Don't Tag Texas Rally A Success!

The rally to protest NAIS and the Trans-Texas Corridor on Texas Independence Day (March 2, 2007) was a huge success!  THANK YOU to every single person who came!!!  The march itself stretched for 8 city blocks, with tractors, horses, chickens, and LOTS of people.  We estimate that there were 2,000 people present at the high point, with many more coming in and out at various times.

We got press coverage on TV channels and newspapers across the state!  Judith McGeary was even interviewed for NPR's All Things Considered, although not in time to make that show - but we got the attention of their DC office, so contact them and tell them you want coverage of NAIS!  Please keep the momentum up by contacting NPR, writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper, and asking your local radio and TV stations to cover the issue.  Links to the press stories are at the bottom of this page.  If you have links to other stories, please email them to judith@farmandranchfreedom.org , so we can add them!
 
We had a wonderful group of speakers talking about both NAIS and the Trans-Texas Corridor.  Hank Gilbert kicked it off, Judith McGeary spoke about NAIS, and then Jimmie Vaughan got everyone in the right mood with his fantastic song about tags and government control.  John Dromgoole, Penny Langford-Freeman, and Liz McIntyre gave great talks about the problems with NAIS, our government, and corporate control.  Due to some last-minute juggling of the schedule, the other NAIS speakers spoke late in the rally, so some folks missed hearing them.  Despite the lateness of the day, Michael Badnarik, Pam Cantwell, and Dr. Don McLeod gave fantastic talks about NAIS.  Gina Parker, Alex Jones, David Van Os, Linda and David Stall, Chris King, and Linda Curtis gave wonderful talks about TTC and the issues related to it.  Several legislators also spoke, including Representatives Kolkhorst and Macias, who have co-authored both HB 461 and 637.  Many thanks to ALL of our wonderful speakers!!

And many more thanks to all of the people who worked so hard to make this happen.  Hank Gilbert developed the joint rally theme and drew a lot of people and organizations together.  Judith McGeary and Jeremiah Griffin, FARFA, organized the logistics, including parking, the police escort, and the sound system.  Lots of people stepped up to help with the last-minute needs, like putting signs together and manning the tables at the Capitol to hand out materials (special thanks to Mary Beth Westcott and Tatum Evans).  Corridor Watch, Chris King and others arranged for buses to bring people in, and many people and organizations (including San Antonio Toll Party, Independent Texans, Citizens for a Better Waller County, and Eagle Forum) worked hard to spread the word about the rally.

Thanks also to the businesses who helped us out with very big discounts and a lot of flexibility! The rally would not have been the same without Liberty Stickers (lapel stickers), Classified Parking, and Real Estate Super Center (the anti-NAIS signs).

The only downside of the rally were the expense.  FARFA spent over $2,300 for parking, signs, the sound system, and publicizing the rally.  We collected about $200 in pre-rally donations and another $300 yesterday.  We could really use your help to defray these costs!

As we saw so clearly this week, there is strength in numbers.  Join us and make your voice heard!  Go to http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/join-farfa to join or donate.
Our voices ARE being heard!  Keep it up!

Links to press coverage

Newspaper stories

Austin American Statesman (an excellent article, with an interview with Chairman Miller about NAIS) -  http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/03/3rally.html

Dallas Morning News – pictures and video at http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/photography/2007/farmprotest/

Fort Worth Weekly (another good one) - http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=4653

Palestine Herald (an excellent article!) - http://www.palestineherald.com/homepage/local_story_062011057.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

Country World News - http://www.countryworldnews.com/Editorial/SCTX/2007/sc0315protest.html

San Antonio Express News (this article missed the point, so email the author at gscharrer@express-news.net and politely explain NAIS to him) -  http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA030307.07A.Anti-toll_rally.365def9.html

Waxahachie Daily - http://www.waxahachiedailylight.com/articles/2007/03/04/dailylight/news/01-03-04-ttc.txt

Daily Texan: http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/03/05/TopStories/Rally.Protests.excessive.State.Control.Of.Land-2757229.shtml

Land Line Magazine - http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2007/Feb07/022607/022807-01.htm

The Pine Log (Stephen F. Austin University) - http://www.thepinelog.com/home/news/2007/02/26/News/Farmers.Holding.Tagging.Protest-2741422.shtml

Weatherford Daily Times - http://www.pryordailytimes.com/agriculture/cnhinsagriculture_story_046075739.html?keyword=topstory

TV Coverage

KTBC (Fox 7) News: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=74579E59860AA9FCF1204EDB0EB09397?contentId=2556671&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

KXAN News: http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=6170042&nav=0s3d

KVUE News: http://www.kvue.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=125530

KWTX (Waco) News: http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/6281137.html

Other coverage

You Tube:  Jimmie Vaughan’s performance at the rally - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQZFR0J5McI

Videos on Can O Fun:

Edible Nation Blog - http://www.ediblenation.com/2007/03/antinais_rally_at_texas_capito.html

NPR interviewed Judith McGeary for the Don’t Tag Texas rally, but the story wasn’t edited in time to be aired on All Things Considered.  Please contact them, and ask them to do a story on NAIS!  Go to http://www.npr.org/contact/.  Click on "Recipient: NPR Program" and then choose "All Things Considered"

NPR interviewed Judith McGeary for the Don’t Tag Texas rally, but the story wasn’t edited in time to be aired on All Things Considered.  Please contact them, and ask them to do a story on NAIS!  Go to http://www.npr.org/contact/.  Click on "Recipient: NPR Program" and then choose "All Things Considered"