Second Amendment Freedom Rally... July 11, 2008




Images and notes from Illinoiscarry.com Spokeswoman and SAFR Speaker/Leader Valinda Rowe



note: all pics have been resized to 800x600 for easy viewing and downloading. Original Hi-Res pics availble on request






Suzanna Hupp and Valinda Rowe (Molly B.) head up State St. in Chicago to the abc7 Chicago/WLS broadcast station for Dr. Hupp's live interview with Jerry Agar.






Suzanna and Valinda outside the WLS studio.






Checking in at WLS reception/security desk






Suzanna live on the air






Jerry Agar talking to Suzanna Hupp about the tragic circumstance that propelled her into the Right to Carry movement.






Valinda Rowe, SAFR coordinator and IllinoisCarry spokesperson at the SAFR press conference






Mike Weisman, 1st Vice President of Illinois State Rifle Association, speaks at the SAFR press conference






Suzanna Hupp, SAFR featured speaker at the press conference






Valinda gets a hug from Chicago resident and friend Otis McDonald, the plaintiff in McDonald et al vs City of Chicago. Downstate Joe Pyle and co-plaintiff Colleen Lawson look on.






About one half of the media teams set up to cover the rally






Cisco Cotto of WIND 560am radio was a terrific emcee for the rally - way to go Cisco!






ISRA board member, Al Tiscareno, led the crowd in a moving Pledge of Allegiance






Valinda Rowe, SAFR coordinator and IllinoisCarry.com spokesperson welcomed the crowd and began the celebration






We were a very diverse gathering of like minded citizens






Men, women, and children of all ages, races, and background






Young Second Amendment Supporters with the right idea






Mike Wiesman, 1st Vice President of the Illinois State Rifle Association and SAFR co-organizer delivers a powerful message






The number of women and children present at the rally is a clear indication the right to keep and bear arms is an important issue for the women of Illinois






Suzanna Hupp did not disappoint in her role as featured speaker. Her warm and friendly nature quickly garnered eveyone's attention






Suzanna's reaction to the Illinois State Police advising women to gag themselves into vomiting to avoid sexual assault is just what one would expect from a woman from the state of Texas!!






Suzanna tells the moving story about the horrifying event that resulted in the tragic murder of her parents and our need to be able to protect ourselfs should something like this ever happen again.






Tony Peraica, Cook County commissioner, candidate for Cook County States Attorney, and the only Chicago politico of the many who were invited who actually attended the rally. Tony supports the right of Chicago citizens to have firearms in their own home.






ISRA 2nd Vice President, Doug Mayhall, delivers a message from ISRA Ex. Dir. Richard Pearson who could not be at the rally.






Glen Caroline, Director of NRA Institute of Legislative Action Grassroots Division, gave a powerful presentation on the importance of upcoming elections on our Second Amendment rights






Paula Bratich, Second Amendment Sisters IL state coordinator emphasized the women's perspective of the right to keep and bear arms.






Doug Krick, national founder of Pink Pistols, talked about the importance of the gay/lesbian community having the ability to protect themselves against violence.






Chicago native and Cook County Sean Horton produces his own podcast supporting the Second Amendment.






Colleen Lawson, one of the plaintiffs in the Second Amendment lawsuit against the city of Chicago shares a few brief words as co-plaintiffs David Lawson and Otis McDonald look on. Also in the photo is one of the attorneys for the case, David Sigale.






Otis McDonald






Att. David Sigale one of the attorneys for the ISRA Second Amendment lawsuit against the city of Chicago






Valinda Rowe and Suzanna Hupp






Suzanna Hupp and Colleen Lawson






North group - I count 225 in this photo alone and it does not show all the many people farther around to the left.






Center group - count 135 and more are obscured by the signs






South group - I count another 75 -100 and worked very hard not to count overlapping folks - does not show all the people farther around to the right.






A rousing standing ovation for the Chicago plaintiffs






Patriots




















Southern contingency meets up with northern patriot and friend Otis McDonald. From left, Mike Rowe, Joe Pyle, Valinda Rowe, Richard Cisne (behind Valinda), JD Williamson, Otis McDonald, and Ron Frye. The Rowes met Otis through IGOLD and the other fellas who are from Wayne Co. in southern Illinois are friends and former co-workers of Otis from their days working in Chicago.