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NSS Pro-Cassini Rally Reports
by Greg Zsidisin
The National Space Society's New York Chapter had a great time last
Saturday (Sept. 20) showing the media and the anti-Cassini crowd that
Cassini and the future of space exploration have grassroots supporters
willing to come out and protest against those who would shut it all down.
We now need as many space activists as possible to come out to the
White House rally next Sunday (9/28) to make that point even more strongly.
Our numbers for D.C. are building, but we need *everyone* to come out, get
energized, and show these people we mean business! [Ed. Note: see following
statement by on the results of the D.C. rally.]
In New York, a dozen space activists set up a large banner reading
"Cassini is GO!" across the street from the anti-Cassini rally near the
United Nations. We also passed out hundreds of flyers based on the
"talking points" on the NSS Web Page, and presented our side, from a
grassroots viewpoint, to attending media looking for our side of the story.
The "anti" rally numbered several hundred people. The speakers at
the rally, and the literature being passed out, demonstrated the tremendous
disinformation being peddled by the anti-Cassini interests. A number of
the "anti" speakers spoke urgently about the need to end space exploration
altogether, to applause from the crowd.
One of the best things we did was to speak with sincere protestors
who came to our side to ask why ordinary people like us would support
Cassini, why we thought it was safe, and why we needed to explore
space. Many of these people were hearing the "pro" side in any depth for
the first time.
I'm very proud of the job dedicated space activists did at the U.N.
But we can't get let up. We need much larger numbers in D.C. to show that
NYC wasn't a fluke, but a movement -- that there are dedicated individuals
who feel Cassini and the future of space exploration are worth showing up
and standing up for.
[Ed. Note: the following was written shortly after the Sept. 28 rally.]
Our White House pro-Cassini rally Sunday [September 28] was a truly
inspiring, affirming event. I'm very proud of my role as organizer, the
dedication of the volunteer activists who came out or spread the word on
the Net, and Karen Rugg's and Rob Pearlman's yeoman efforts.
Grassroots activists from Maryland, New York, Washington DC,
Pennsylvania and elsewhere traveled by carpool and train to the White
House, and braved torrential rain and aggressive anti-Cassini protestors to
get the message across: that Cassini and space exploration have a public
constituency, with a deeper commitment that the "issue of the season"
attitude of our opponents.
Our group set up on the sidewalk in front of the White House a
little after noon. Despite the absence of anti-Cassini protestors (who had
already cancelled speakers and pushed their start time back two hours), our
group started a picket line, circling the sidewalk in front of the White
House. We almost immediately began to chant slogans, while carrying simple
signs with such messages as "Knowledge Not Fear," "Solar at Saturn: a Dim
Idea," and "My Heart Sings for Saturn's Rings."
Mike Pelletier, visiting D.C. from Ann Arbor, Michigan, had
actually brought enlarged Cassini logos with him, downloaded from the Web.
These made for truly striking homemade signs. Locals Joe Gillin and Karen
Cramer had pitched in with early sign-making duties at HQ.
My favorite slogan, made up by a U of Maryland SEDS members whose
name I unfortunately don't know, was "Don't be a Weenie: Launch Cassini!"
Not as elegant as "Knowledge Not Fear," but a fun take on exactly the same
point.
Threatening skies made good on their word, and we were pelted by
rain. For the benefit of rolling cameras (I'm sure one photographer
announced himself as "CBS"), we continued our march for a while longer in
the rain. Soon, the rain became a deluge, and we were forced to seek
shelter at a nearby McDonalds.
We took back to Pennsylvania Avenue after the rain subsided, and a
number of anti-Cassini protestors started up their rally. While they
huddled around a small speaker's podium, under the shelter of trees in
Lafayette Park, we marched in the rain, chanting nearly continuously. Even
when the opposition shouted at us from the middle of the street, our
ralliers kept their cool and their spirit, even turning the antis' chants
around on them.
We were approached by media: NBC, Associated Press, Fox, and Dutch
Television (whose newswoman apparently talked to Steve Wolfe in part
because she liked his Shuttle tie).
By 3:45, the opposition had dwindled to a sad handful, and the
press had done their thing. Soaked but happy, we had a victory cheer and
packed it in, many people heading back for a quick visit to HQ.
I'm so proud and so honored to have been part of such a great group
of activists! I'm very grateful for those who came, and those who helped,
but in particular I want to thank:
George Lewycky - who spent days contacting speakers (until our
speaker rally became a sidewalk picket), calling local members to support
Cassini, and faxing me reams of background information. George then drove
down from New Jersey, picking up Philadelphia chapter members Earl Bennett
and Mike Fischer along the way. George's "push" was key factor in keeping
the organizing effort going.
Rob Pearlman - who did an outstanding job mobilizing SEDS students
for the rally, and for some really terrific Web support. Space activism
needs many more people like Rob.
David Millman - without whose plaintive email, I might never have
set the UN and DC rallies in motion.
Steve Wolfe and Donna McAllister - who drove carpools down from and
to NYC in some really nasty weather, and were real pillars of the rally
crew. (Donna, you were a great sloganeer!)
Donnie Lowther - for the support of the DC L5 Chapter. I think it
was her group who also brought out those wonderful waterproofed signs
(encased in Baggies!) just when our original signs went completely soggy.
Pat Dasch - who came directly from another weekend event to march
with us, just at the most critical point of the rally.
Last but not least, Karen Rugg - who took on more a leadership role
than probably either of us planned, and did it well.
Thanks so much, you guys: you've renewed my faith in grassroots
space activism!