above picture, a point that I would like to echo. The sign reads, "The occupation is a shame; no more killing in our name." Okay, I get the first part, but what on Earth is she talking about with the "no more killing in our name" bit? Simply put, there is not enough irony in the word irony sum up how freakin' ironic that is.




This is one of the rally's organizers. I am not sure whether he is from CAIR, A.N.S.W.E.R., or one of the others, but he was definitely one of the movers. Here's a video of him leading an asinine chant; he has instructed the group that he will say "anti-and then fill in something bad in the blank," and they were to answer each time with the responsory, "anti-Israel."




Oh, this guy. I know him---he is definitely from A.N.S.W.E.R.

A.N.S.W.E.R. were the organizers of this rally. In fact, they are the organizers of many of the rallies that have taken place across the country over the last five years. It is vitally important that you understand that A.N.S.W.E.R. is literally a communist front group. If you go to an anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-American, pro-Left, (and often, pro-evil dictator) rally, chances are, A.N.S.W.E.R.'s little red star is behind it.

As some of you may remember, I did a massive photo essay on the even more massive May Day immigration protests in Los Angeles. (If you didn't see it at the time, and if immigration issues or Leftists are of concern to you, we recommend taking a look when you have some time.)

So now, check out this picture from the May Day immigration protest:



Look familiar? It's the same fellow from the picture above.

Now, here's a video of him at the immigration rally.

And here's video of him from this anti-Israel protest.

A.N.S.W.E.R. was one of the prime movers behind the giant immigration protests too. So---you rightly ask---what is the connection? Why does A.N.S.W.E.R. care about these two different causes? The truth---the answer, if you will---is that they don't care about either cause. They, specifically their leadership, only care about one thing: advancing Leftist power. They will support any cause that helps them with that agenda. A.N.S.W.E.R. and Leftist organizations like them don't give a rip about immigrants or people living in Gaza. To the Left, they're all just cannon-fodder.






"U.N. Human Rights Council Condemns Israeli Aggression"
We're supposed to be impressed by that because....?

"85% of Palestinians Report Systematic Abuse"
You'll forgive me if I take that, too, with a hefty grain of salt.




If you take oil out of the equation, the combined GDP of all 22 nations in the Arab League is less than that of Spain. There are more internet connections per capita in Africa than there are in the Arab Middle East. Yes, the Islamic world may have been a glittering empire in the year 1100, but today, without oil, most of those nations are largely dysfunctional and pathetic.

So, you'll forgive me, I'm sure, when I take note of the uniformity of signs, the big banner, and the overall coordination of the event and say that there's little chance it was actually organized by "Palestinians." Heck, they can barely arrange to have the trash picked up in most places under Palestinian Authority control. Nope, someone else put this together.

Now, who is really good at getting lots of people to behave in uniform ways for propaganda purposes? Let's see, there's fascists, totalitarians, Leni Riefenstahl, and---oh yes---Left-wing protest groups in the U.S, and Europe. A.N.S.W.E.R., I'm looking at you...


Now, let's move over to the friendly side.




From bloody fists, paranoia, and communists to a heartfelt prayer for peace.

And if you are among those who believe that Israel likes to talk peace, but secretly wants to destroy everyone around her and rule the world, well then you are either woefully under-informed about the truth of history, or you are wading into the historical stream of anti-Semitism. What stream is that? It's the 2000-year-old stream of lies whose outer coverings sometimes change, but whose end result is always the killing of Jews.




It really was just friendlier on the pro-Israel side. Granted, it is my side too, but still, with whatever objectivity I can muster, I have to say that there was just a better feeling. There was righteous anger, yes, but it didn't have the same palpable darkness and hate as the other side. People who didn't know who I am or what side I am on were nonetheless perfectly willing to answer questions---politely, on camera, and without rancor and venom.

Here's a video of just such a fellow. I asked him a few simple questions, and his answers were forthright and reasonable. Notice he actually mentions "concessions from both sides"? Israel would be entirely justified, based on the truth of what she has gone through, in never offering another concession until the end of time, and yet, Jews continue to seek peace, even at the risk of offering even more concessions. These are usually concessions that, deep-down, they know won't work and won't be reciprocated, but they do keep trying. God bless them.

Notice how he didn't treat me with suspicion and paranoia, even tough I didn't tell him my alignment until after? That is in marked contrast to the reception I received by people on the other side, people who also didn't know whether I was a friendly or not. I could show a bunch of video clips of people from the other side covering their faces, asking me nasty questions, and refusing to go on the record, but I won't. There were quite a few of them, though.




The organizers of the pro-Israel counter-demonstration were from a group called StandWithUs.com---a great group and a wonderful bunch of people. And look, they brought a mobile billboard---very cool!









You know, she's got a point...




As does he. The "Palestinians" kidnap a member of the IDF---this after months of rocket attacks from a territory that Israel gave to them lock, stock, and barrel---and then they wonder why Israel is reacting violently? Is there a term that means "chutzpah," only multiplied tenfold? I could make more comments, but why bother, when Bridget Johnson said it so well here!




May God rest his soul and comfort his family.



















A bunch of young folks from our side, in their youthful exuberance, thought it would be a good idea to cross the street to the other side. The LAPD and some StandWithUs personnel convinced them that that was not such a great plan; here they are returning.




Oh yes, "Apartheid." I wonder, did this little girl make this sign for herself, or did she perhaps have some help? (A.N.S.W.E.R., I'm looking at you again...)




Okay, here's where it started to get slightly unnerving.

You see the guy with the video camera. At first, I thought I just happened to be in his line of shooting. Then---when I saw that he was tracking my face---I realized that he was shooting me. Unnerving, yes, but more so when I realized that it was not an isolated incident. On at least four occasions of which I was aware, anti-Israel protesters took deliberate action to document my face---once on video and three times by digital camera.

I am not sure what the purpose of this was. Here are my four guesses:
1. Petulance, i.e., I was taking their picture, so they were going to take mine,
2. Intimidation, i.e., trying to scare me by saying, now we know what you look like, buddy,
3. Intimidation, with a real threat included, i.e., they have marching orders to do exactly this, so that can know whom to blow up or shoot later on,
4. Documentation, so CAIR can come along later and sue me.

I would prefer #1, of course. Unfortunately, while the three camera snaps might have been petulant and spontaneous, the guy with the video camera was being very deliberate.

My second choice would have to be #2. At the end of the day, I think 3 and 4 are somewhat unlikely, though CAIR does have a nasty habit of suing people to silence them---even when they have no case---knowing that defendants won't have enough money to defend themselves.









If A.N.S.W.E.R. supports right of return, then they support the destruction of the only Jewish state in the world.




Of course, the Left's many agendas worm their way into everything (something I saw on display bigtime at the May Day immigration protest).









Here are two are réchauffé sexagenarian Vietnam protesters, trying to relive the glory days of their youth.

There's the old saw about "If you're not a liberal when you're 25, you have no heart, and if you're not a conservative by the time you're 35, you have no brain" (incorrectly attributed to Churchill, by the way). Well, I have a corollary to it, and that is that if you haven't become a conservative by the time you're 60, you never will. The reason is simple: by the time you've hit 60, a change in ideology would mean admitting that you'd been wrong for your whole life. The ego can take that at 40 or even 50, but not at 60.









Swastika = Star of David? That is utterly twisted, totally false, and so very nasty.




A great bunch of kids---I enjoyed speaking with them.



Okay, over at the Free Republic thread, they definitely hammered the point, so I will just make it briefly here...

My perfect, wonderful wife has occasionally said to me, "you're married, not dead," so I do feel comfortable mentioning that WE HAD ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS ON OUR SIDE.

I will confine myself to that, rather than adding anything specifically negative about the other side. The difference was striking, though, and it points up something about the "you love life, but we love death" taunt often hurled by Islamists at Israel and the West, namely...

Maybe we love life so much because we've actually got something to live for!
























LOVE that shirt!




Thanks to the boys in blue!




Ted Hayes---activist, advocate for the homeless, and all-around excellent fellow---has arrived.




About 20 minutes earlier, the young woman in this photo took my picture, making her one of the ones to "document" me. How do I know it was intentional?

My cell phone rang, and I moved away from the rally to speak with the caller. I was walking while I spoke, and by the time I was done, I was 100 yards away from the action and alone. I turned around to find this girl striding purposively towards me; she lifted her camera, put straight in my face, took a picture, and then wheeled around and headed back to the rally. THAT's how I know.




This one, apparently, didn't want her picture taken either...




...but seconds before I took this second shot, she took mine---again, with absolute deliberateness and tacit anger.

I was not asking anyone any hostile questions. I was not saying much at all, in fact, and I certainly didn't tell anyone my personal feelings on the matter. And yet they were universally hostile to an unidentified amateur photo journalist with a small digital camera. Why?









It's not possible to tell from the picture, but these guys' arm patches identified them as being from the Department of Homeland Security.









Gotta love Protest Warrior's use of irony and sarcasm!




Another very nice bunch of kids. Too bad so many people in the world are unfair or genuinely hostile to them. Too bad so many others want them dead... just because they're Jewish.

The other side ended their protest joylessly, dispersing in small groups somewhat ahead of the scheduled end time for the protest. The pro-Israel counter-protesters stuck around a little longer, talking and havin a little fun, as is seen in this video.

Life vs. death, joy vs. misery. In spite of centuries of persecution, libel, lies, and genocidal slaughter, the Jewish people continue to live, thrive, and be joyous. And maybe that is part of the key to their survival. For over the long haul, can anyone survive who does not truly love life?