Thousands of people gathered an the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday evening to hear former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and Fox News television host Glenn Beck speak. This, however, was not the only gathering that took place on the ninth anniversary of 9/11.
Around 50 people gathered near the flag pole on the Park Strip for two hours Saturday afternoon to protest the Beck and Palin event as well as commemorate the men and women who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
The crowd’s temperament was far from furious and enraged. Protestors of all ages smiled and flashed peace signs as passing vehicles honked their horns in support.
Picket signs were the greatest indicators of why the crowd had gathered. “The fair is over now that the circus is in town,” one sign read, while another displayed circles with diagonal lines across the faces of Beck and Palin with the words “False Prophets of Self Profit.”
While the protestors stated that the main reason they had gathered was to show disapproval of the media figures for creating hate and discord in the nation, a number of other reasons where given as well.
Michael Williams, a 43-year-old graphic designer, stated that he was participating in remembrance of Sept. 11 and to counter the Islamic phobia that has been spread in the news lately.
“I’m trying to promote turning off the Fox News Network in public places,” Williams said. “I don’t really want to say I’m out here because I’m opposed to them or the show that’s going on tonight, but all the negativity that (the network) has spread is definitely a factor.”
Another protestor, a middle-aged Caucasian woman who wished to remain anonymous because she is teacher for the Anchorage School District and is scared of possible backlash if her name was spotted by parents of her students, spoke of the need to display to the nation that Alaska is a purple state, not a blue or red state. Equal amounts of support for the liberal side of politics and the conservative side of politics should be shown in the state, she stated. In addition, the female teacher believed that Palin and Beck holding their event on 9/11 was offensive.
“I think that it could have been called off for another day, I think the focus is all wrong… There are probably a million things about the event that are wrong,” she said. “I also think people like that she’s famous and they want to be around that.”
The president of Beck’s media company, Christopher Balfe, had stated the earnings made from Saturday’s event would go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The amount was not disclosed.
“I do appreciate that at least a portion of the proceeds will go to charity,” Williams said.
Standing toward the edge of the gathered protestors was Pam Siegfried, a convenience store clerk holding a sign with the words “Alaska Welcomes Glenn Beck.” She had come to the Park Strip Saturday to counter protest the protest.
“People have said that Glenn Beck is racist; that’s not true from what I’ve seen. Glenn Beck was called racist because he said Obama hates white people, but he apologized weeks ago. If you want to learn about how blacks have been written out of history watch some of his history lessons, because they’ll show you he’s not a racist person,” Siegfried said. “They say Sarah Palin is taking us back to a nation of racists. Do they not know that her husband is (Alaska) native?”
Todd Palin’s mother is one-quarter Yup’ik.
Siegfried did not mind that the event was taking place on 9/11, or that Beck charged for the event, stating that it takes substantial expenses to set up such a large function. There were events of all kinds that took place Saturday in Anchorage, and Palin and Beck should not be ridiculed for doing so, according to Siegfried.
“I don’t think saying the country is on the wrong course, whether you disagree or not, is hate speech,” Siegfried said. “They’re not like Fred Phelps. Now that’s hatred.”