View From Behind the Signs

By Hanna Ackerman

At the pro-McCain Rally that the “future first lady,” Cindy McCain came to speak at, this past Sunday, I was one of the 5 protesters inside the rally itself. We were joined by twenty some odd Obama supporters outside, holding posters, chanting, and handing out informational flyers to attendees of the rally. To these supporters, I offer my very humble thanks in gratitude for their tenacity and passion.

Inside the rally, barely better attended than the Pat Green concert a couple years ago, there was some confusion over how to get tickets, and was not advertised well Surrounded as we were by McCain supporters, we wondered how we’d fare. As it turns out, the rally and the protest were quite successful. We were peaceful and did not engage our McCain-loving counterparts in negative or aggressive ways, nor did they attack us…for the most part. Certainly we were told that we should be ashamed of ourselves, that we were terrible people and that we were stupid, but for the most part, even those McCain supporters closest to us were very respectful of our right to protest and their right to try and stop us.

When we first revealed our shirts and held up our small signs that spelled out “OBAMA,” I heard a small noise behind me and a girl leaned forward to whisper in my ear, “Thank you for being seen.” She stayed behind us for the whole rally; I don’t know your name, girl, but thank you.

As Mrs. McCain’s speech progressed we were besieged by McCain supporters holding their own, much larger and more numerous signs in front of ours to block them from Mrs. McCain’s view, as well as behind us to hide our protests from the press cameras. I turned to one of my fellow protesters and informed her that I felt very close to humanity (both physically and metaphysically). She agreed with me and then I heard a Gettysburg College student McCain supporter of some importance to the campaign on this campus say in response, “Well that’s interesting because you aren’t one right now.” I can only assume he meant “aren’t human.” This was one of the few severe lapses in grace that I witnessed during the rally.

We engaged in several “sign battles” where the McCain supporters would place their signs in front of ours and then we would move our signs around quickly so as to remain visible. I had a lot of fun with this. There was, for the most part, a lot of giggling from the protesters and a lot of stone-faces from the McCain supporters. We also spoke respectfully with a few of the McCain supporters around us. One gentleman in particular pointed out to me that he fought for 37 years for our freedom and right to free speech. I thanked him for his sacrifice and while he did express his disappointment in us for choosing to use it in the way we were, his point was valid and I appreciated him being around us instead of those who understand that right less.

After the rally ended and we began to head for the exits we got many pats on the back for our work. These gestures of support came largely from the students and very few faculty members who came to the rally. One such pat on the back I was unable to identify as it came and went very quickly. Immediately after that pat a fellow student came quickly up to me and pulled a McCain sticker off of my back that had been deposited there! Thanks to you too, sir, for getting that mean-spiritedness off of me. The only other negative moment that occurred was when an older man from the community walked past me and pulled on my scarf as he told me that he hoped I was enjoying being a socialist. This was disturbing and I do wish I had made more of that incident as it was completely inappropriate and pathetic on his part.

These very negative moments were few and far between, however, and the McCain supporters generally comported themselves with admirable grace. One woman asked me how I would feel if she came and protested at an Obama rally and to her I say: I hope you do. I hope you do and I hope that you are clearly impressed with the grace and class with which the Obama supporters will also conduct themselves.

This was a great experience for me and I hope that everyone understands the importance of being involved, being aware, and utilizing the rights that our soldiers fight for us to have. In closing, I can only say: vote Obama!!