Occupy Hernando sign in Weeki Wachee, FL
An Occupy Hernando sign draws attention from passers-by in Weeki Wachee, FL.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Protesters occupy Weeki Wachee
By Amanda Mole, Hernando County Independent Examiner

If your day's activities brought you through the intersection of Commercial Way and Cortez Blvd. in Weeki Wachee, chances are you got a glimpse of the Occupy Hernando demonstration that took place this morning at 10:00am.

Protesters of all ages, races, and political ideologies lined the side of the road, waving to passing drivers and displaying signs with slogans like, "One Nation Under Greed" and "Leave My House A Loan!" Supportive passers-by honked their horns and waved back in support, and newcomers were readily greeted with a smile and a handshake.

Brian Moore, a citizen activist, was eager to set the record straight with regard to Occupy Hernando's intentions. "We're all just fed up with the system," he said. "We come from all walks of life, all ages, some people with home foreclosures, some unemployed. We want people from all parties," he added, pointing out fellow demonstrators and their political affiliations, including Libertarians, Democrats, and Tea Party members. "Last year, there were over 5,300 foreclosures in Hernando County alone. There is a tremendous amount of debt and the gap keeps widening between the 1% and the 99%, and when it comes to the politicians, they make legislation that supports the people who are already the most powerful."

Moore merely shrugs his shoulders when it comes to being labeled anti-Capitalist. "Some people are. Some aren't. We all have differing opinions, but we all have a common enemy. We want to hold the people accountable who have acted against the best interests of the American people. We're pro-Democracy more than we're anti-Capitalist. We believe there is a higher priority than money, and that is what is best for the people."

Betty-Jo Passalaqua, who held up a sign declaring, "We are the 99% and so are you!," believes that it is very important for supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement to be involved in Occupy Hernando. "We want to organize the rural communities. Little cities have a great voting base."

Want to get involved? You can join Occupy Hernando's Facebook page or contact Brian Moore at brianmor@tampabay.rr.com.

Slideshow: Occupy Hernando 11.19.11

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“OCCUPY HERNANDO” URGED TO SUPPORT “OCCUPY BROOKSVILLE” RALLY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH, 12 NOON to 6PM, FRONT of HERNANDO CO. COURTHOUSE, MAIN ST.

Bring Signs; Pack a Lunch, Voice Anger at Nation’s Corrupt Corporations & Political System

Tuesday, November 15, 2011, Brooksville, Florida: “Occupy Hernando” urges its participants to support the “Occupy Brooksville” rally scheduled for Thursday, November 17th, beginning at 12 noon, and lasting until 6 PM. The location will be in front of the old County Courthouse, on Main Street, in Brooksville, Florida (address below).

Attendees are also encouraged to bring your own signs, if you have a favorite message/complaint; and to also bring a lunch bag to tide you over for the duration of the afternoon, if you can stay awhile.

We hope the organizers of the rally will be open to continue its demonstration until 6 PM. This extended time would facilitate those who are working during the day to at least come by at 4 PM or 5 PM to join the rally for an hour or so. It is “Occupy Hernando’s” experience that people cannot all come at the same time, but small groups of participants can put in several hours during a broad time frame (i.e. 12-2; 2-4; or 4-6 PM).

Mrs. Mona Trump, one of the organizers of the “Occupy Brooksville” group, from northeast Hernando County, forwarded suggested sayings for signs of a more-abbreviated nature to make it easier for passersby to capture the group’s various messages quickly. It was her observation during “Occupy Hernando’s” first rally on October 29th, which she attended, that the signs, while accurate, may have used too many words which might have made it difficult for motorists and passersby to read.

Mrs. Trump’s suggestions follow:

ANGRY, FED UP, OCCUPY BROOKSVILLE, RID GREED, AFFORDABLE EDUCATION, FIRE CONGRESS, FIRE LOBBYISTS, ACCOUNTABILITY, WHERE ARE JOBS?, WE THE PEOPLE…, REFORM TAX STRUCTURE, ACCOUNTABILITY, FORCLOSE BANKS, BANK LOAN RESTRUCTURE, MADE IN USA, TRANSPARENTSY, INTEGRITY, CORPORATE GREED, GREED, and FORECLOSURE would each be enclosed by a red circle and a diagonal red line --- similar to the no u-turn signs.

Address of Hernando County Courthouse:

20 North Main Street
Brooksville, FL 34601

Some signs used by the participants in the Spring Hill demonstrations include the following:

Where are the jobs?
Why did I go to school and get a degree?
Angry
Bank Bailouts became socialist when they were in need
Wall Street is War Street
I am the 99% and I’m fed up!
People Power Stronger than “People in Power”
Jail Bankers not Protestors
Police: Hands off Protestors
Jail corporate criminals
A job is a right
Healthcare is a right
Tax the rich, feed the poor
False Profit
The people bailed out Wall Street
Unemployment/Foreclosures : Who’s Making Money?—Wall St. Profiteers
Where are jobs? I Graduate in May!
Empathy? Try Walking in our shoes!
Money ($) Doesn’t Make a man!
Wars—Who’s Making Money? War profiteers
Save Social Security
Protect My Pensions & Medicare
One Nation Under Greed
Top 1% Tax Cuts = $3 Trillion
Capitalism Has Failed All of Us
Support Capitalism, but Not Corruption
Why Do Congress and Bush/Obama Take Wall Street & Corporate Money?
U.S. Congress Go to Jail (shows monopoly man cartoon in jail)
Dump the Two-Party Oligarchy
My Home is Under Water
God Bless the United States of Corporations
I am the 99% and I am Fed Up!
I’m So Hungary I Made a Sign
You Know Things Are Messed Up When Librarians Start Marching!
We Are the 99%
For Sale: America
Corporate America Owns The Politicians
Wall Street Profits on Unemployment and Foreclosures
Banks: Lend Money
Hernando Sheriffs----One Layoff From Joining Us!
Tax the Rich----False Profits
Audit the Fed
Stop Funding the Wars
Occupy the Vote
Occupy NFL Blackouts of Games

2ND “OCCUPY HERNANDO” HAS 28 PARTICIPANTS; DEMONSTRATORS FLEE 2 SUV’S VEERING FROM HIGHWAY; DEPUTY SHERIFF URGES GROUP TO BACK UP DUE TO COMPLAINT

Occupiers Voted Saturday To Move Rally to Wells Fargo Bank for Next Saturday Rally, 10 AM-Noon, U.S. Highway 19, Spring Hill; Farmer’s Market Creates ill Will and Complaints, Not Demonstrators

Monday, November 7, 2011, Spring Hill, Florida: The “Occupy Hernando” rally held its second event in successive Saturdays on the side of U.S. Highway 19 in front of the Old K-Mart Store and newly re-located Farmer’s Market in Spring Hill. However, the anger this week not only came from mall and market managers, again, but also from the highway and a nearby neighbor. Occupy organizers blame Farmer’s Market management for causing complaints, fear and intimidation.

Two large speeding SUV’s, veered suddenly over two and three lanes respectively, within 15 minutes of each other, directly at the “Occupy” demonstrators standing on U.S. Highway 19 (Commercial Way) in the grass area (public property called a “schwail” by the Sheriff’s office). The events occurred between the busy highway and the Farmer’s Market parking lot, causing people to scatter on the first drive-by scare tactic.

Shaken protestors could not get a license number on the first SUV, but were able to give visiting deputy sheriff L. Origin, and Traffic Control Supervisor Bhoemer, in a telephone complaint to the Sheriff’s office, a brief description of the second vehicle, which was a gold Honda SUV, with a license ending in “….TEX.”

Demonstrators said the majority of passersby in cars lent support and encouragement to the group with loud and long horns, thumbs up displays, and even an infrequent shout from the cars say they agreed with the signs and protest.

Apparently a complaint was made to the Hernando County Sheriff’s office regarding the demonstrator’s proximity to the road as “distracting traffic flow.” This complaint resulted in deputy sheriff L. Origin, in an unmarked care, with red and blue lights flashing, pulling over in front of the group urging them to back off the road to behind street lights, in the schwail area, approximately 50 feet away. Demonstrators protested saying most were standing on the grass area, off the asphalt bike path next to the highway. Plus, they argued that in ten years of antiwar demonstrations they were never asked to back away so far from the side of the road.

[There were several occurrences before of antiwar protestors standing with signs in the medium of the road that were asked to leave by sheriff officers, which were immediately complied with.]

Since the officer arrived the last five minutes of the scheduled demonstration to end at 12 noon, no face-off occurred, despite the tension between the officer and group. Immediately upon the deputy getting back into his car, a new white corvette stopped side-by-side to the unmarked patrol car, in the third highway lane, to speak with the deputy. Officer Origin led him over to the side of the road for a 2-minute conversation. The corvette then proceeded to immediately turn right into nearby Timber Pines, creating the impression to the demonstrators that the driver of the new car was also the complaintent checking up on the sheriff’s department’s actions.

Complaints from the Farmer’s Market and the mall property managers; plus, several letters to the editor, individual calls from venders and some calls to a local radio program, also criticizing the “Occupy Hernando” group for “hurting the business of the venders in the market,” seem to have come from the negative statements, fear, intimidation and disruption tactics and actions of the Market Managers themselves, and not from the demonstrators. Get directions

Coordinators of the “Occupiers” say that there is not one protestor sign or banner that criticizes the Farmer’s market or its vendors, nor are the demonstrators parking in the parking lot next to the market, but further away. Some of the “oocupiers” have even walked to the site and been accused of parking in their lot, with verbal threats of “towing their cars away!”

In addition, several coordinators have said to reporters in attendance at the rallies, and over the phone, that the protest is symbolically being held in front of the closed-down corporate K-Mart store. Joe Lemieux, one of the coordinators, also emphasized repeatedly with the press and media that “we are also there to show our support and bring positive attention to the small businessman who work hard for a living and for others who have to earn a living due to loss of corporate jobs and a faltering economy.” Occupiers are also protesting the unethical conduct and greed of the country’s financial community and corporate funders of the U.S. Congress and past and present presidential administrations causing foolish and inoperable policies.

Another of the five coordinators, Brian Moore, also stated that the added newspaper and media publicity given to the Farmer’s Market by the “Occupy Hernando” events proximity “was a blessing in disguise,” because the market had moved twice before in the previous weeks, was forced out of the Sears lot recently, and that the public learned of the market’s newest location because of the “Occupy” event’s proximity to the new market’s move.

A caller to a local morning radio program, last week, even complained that the Farmer’s Market was “not very authentic” because “it lacked any food produce and no local well-known vendors” who he mentioned by name, from Brooksville or Hernando county. The anonymous caller also said that the majority of the vendors “were from Tampa or outside the area, and not known locally.” The caller said he would not return to the market, “not because of the protestors,” but because of the “business’s weakness of being a true farmer’s market and the poor quality and selection of products and items.”

“Occupy Hernando” has scheduled its third rally for this coming Saturday, November 12th, from 10 AM to 12 noon, at a new location, as voted by the group at last Saturday’s rally. The Wells Fargo Bank in Spring Hill, on U.S. Highway 19, next to the Cracker Barrel and Panera restaurants, directly in front of Sports Authority and Penny’s mall. The bank address and map follows:

Wells Fargo Bank
1337 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606

http://local.yahoo.com/info-64401733-wells-fargo-bank-spring-hill

Some signs used by the participants last Saturday in Spring Hill included the following:

Where are the jobs?
Why did I go to school and get a degree?
Angry
Dump the 2-party system
Dump capitalism
Bank Bailouts became socialist when they were in need
Wall Street is War Street
I am the 99% and I’m fed up!
People Power Stronger than “People in Power”
Jail Bankers not Protestors
Police: Hands off Protestors
Jail corporate criminals
Capitalism doesn’t work
A job is a right
Healthcare is a right
Tax the rich, feed the poor
False Profit
The people bailed out Wall Street
Unemployment/Foreclosures : Who’s Making Money?—Wall St. Profiteers
Where are jobs? I Graduate in May!
Empathy? Try Walking in our shoes!
Money ($) Doesn’t Make a man!
Wars—Who’s Making Money? War profiteers
Save Social Security
Protect My Pensions
One Nation Under Greed
Top 1% Tax Cuts = $3 Trillion
Capitalism Has Failed All of Us
Why Do Congress and Obama Take Wall Street & Corporate Money?
U.S. Congress Go to Jail (shows monopoly man cartoon in jail)
Dump the Two-Party Oligarchy
My Home is Under Water
God Bless the United States of Corporations
I am the 99% and I am Fed Up!
I’m So Hungary I Made a Sign
You Know Things Are Messed Up When Librarians Start Marching!
We Are the 99%
For Sale: America
Corporate America Owns The Politicians
Wall Street Profits on Unemployment and Foreclosures
Banks: Lend Money
Hernando Sheriffs----One Layoff From Joining Us!
Tax the Rich----False Profits

INVITATIONS TO “OCCUPY HERNANDO” SENT AGAIN TO CONSERVATIVE GROUPS TO ASSURE NON-PARTISAN PARTICIPATION; 2ND RALLY, SATURDAY, NOV. 5TH, 10 AM-12 NOON, OLD K-MART GRASS

ACLU and Hernando Sheriff’s Department contacted to clarify parking rights due to mall management tow threats; Move to new Spring Hill location for Nov.. 12th event being considered; Nov. 17th (Thursday, noon) “Occupy Brooksville” On Group’s Agenda

Friday, November 4, 2011, Spring Hill, Florida: The “Occupy Hernando” movement has scheduled its second rally for this Saturday, November 5th, from 10 AM to 12 noon, at the same location as its first event held last week, in front of the old K-Mart store on U.S. Highway 19. The spot is adjacent to the Timber Pines community (north side) and the MacDonalds restaurant (south side) located in the same mall parking lot. Address is: 2468 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606.

80 to 90 participants attended last week’s peaceful October 29th event.

The ACLU has been contacted to determine if any denial of rights has occurred against the rally attendees. Simultaneously, the Sheriff’s office has been contacted to clearly determine its position in this mall “tow-threat” matter. The Sheriff’s office says it does not interfere with private property owners who have sole discretion. However, the sheriff’s officers, according to Lt. Lillibridge of the Sheriff’s office, are not there to enforce the private owner’s actions. The deputy sheriffs just handle trespassing matters involving people.

The rally has scheduled a brief meeting at the end of the event Saturday to consider moving its future protest rallies to a new symbolic Spring Hill location.

The group also plans to support and attend the “Occupy Brooksville” event on Thursday, November 17th, at 12noon in front of the Old Courthouse in Brooksville.

Representatives from the Tampa Tribune (Hernando Today) and St. Petersburg Times (Hernando Times) were present at the rally, along with Tampa Channel 8 TV and a Yahoo.com reporter. A subsequent story and photos appeared in the Hernando Today newspaper on Sunday, October 30th, and a small photo and caption appeared the following Wednesday, November 2nd, in the Hernando Times newspaper.

Some signs used by the participants last Saturday in Spring Hill included the following:

This is an article in the Tampa Tribune’s Hernando Today publication on the “Occupy Hernando” rally held Saturday, Oct. 29th. Eventhough the reporter wrote that 25 people participated (he attended early and left the rally early) we feel 80 people participated over the four hour span, 10 AM to 2 PM. We collected 60 contact numbers, so are confident in our estimate.

We expect the St. Petersburg Times to publish an article on Wednesday. Channel 8, NBC affiliate, also filmed the event, and a writer from Yahoo.com was present as well.

We held a brief meeting at the end of the rally and there was a consensus with the 15 or so people that we should return next Saturday, to the same location, Old K-Mart and Farmer’s Market, from 10 AM to 12 noon. We are setting up an internet address, OccupyHernando@hotmail.com,, and a newsletter on the internet, and a participant, Josh, volunteered to help set up a website for the Occupy Hernando movement.

We also experienced positive support from the many passersby on the highway. Thanks to all of you who attended, or e-mailed and called in your support who could not be there. There are 32 comments on the Tampa Trib. Article so far.

Published: October 30, 2011

Occupiers make stand

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Occupiers A group of about 25 people stood under overcast skies Saturday morning waving to passing motorists as they held high signs that read "Tax the Rich" and "Capitalism has Failed Us."

Occasionally, drivers would honk their horn in support. Others gave them a well-known derogatory gesture.

And the people — members and supporters of the Occupy Hernando rally held in the grassy area in front of the old Kmart building on U.S. 19 — drew plenty of onlookers, especially from the Hernando County Farmers Market going on at the same time several yards away.

One of those watchers was Eric Parresol, co-owner of the farmers market, who worried that the only thing these protesters would succeed in doing was drive away customers.

Many people would not stop to shop, he said, because they are intimidated when they see what looks like a political event so close to the fruit and vegetable stands and other vendor wares.

Parresol couldn't figure out why the Occupiers chose the U.S. 19 site when there were so many places in the county that typified corporate America, the target of their wrath.

"I'm all for what they're doing because they're for the small-business people," Parresol said as he kept watch from a nearby vendor tent. "But why wouldn't you protest in front of a bigger corporation?"

But Occupy Hernando co-organizer Joe Lemieux said the farmers market was the perfect location because it symbolized the plight of the working people who do what they can to make a living.

"They're providing jobs for people here," said Lemieux, who normally would be tending a vendor's stall but took the day off to take part in Saturday's rally. "Everybody here is part of the 99 percent."

The 1 percent, he said, is the corporate bigwigs and the super-rich.

A sheriff's deputy periodically came by to monitor proceedings but, at least during the morning, all was peaceful.

Rally member Terri Gilbert said Occupy Hernando represents the disappearing middle class, swallowed up by the federal government and the lobbyists.

"It's no longer government for the people," she said.

Her husband, Bill Gilbert, said the Occupier's message is not anti-capitalism, just anti-corruption.

"We're not Communists or anything like that," he said.

"Occupy" movements have sprung up throughout the nation, all modeled after the original Wall Street movement.

Jayne Arrington, watching from the sidelines, said the message has been somewhat muddied but the core concerns are the same: end economic inequality, stop corporate greed and give the working class a chance.

"The movement's about de-corporatizing America so that the little guy can own a home again or send their kids to college," Arrington said.
Brandon Glogower of Spring Hill watched as the Occupiers took strategic places along the busy roadway. Even though one of the protesters was his partner, Glogower did not think this small rally would move any local politicians to action.

"I don't like politics," Glogower said. "I'm anti-United States. There are too many regulations. I don't like taxes, zoning — it's just too much."
The government bureaucracy "has gotten out of hand," he said.

The event was an occasion for Linda Richards to bring along her 7-year-old Pomeranian named Monster, who lazed sleepily in a stroller adorned with a red, white and blue bonnet.

Monster tries to make all the rallies, Richards joked.

"I'm just frustrated," said Richards, who was laid off two-and-a-half years ago from a sprinkler installation company that went out of business.
Her husband's been out of work about the same amount of time, she said.

Richards said she was going to the farmers market anyway and decided to join the rally.

Co-organizer and civic activist Brian Moore said he hoped Saturday's rally, scheduled to last four hours, would raise the consciousness level of people "and radically alter the mindset of our political leaders, including our county commissioners.

"They either have to change or move aside," Moore said.

Many people shopping at the farmers market seemed oblivious to the rally going on in front of the road. Others took it in stride.

Phil Hauck of Spring Hill and his friend sat on the back of a pickup and watched the proceedings from a distance.

Hauck said the Occupy movement offers nothing new.

"Corporate greed has always been there and it's not going to go away," Hauck said, peering out at the sign-waving protesters. "I don't ever see it changing."

Bystander Kevin Conway of Brooksville wished the Occupiers good luck but doubted it would change minds.

"I think I agree with some of the ideas they're putting forth," Conway said. "But the bankers, insurance companies and politicians have us right where they want us.

"I don't know if a dozen people or 100 times a dozen people will help."

But, he added, events like this can't hurt.

"If it raises awareness, he said, "it's all to the good I guess."

Upper middle-class Hernando County couple are unlikely Occupy organizers

By Tony Marrero, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, October 28, 2011

Karen and Ray Stanbro are retired and live just north of the Citrus-Hernando county line. The upper-middle-class couple say they have a responsibility to show that the Occupy movement, which protests the financial and political systems, goes beyond the fringe.

ISTACHATTA — Ray and Karen Stanbro's 9-acre spread just north of the Hernando-Citrus border is about 1,100 miles from Wall Street, but it feels like a world away.

Visitors who pass through an iron gate are greeted by the couple's trio of dogs: Chase, Chance and Chalice. The well-appointed ranch home features vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace and hardwood floors covered with Oriental rugs. A nearby barn is home to the couple's mare Shanteuse and two alpacas, Yin and Yang.

But the passion behind the Occupy Wall Street movement has reached even this bucolic setting.

The Stanbros are helping organize an Occupy Brooksville demonstration set for Nov. 17 in front of the old Hernando County courthouse. The couple and their fellow organizers are also joining forces with the Occupy Hernando event set for Saturday in front of the former Kmart store in Spring Hill.

Hernando might seem like an unlikely place for a movement that has spread mainly to cities since its inception in Manhattan two months ago. And the Stanbros, with their upper-middle-class standing, might seem like unlikely demonstrators against what Occupy proponents call broken political and financial systems.

But anger now runs deep in America, transcending generations, socioeconomic status and political party, the Stanbros say, so they have a responsibility to step up to show the movement now goes beyond the fringe.

"We're comfortable, but we're part of the problem as far as I'm concerned," said Ray, a 73-year-old former advertising executive whose company designed the Apple logo. "I've been apathetic for too many years and have just let what has happened go on."

Karen, a 67-year-old retired office manager, protested segregated schools and the Vietnam War. Now it's time to act again, she believes.

"If we had done more, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess," she said.

So, these days, one finds Ray — who came up with the slogan "Is it live or is it Memorex?" — working in a cramped office in the barn stenciling Occupy signs:

The roar you hear is the silent majority.

The buck stops where?

Hope doesn't get jobs, action does.

•••

Here's a refresher on how Occupy Wall Street made it to Europe and Asia and back to little ol' Hernando County.

In July, an anti-consumerist magazine called Adbusters called for "20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades, and occupy Wall Street for a few months," demanding "democracy not corporatocracy."

A group of about 1,000 protesters gathered in Manhattan on Sept. 17, walked up and down Wall Street and eventually settled in nearby Zuccotti Park. Largely ignored by the media at first, the demonstration started to draw more coverage after some protestors were arrested, prominent figures like filmmaker Michael Moore and actor Susan Sarandon showed up, and large labor unions endorsed the effort.

By early October, Occupy-inspired demonstrations were under way in major cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and in smaller cities such as Memphis and Tampa.

The supporters are mainly liberal groups associated with Democrats, so few were surprised to hear that Brian Moore, a local activist and perennial candidate for political office, and Hernando Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Steve Zeledon are helping to lead the Occupy Hernando effort.

Moore, who ran for president in 2008 as a Socialist candidate, acknowledges his resume makes conservatives cringe. But Americans need to focus on what they have in common, then set to work on solutions, he said.

"We're fed up with the debt, we're upset with the two-party system, we're upset with the corporate funders of our legislators," Moore said. "Commonality and community, as opposed to selfishness — we're being pushed in that direction by default."

That sentiment wasn't exactly reciprocated by Hernando Republican Executive Committee Chairman Blaise Ingoglia, who pounced last week when he heard Zeledon was involved.

"There may have been a day when Democrat party bosses in the South were centrists," Ingoglia wrote in a press release. "Those days have passed. Now, even here at the local level, we see these Democrat leaders are willing to coordinate with those who push the most extreme, socialist political agenda."

In response, Moore and fellow organizer Joe Lemieux of Spring Hill sent open letters of invitation to conservatives.

Ingoglia is not swayed. Smaller government and budget reform are already coherent, nonpartisan messages, he said.

"In my opinion, both parties are aware of the challenges facing this nation, but the difference lies in the ideology for the solutions," he said. "Liberal Dems think the Obama model of more government, more spending and class warfare is the answer. Conservative Republicans think this is actually the problem.

"If these local events mirror the Occupy protests going on around the nation," he said, "I cannot and would not advocate attending them."

•••

A CBS News/New York Times poll released this week highlighted the differences that demographics and party affiliation make in a person's perception of the movement.

Half of Americans ages 18 to 29 say they agree with the movement, according to the nationwide telephone poll of randomly selected adults. Just one in three Americans age 65 or older say the same. And two-thirds of liberals say they agree with Occupy Wall Street, compared with just one in four conservatives.

Overall, 43 percent of the respondents agreed with the views of the movement, and 27 percent said they disagree.

The Stanbros were watching news coverage of the Occupy Tampa demonstration when they felt compelled to act. They called Mike Holton, a 64-year-old Brooksville resident who retired at age 49 on profits from his automotive parts and service company.

Holton and Karen Stanbro are in the Brooksville Rotary Club, and Ray has helped with the club's service projects. They decided to set a demonstration for Brooksville after Occupy organizers called for nationwide demonstrations on Nov. 17.

The growing disparity of wealth in America has bothered Holton for years, but he never got involved. The Occupy movement called to him, he said.

"If you're in your 30s or 40s and have two or three kids, just trying to make your mortgage payment on your underwater house, you probably don't have much time to talk about an Occupy movement," Holton said. "We can stand up for those people. We're old farts. It's not going to impact us, but it's certainly going to impact our children and grandchildren. We're not leaving them a pretty picture."

If you go

Occupy demonstrations

Occupy Hernando will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on a grassy strip of right of way in front of the old Kmart building at 2468 Commercial Way in Spring Hill. The Hernando County Farmers Market will be held at the same location, but the two events are not related. The demonstration does not require a permit, but Hernando Sheriff's Office Lt. Col. Royce Decker said deputies would be patrolling the area "and take necessary action, deemed lawful and appropriate, if public safety interests become an issue." For information, contact Brian Moore, (352)686-9936.
Occupy Brooksville will begin at noon Nov. 17 in front of the old courthouse at 20 N Main St. in downtown Brooksville and is expected to last into the afternoon. For information, call Ray Stanbro, (352) 754-9164.

Other newspaper article today in Tampa Tribune’s Hernando Today:

Hernando Today
Published: October 27, 2011;
In Print Friday, October 28, 2011

All invited to Occupy Hernando on Saturday

By TBO.com | Hernando Today

Come one, come all appears to be the theme for Saturday's Occupy Hernando rally.
One of the organizers, activist Brian Moore, has invited people of all political stripes to attend the event, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the former Kmart store off U.S. 19 in Spring Hill.
Moore and another organizer, Joe Lemieux, sent out invitations to people who embrace all political persuasions so as to erase perceptions that any specific group or ideology was sponsoring the event.
"We are unpaid volunteers concerned about our country, state and county now, and in the future," Moore said in one invitation. "The American dream seems to not be attainable anymore."

HERNANDO DEMOCRATS’CONSCIENCE PRICKED AT JJ DINNER

Outspoken Ex-Congressman Grayson Offended By Charge of “Lacking Courage” to Challenge Obama in Primary

Spring Hill, FL, Monday, October 17, 2011:

Hernando County Democrats and their guest speaker, Former U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson, appeared to be offended, for different reasons, by a lone demonstrator’s critical signs displayed and verbal calls made outside the Palace Grand Hall in Spring Hill, Florida, Saturday evening, shortly before the party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Democratic Dinner.

The Hernando Democrats took offense at the harsh criticism of their party and “accusations of silence” in the face of increasing U.S. wars and loss of Americans’ personal rights. Congressman Grayson, the invited speaker, said he was “insulted” by signs that accused him of “not having the courage to challenge President Obama” in the Democratic presidential primaries.

The former congressman approached the demonstrator out in front of the Grand Palace Hall, before going in, saying “He had never been accused of lacking courage by anyone, and that this was the first time he had ever encountered such an accusation of him.”

The lone protestor, Brian Moore, a local Hernando County activist, asked the tall, well-dressed Grayson “Where is the Eugene McCarthy of the Democratic Party when they needed one?” Moore listed one charge after another (wars, loss of rights, Wall Street money) of Democrats and the President as to why incumbent President Obama should be challenged by his own fellow Democrats. Moore said it was a disgrace that no one had the courage to stand up to Obama, and that the party stalwarts were “intimidated into silence.”

Grayson, as he approached Moore on a slope across from the hall entrance, protested defensively that he had “only been a one-term congressman,” and therefore “lacked the credibility in the party” to challenge Obama now. Moore took Grayson’s comments as “an admission that the criticism of Obama and his party was valid,” and that Grayson also meant that “no Democrats of stature had the guts to take the president on either.”

Grayson offered to buy Moore a $50 ticket to the dinner, and to walk in with him, if the activist wanted to voice his concerns to the body of people inside the dinner hall. Moore refused, saying he “did not want to go into the dinner,” and that he “had accomplished his purpose of forcing the Democratic officers and attendees to acknowledge the valid criticism of their party and “their shameless support of a warring President,” stated Moore. Mr. Grayson, as he turned to return to the hall, urged Moore to “Go to YouTube to see how much I have been a critic of the wars and of President Obama.”

Approximately 12 signs, back-to-back, most stuck in the ground, and several held in the demonstrator’s hands, blasted the Democrats and President Obama for the growing number of American supported wars in the Middle East and Africa, and the country’s increasing use of bomber drones, killing innocent civilians and used in neutral countries like Pakistan. One sign accused Obama of being a “war-monger” and another accused Obama and the party of taking money from Wall Street and American corporations.

Other signs harshly criticized the Democrats and President Obama for the loss of American’s civil rights via the Patriot Act, loss of habeas corpus, warrantless spying, and even assassinations of American citizens.

One well-dressed woman pointed a finger at her head, implying the protestor was crazy, while four others approached Moore individually, before the dinner. Steve Zeledon, the Hernando County Democratic Chair, approached Moore before the event saying that he agreed with the antiwar criticism, but that “Obama would be different the next four years,” and that “change would be coming with people like Grayson in 2016.” Another attendee approached the activist to say that he was in Tampa earlier in the day to protest with the “Occupy Tampa,” people to protest the greed in the country by small elite at the expense of the 99% majority. However, the elderly gentleman would not criticize President Obama and “the Obama wars,” protested Moore.

Other Democrats, who are friends of Moore, waved in recognition, but made it clear they still support Obama.

TAMPA PROTESTERS OF 10-YEAR WAR IN AFGHANISTAN SHOCKED BY NUMBERS/PASSION OF “OCCUPY TAMPA” GROUP WHO JOINED THEM

Friday, October 7, 2011, Tampa, Florida:

Occupy Tampa October 7, 2011 Attached is a picture of Brian participating in the “Occupy Tampa” demonstration of October 6, 2011, in front of the federal courthouse in Tampa, Florida. Brian, in a blue shirt, is kneeling in front displaying two signs which read: “Stop the War!,” and “Stop Funding the Wars.” Brian was part of an antiwar group (60 people) protesting the 10th anniversary of the Afghanistan War. They were joined by over 300 demonstrators taking part in the nearby “Occupy Tampa” event.

The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice, of Hernando/Pasco/Citrus counties, joined forces at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Tampa Thursday afternoon with approximately sixty (60) antiwar activists from St. Peace for Peace and other co-sponsoring community groups, to protest the 10 year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan by American forces.

However, the antiwar demonstrators were overwhelmed one hour into their downtown protest by approximately 250 to 300 “Occupy Tampa” demonstrators who had also pre-arranged a joint protest of the wars and the economy. The “Occupy Tampa” group, or “99%ers” as they are also called, had marched three blocks from nearby Lykes Gaslight Park in Tampa, where they were simultaneously protesting America’s economic maladies and the greed of large corporations and privileges for wealthy Americans.

Occupy Tampa event Oct. 6th, 2011 The large numbers of protesters from the park, approximately 300 in numbers, and the enthusiasm and passion they exhibited, in the form of signs, drums, horns, costumes, and chants, were the likes that antiwar people had once experienced 8 to 10 years ago, when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan first started, but have now dwindled in size and intensity for the remaining stalwarts against the ongoing wars. However, the antiwar activists also acknowledge that the “Occupiers” also see the connection of too costly wars affecting their own potential for jobs, healthcare, schooling, housing and even adversely affecting their personal freedoms and rights.

Brian Moore, a NatureCoast Coalition coordinator, said “We were, at first shocked, then energized, edified and re-awakened to the strong passions the mostly young people feel about a crumbling national economy that is hurting them personally, in the pocketbook, more than the impersonal issue of distant wars fought by unknown American soldiers, which they do not feel as much.“ As one of the St. Pete for Peace female organizers said, “who cares what their reasons are for opposing the wars (mostly economic), as long as we agree on the wars stoppage, that is good enough for us!”

The enthusiasm and passion exhibited by the 99% protesters brought thrills, excitement and emboldenment to the peacemakers and antiwar activists, who then accompanied the “Park Occupiers” back to Lykes Gaslight Park to support their singular economic cries for justice as well as both groups’ joint opposition of the American wars.

HERNANDO ACTIVIST PLEASED MORE INFO NEEDED FOR NUCLEAR LICENSE EXTENSION

Activist’s Testimony at Hearing Urges Shutdown of Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant; Plus, No New Expansions

Former Political Candidate Indicates Minor Party Criticisms Not Taken Serious by Status Quo Press and Media---i.e. Japan’s 40-Year News Silence

Crystal River, Florida, Thursday, June 30, 2011: Civic activist Brian P. Moore, of Hernando County, Florida, applauded the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) decision late Thursday afternoon (June 30th) to request more information from the Florida Power Corporation regarding its review of the Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant’s application for licensure renewal.

Florida Power is applying to operate another twenty years in Citrus County, Florida; also setting the stage for its expansion of two new nuclear plants in nearby Levy County in 2016, as well. The NRC has given the power company 30 days from today, June 30th, to respond to its new concerns.

At a Nuclear Regulatory Commission public meeting held Tuesday afternoon, June 28th, at the Plantation Inn in Crystal River, Florida, Moore criticized the NRC’s timing for “considering such an operational extension” in light of the plant’s recent discovery of a second crack inside the reactor building’s concrete, after earlier closing down the plant’s operation in 2009 due to the discovery of deep fissures. Moore urged, instead, that the Crystal River plant “be de-commissioned.”

Moore defined Nuclear decommissioning as the dismantling of a nuclear power plant and decontamination of the site to a state no longer requiring protection from radiation for the general public (Wikipedia).

The sometimes political candidate, mostly running as a third party or independent, stated that there have been 55 or 56 de-commissions of nuclear power plants worldwide. Moore reported that there have been 8 dismantlings in Eastern Europe, 20 in Western Europe, 6 in Asia and 22 in the United States.

Moore also emphasized in his statement to the Commission Tuesday afternoon, of the recent rod meltdowns and subsequent contamination leaks with nuclear plants in the country of Japan this past March; the danger of flooding of two U.S. nuclear reactors in the state of Nebraska the past two weeks; and of major forest fires now threatening the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory’s radioactive nuclear storage in the state of New Mexico. Moore previously worked in New Mexico as a health care administrator, and has been a frequent visitor to Los Alamos in years past.

Brian Moore with Mr. Doyle Moore also referred in his statement to last week’s New York Times lengthy article exposing the “safety myth” concept, shamelessly promoted by Japan, of using nuclear power with “little or no danger,” that the Japanese government preached to a “too-compliant” population for the last forty years. Japanese Protest groups, and minor party candidates’ opposition to nuclear power, were seldom recognized or reported on by the Japanese press, which the New York Times included as another important reason for the public’s deception. [Added at 8:30 PM, Thursday, June 30th, 2011].

The NYTimes reported that both the Japanese government officials, and the country’s private power company senior administrators, have now admitted their deception of the country’s citizenry, and of the subsequent radiation and contamination problems resulting from the recent and ongoing nuclear plant breakdowns caused by earthquakes and resulting tsunamis.

Moore also challenged the position of the power company “to continue to charge customers monthly fees for a plant that will not be operational for at least five years.” He also questioned whether the Florida Power Corporation could be insured adequately, for both repairs and expansion, since “even Lloyds of London refuses nuclear insurance protection.”

The Hernando County activist, who resides in the town of Spring Hill, 33 miles south of the Crystal River nuclear complex, has publicly campaigned against the use of nuclear power, and to closedown all nuclear plants in Florida and the country, during his political campaigns for state and federal offices in Florida (U.S. Congress, 2002 & 2004; U.S. Senate, 2006; President, 2008; and Governor, 2010).

Moore said he spoke as a concerned individual, but also indicated that many members of the Naturecoast Coalition for Peace and Justice, from three surrounding counties, of which he is a member and officer, have similar strong feelings against the presence of Crystal River’s nuclear plant.

The civic activist, and often antiwar demonstrator, arrived at the early Tuesday afternoon meeting at 4:30 PM to testify during the scheduled three-hour hearing (2 PM to 5 PM). However, he discovered the first of the two public events (afternoon & evening) was just ending. He was granted permission by the NRC officials (NRC’s Daniel Doyle, Project Manager, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation) to dictate his testimony privately to a court reporter in attendance.

CITRUS CO. GROUP PROTESTS FLA. GOVERNOR and LEGISLATURE’S POLICY CHANGES
Wednesday, May 11, 2011, Homosassa, Florida:

21 protestors, mostly from Citrus County, demonstrated Tuesday afternoon in the small town of Homosassa, Florida, voicing their anger and discontent over the recent legislative and executive branch policy changes, by Florida politicians, which will adversely impact the poor, the teachers, state workers, ex-felons, the unemployed, voters, the disabled; and the group protested the draconian reversal of sacred developmental and environmental policies to protect Florida’s nature and living conditions.

21 protestors, led by protest organizer Harriet Heywood and Scap Gregory of Homosassa, spent two hours Tuesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 19 in Homosassa, from 4 to 6 PM, carrying signs and posters criticizing the new changes that read “Rick Scott, Florida’s CEO,” “Recall,” “Where are the jobs, Governor,” “Workers Have Dignity,” “Blame Wall Street, not us!”, “”No to corporate bailouts,” “Fl. Legislature Goes After the Vulnerable,” “Workers Have Dignity,” and “Rick Ripoff Scott.”

Other banners and signs carried by the activists read “Fl. Legislature, Florida’s Robber Barons,” “Let’s Get to Work?,” “Right to Work, Bad News,” “All labor has dignity,” “Unions Mean Living Wages,” “Stop the War on Workers!,” “Where are all the jobs?,” “Labor Creates All Wealth,” “Unions Made the USA!”, “Pick Slip Rick!” and “Too Bad, so sad---Rick Scott!”

Brian Moore, a Hernando resident and member of the NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice, joined his fellow Citrus County antiwar protestors, along with new participants from private sector labor unions, local Democratic Party members, Independents and teachers, in the demonstration. Moore said the group was protesting adverse policies recently passed by the Florida Legislature and will probably be enacted by Governor Scott’s signature in several weeks, “adversely affecting the average citizen and more vulnerable populations, as well as damaging the state’s environment (Everglades) and development (more strip malls, overdevelopment of housing and offices),” said activist Moore.

The NatureCoast Coalition is planning a similar demonstration on Saturday, May 14th, at the Weeki Wachee Park intersection, from 10 AM to 11; 30 AM, on the corner of U.S. Highway 19 and State Road 50 (Cortez Blvd.).

(See article & picture below from Citrus Chronicle newspaper, Wed., May 11, 2011, “Protestors Register Displeasure at Gov. Rick Scott’s Policies.”

Awake The States

Cronicle

PROTESTERS REGISTER DISPLEASURE AT GOV. SCOTT'S POLICIES
By Nancy Kennedy

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 8:32 pm (Updated: May 10, 10:14 pm)
HOMOSASSA — Although few in number, the dozen-plus citizens holding signs at one of the busiest spots in Citrus County were strong in their beliefs that the current state Legislature is the “worst ever in Florida history.”

The protestors were members of Awake the State, a grassroots campaign founded by Progress Florida, Florida Watch Action and America Votes. READ FULL ARTICLE

NATURECOAST COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
Tuesday, May 10, 2011, Weeki Wachee/Spring Hill, Florida (Hernando County)

Peace Group To Protest Florida Legislature’s Draconian Actions on Poor, Teachers, Unemployed, Voters, Women and Workers
Long-term Adverse Impact on Florida Environment and Housing Developments Via De-regulation

Saturday, May 10th, 10 AM, Weeki Wachee Corner

The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice and the Florida Peace Action Network will demonstrate this Saturday, May 10th, 10 AM, at the Weeki Wachee intersection (SR 50 & US Hwy 19) to protest the recent legislative actions in Florida adversely impacting on the more vulnerable groups in Florida’s communities.

St. Pete Times

JUSTICE WASN'T SERVED
Saturday, Saturday, May 7, 2011
Letter-to-the-Editor

The killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. military forces, and the disposing of his body in the sea, did not serve the higher cause of justice, despite President Barack Obama's sanctimonious words.
America's act of killing bin Laden without capturing him, thus precluding an open trial, has caused the nation to lose a chance to demonstrate its sense of fairness and protection of individual democratic rights. The dumping of bin Laden's body at sea was a callous and cowardly act by our country, which only demonstrates our fear of a Middle East reaction.
The United States has a long history of allowing Middle East tyrants and dictators to be propped up by U.S. money. America's desire for control, domination, corporate oil and imperialistic ownership continues with this latest action.
Bin Laden's killing by America only adds fuel to the fire and jeopardizes America's safety and standing in the world.
Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill, Florida SEE REFERENCE ARTICLE.

1 Response: From: Magoos, May 7, 2011, 9:39 AM
Mr. Moore is entitled to his opinion and the right to espouse it. He lives in a democracy that permits him to do so. The 3000 innocent civilians who died in the Bin Laden orchestrated massacre of 9/11 were not arrested, indicted or tried. The men victims of the Cole were denied any rights; they were executed without notice. Daniel Pearl was beheaded and his execution filmed. I do not recall a video of his trial or the charges against him. Bin Laden was an enemy of the USA and of the world in general. Al-Qaeda meted out summary murder to many Muslims who dared disagree with it. In war, enemies either surrender or die; in some cases they die under circumstances often confused or muddled. Bin Laden died as he lived — by the sword. Be glad, Mr.Moore, that there are men and women, your countrymen, who are prepared to face danger in order to protect the society you are part of. If a miserable murderer loses his life in the process, be glad it was him and not another American.

OSAMA BIN LADEN: JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVED
By Brian P. Moore
May 2, 2011

The killing of Osama Bin Laden by U.S. military forces, and the disposing of his body in the sea, did not serve the higher cause of justice, despite President Obama’s sanctimonious words.

America’s act of killing Mr. Bin Laden, without capturing him, and not holding anyone accountable for the 9/11 crimes, nor allow for a publicly open trial of the individual accused of masterminding the 9/11criminal attacks on America, has caused the nation to lose a chance to demonstrate its sense of fairness and protection of individual democratic rights. READ FULL ARTICLE ON MY BLOG.

NY Times and Its’ NFL Blog

REMEMBERING JOE PERRY, PIONEERING RUNNING BACK
By ANDY BARALL

April 26, 2011, 6:00 am

Letter-to-the-Editor by Brian P. Moore

Dear Editor:

I attended the 49er games at Kezar stadium in San Francisco with my father and brother during the 50's, and we saw the likes of wonderful athletes like Joe "The Jet" Perry, quarterbacks Frankie Albert and YA Title, halfbacks John Henry Johnson (black), Hugh Mclhany and lineman Bob St. Clair, etc...

We never knew the NFL league or SF 49er team other than it being integrated, and just took it for granted that was the way it was. In nearby Oakland, our residence, we had the AAA Oakland Acorns baseball team and Artie Wilson, was the team's black shortstop during that same period, before the Giants and A's arrived five and ten years later.

We played in the same police league baseball at age 8 and 9 with hall-of-famer Joe Morgan; and Aaron Poynter (later of the Houston Astro's and NFL Referee) was on our little league team, Chapel of the Oaks. We also played in an all-black baseball league in Oakland during the summers of the 1950's.

Even, as a future alumnus, St. Mary's College had its star black basketball players in the 50's; and we listened to their games on radio; and in 1954-57 of the national champion collegiate basketball team, USF (Univ. of San Francisco Dons) who, at that time, had black college Americans, like future professional players, Celtic Bill Russell, Cazzie Russel, KC Jones, and white starter like Mike Farmer.

We did not know nor did we ever see all white teams in the college and professional sports we attended and played in, during those early and heady sport years for the Oakland-San Francisco Bay area of 1950 thru 1960.

While the athletes themselves must have come across discrimination many times during their playing days, as Joe Perry did, everyone should know that they pioneered and created integrated worlds for the likes of yours truly and all future generations in America and around the world.

Brian P. Moore
Formerly of Oakland, California; now of
Spring Hill (Tampa Bay), Florida

NATURECOAST COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
NEWS RELEASE, TIME SENSITIVE
Effective Immediately, Monday, March 28, 2011
Contact: Brian Moore, NatureCoast Coalition: (352) 686-9936 or cell (352) 585-2907

5th District Fla. Congressman Tells Peace Group He Is Not Tea Party Member

Former Sheriff Shares Criticism of Iraq and Libya Wars; Says Liberals and Conservatives Have Same Concerns About America’s Possible Collapse

U.S. Congressman Richard Nugent met in his Brooksville office meeting, Monday morning, March 28th, with seven members of the NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice, saying several times that he is “not a Tea Party Member,” even though he “agrees with a number of their concerns.”

The former sheriff told the antiwar activists that Tea Party members “have just as much concern for America becoming an empire and collapsing from its global wide military activities and rising costs of war. Nugent said that it is just that the tea party people and conservative’s have “different solutions than the liberals.”

Mr. Nugent impressed the peace group when he said that “The nation’s problems are not due to just the Democrat party, or to the Republican Party, but, instead, “he put the blame on both political parties for what has happened.”

The newly elected congressman did agree with the seven progressive visitors that he too was opposed to both the Iraq and Libya wars, saying “the country was lied to about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,” and the latest action in Libya was “done unconstitutionally, and without congressional approval.”

The former Hernando County sheriff also told the visiting constituents that the country needs to “simplify” the nation’s tax code saying “there is no level playing field for all Americans, rich or poor.” Congressman Nugent asked if the group believed that a couple making $250,000 should be considered rich. Both parties agreed that amount should not be classified as “rich,” but acknowledged that a million dollars would put them in that category.

Congressman Nugent said, in response to a question on his support of Governor Scott’s decision of rejecting the speed train award of $2.4 billion from the federal government, that he (Nugent) “supports mass transportation, but not between Orlando and Tampa.” He said the money would be better spent if a mass transit system was constructed “through the center of the state, parallel with the Veterans Expressway,” thereby justifying construction jobs, linking many local communities and aiding the economy.

Coalition member Joe Lemieux of Spring Hill, said “Congressman Nugent showed he is willing to listen, but in the long run, he knows where his bread is buttered on [with the conservatives].” However, Lemieux praised the congressman for not just criticizing a partisan policy, but for being critical of the nation’s political leadership on both sides of the aisle as well.”

Coalition participant Janice Deal, of Zephyrhills, said our group gave the new congressman “a pass” and also enabled him “to feel us out.” Ms. Deal criticized the tax loopholes for corporations and how they are really “a quasi government that runs our county.” She and most of the peace group was also highly critical of the private corporations and defense industry that were benefiting from the wars and tax shelters, not having to pay any taxes, such as GE and Bank of America. Ms. Deal observed that Mr. Nugent “would not answer us” in response to the group’s corporate criticism.

Deal’s colleague from Zephyrhills, Fern Williams, also felt the meeting “was positive,” and that he “listened to our opinions.” However, Ms. Williams said she was “concerned about his stand on taxes” and on his wanting to cut taxes across the board. She felt his support for a fair tax is a “pipe dream.”

Both Ms. Deal and Ms. Williams informed Congressman Nugent that they had attended one of his earlier meetings in Zephyrhills several days previously. Williams and Deal said that they both agreed with another woman at the Zephyrhills meeting, who they did not know, that voiced criticism of the Exxon oil company “still being subsidized” and “not paying its fair share of taxes.”

Former World War II veteran, and peace activist, Joseph Murphy, of Brooksville, said after the meeting that former sheriff Nugent “was attentive to our group, he listened, and paid close attention to our views, but he did not change his conservative philosophy.”

Murphy said during the meeting with Mr. Nugent that during the Second World War, when he was fighting in Germany, “the taxes in America were higher than they are now.” The veteran added “It was patriotic to pay taxes then, as long as it was a “shared sacrifice,” and across the board.” Murphy challenged congressman Nugent “Why is it so wrong to oppose taxes now!”

Clay Colson, another participant from Pasco County, and a resident of Land O’ Lakes, said even though he is a member of a liberal group, he is “a fiscal conservative,” and feels congress should be “more concerned about General Electric making $5.1 billion while not paying any taxes.” Colson said “GE was given a $3.2 billion tax credit by Uncle Sam.”

Mr. Colson also was critical of the government subsidizing big oil, mining and agriculture farms and said “congress should cut the budget” in these areas, “instead of taking money from the more vulnerable people in entitlement programs,” such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Home Oil grants, Single Mothers WIC programs, homeless shelters, Head Start, community block grants, Pell student loans, etc.
Colson also urged Nugent in the local office meeting to get congress to “cut the defense budget by one-third.”

Jerry Cox, of Spring Hill, said it was a good sign that the congressman welcomed us back “any time,” but that his refusal to “take a stand” [on the issues] indicates he may be “just a party man, like former congresswoman Ginny Brown Waite.” Jerry expressed concerns about the existing Nuclear reactor in Crystal River, and its proposed expansion, and questioned the location and number of spent rods in Crystal River, and requested Congressman Nugent to obtain a clarification on the matter.

Brian Moore, chair of the peace coalition, from Spring Hill, voiced his concerns to Congressman Nugent about the huge $1.3 trillion costs of the middle east wars so far, the $800 billion bank and Wall Street bailouts, the ongoing Bush tax cuts for the rich robbing the federal treasury of over $3 trillion in ten years, and the $400 billion Medicare Bill of 2006 that is “still leading the health industry to the government trough.”

Moore criticized congress for “blaming government worker benefits and salaries, unions, and the more vulnerable people,” rather than going after the previous costly congressional legislative bills that have become a heavy fiscal albatross on the entire government budget and growing debt.

Fern Williams, who had questioned Mr. Nugent about “military spending being off the table” at the earlier Zephyrhills meeting, and then repeated her same concern with the Congressman in his Brooksville office, lamented that “He did not answer the question either time.” Williams stated after the meeting that “Congressman Nugent is good at deflecting the issues, when he does not want to answer them.”

ACTIVIST GROUP AIRS CONCERNS TO NUGENT
By MICHAEL D. BATES | Hernando Today
Published: March 28, 2011

Protest at Richard Nugent's

SPRING HILL - Brian Moore and six members of his NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice met Monday morning with U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent to express their opposition to the country's involvement into Libya and other economic-social issues.

They presented the newly minted Republican legislator with a list of their concerns to get him, as Moore said, to "consider more seriously their progressive and liberal points of view."

Moore said after the meeting that Nugent listened attentively to his group's concerns and respected any difference of opinions.

"He agreed with us in general that we have similar concerns," he said. "But he didn't really give us much specifics in regards to his positions on the issues or solutions."

Nugent agreed the meeting was cordial and it is always productive to hear different viewpoints. READ FULL ARTICLE

NATURECOAST COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Peace Group Clashes with Tea Party Counter-Protestors over Support of Wisconsin Public Unions, Speed Rail, Role of Government and Patriotism

God, constitution and American flags are thrown into the din

Tuesday, March 1, 2011, Weeki Wachee, Florida: The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice clashed with Tea-Party counter-demonstrators last Saturday, February 26th, at the Weeki Wachee spring park intersection, U.S. Highway 19 and State Road 50. The competing groups were at opposite poles regarding Wisconsin public unions, the proposed Florida speed rail, the role of government, and the questioning of demonstrators’ patriotism.

15 demonstrators in all, 8 with the peace group, and 7 with the tea party people, standing on opposite corners of the busy intersection, hurled verbal accusations, pointed and shook fingers and took pictures of each other to document their complaints. Each group held colorful signs, flags and banners displaying opposing messages on a variety of themes, to the hundreds of passing cars and motorists, confusing some and encouraging others to honk their horns in support.

Some passersby yelled derogatory comments, made vulgar gestures with their middle fingers or gave thumbs up of support depending on the motorist’s point of view to whichever group they passed by.

The Tea-Party participants, with some wearing shirts saying 9/12ers of Pasco, Citrus and Hernando Counties (a FoxNews Glenn Beck cause), waved two solid color red and yellow flags that said “Don’t tread on me,” along with three large waving American flags. The conservative protesters also carried signs that read “Tax Off,” “No Rail,” “Unions are killing us,” “We Love Budget Cuts (with a heart around the words),” “[FL Gov.] Scott and [WI Gov.] Walker Have Balls,” “All government is socialist,” and “Less government is better.”

The NatureCoast coalition demonstrators waved several antiwar and peace flags, plus Egyptian and Tunisian flags, in support of the pro-democracy movement in the Middle East. The previous week a second peace group had also displayed an upside down American flag. This past Saturday the coalition displayed no American flags. The liberal protestors carried signs reading “Support Wisconsin,” “Support Unions,” “Right to Collective Bargaining,” “Speed Trains Not Corporate Tax Cuts,” “Out of Egypt,” “Stop the War,” “The FBI Wants You to be Quiet,” and “Activism/Dissent is not a Crime.”

Heated comments were exchanged between the two groups after the Tea Party members criticized the peace group for being “un-patriotic” by not displaying any American flags. The 9/12ers claimed they were more “for America,” more god-fearing, and supported the American constitution….”something you liberals never do!”

An effort was made by a coalition member to cross the street to peacefully engage the group, but the exchange turned contentious immediately and the demonstrator retreated.

Demonstration February 2011

Next demonstration: Saturday, March 5th, 10 AM to 11:30 AM, Weeki Wachee intersection (U.S. Hwy 19 & State Rd. 50).

ANTI-WAR GROUP PROTESTING MORE THAN JUST THE WAR! ...PICTURES

REALNEWSREALFAST.COM
Hernando County, Florida Blog News
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 12:28 PM

The Nature Coast Coalition For Peace and Justice was out this morning, and will be until later this afternoon, protesting the war. The group has added some domestic concerns to their protesting as shown from their signs. One was to show support for the Unions in Wisconsin.
One man was flying an American Flag upside down. As people drove by, many were blowing their horns in support. However, we spoke to one family that was upset with the protesters. It was a mother and her daughter-in-law, whose husband (the mothers son) is in Afghanistan right now.

Excerpts from NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice News Release, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011:

Fifteen antiwar demonstrators took to the streets today in Spring Hill/Weeki Wachee, Hernando County, Florida holding signs and flags to “protest proposed state government budget cuts” in Wisconsin and Florida as well as urging the US government “not to meddle in Egyptian affairs.” Tunisian, Egyptian and Peace flags were flown by the group, along with an upside down American flag “indicating the worsening crisis of American democracy and threat to its own freedoms,” said Clay Colson, a Pasco County demonstrator.

The demonstrators urged “support of the public workers and their right to collective bargaining,” while one mile south of the progressive’s demonstration a small group of unknown demonstrators in Spring Hill stood out in the middle of the median on U.S. Highway 19 with counter-protest signs stating “Unions R Not Necessary.”

The Weeki Wachee Park location, across the street from the demonstration, simultaneously held an open flea market in its large parking lot, with an overflow crowd of several thousand visitors. Cars had to park along the highway as an overflow resulted from the huge turnout. The combination of the event and thousands of cars passing the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 19 and State Road 50 produced an almost carnival atmosphere.

The demonstrators had a front line sign that read “Honk for Peace” with a resulting din of scores of people honking their horns indicating a “massive disillusionment with the American wars in the middle east,”stated coalition chair Brian Moore. Moore said the demonstrators were elated over the positive response and massive exposure of their causes for over two hours.

Feb 19, 2011 Demonstration

"Feb. 19, 2011 NatureCoast Coaltion demonstration supporting public workers (unions) and opposing Florida Governor’s veto of speed train federal funding.”

See all images on photo page for this and other events

PEACE COALITION TO SUPPORT COUNTY/STATE GOVERNMENT WORKERS/UNIONS; AND TO PROTEST GOV. SCOTT'S VETO OF FLORIDA SPEED TRAIN

Group to Continue Call for “America’s Hands Off Egypt” and to “Cease Afghan War”
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, Weeki Wachee/Spring Hill, Florida (Hernando County):

The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice will demonstrate this Saturday, Feb. 19th, 10 AM, at the Weeki Wachee intersection (SR 50 & US Hwy 19) to support county and state government workers and their unions in Wisconsin and Florida; and will also protest Florida Governor Rick Scott’s recent veto of Florida high-speed train funding, thus killing the project.

The local antiwar group is adding domestic concerns, front and center, to its national and international peace and justice agenda, because of the recent threats by national, state and county political leaders, of both major political parties, to solve its budgetary problems “on the backs of vulnerable government workers who they are treating as scapegoats,” said coalition chair Brian Moore.

The state and federal legislatures are “also responsible for the reckless government spending on foolish wars, wall street and bank bailouts and irresponsible tax right offs for the wealthy and large corporations,” and are now attempting to “put the blame on public workers and the taxpayers of this country,” Moore added.

The peace coalition will also continue its support of Egypt's pro-democracy movement and protest the continued American wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

NEWS RELEASE
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

DEMONSTRATORS ENDORSE EGYPT'S PRO-DEMOCRACY EFFORTS AND PROTEST AMERICA'S CONTINUING WARS AND SUPPORT OF TYRANTS

Antiwar Colleague, Who Died Suddenly Last Week, Feared US Government Spying

Eight demonstrators of The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice waved signs Saturday, Feb. 5th, at the Weeki Wachee intersection (SR 50 & US Hwy 19) to support Egypt's pro-democracy movement and to protest the continued American wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The demonstration endured heavy rains and winds; thus, the peace group had to cancel its' rally after the first 30 minutes.

Some signs read: "Stay Out of Egypt," "Let Egypt Decide Its' Future," "Stop Meddling in Egypt," "Another U.S. Puppet Going Down," and "Mubarak Thrown Under the Bus, Who Is Next!." Other antiwar signs read "End the Wars," "Stop the Madness," and "Stop Funding the War, Support the Troops by Bringing them Home!"

Hernando County's Joe and Donna Murphy, Jerry Cox, Ginger Wielk, Gerry Thackham, Anna & George Boone (Zephyrhills) and Brian Moore participated in the abbreviated demonstration. However, several hundred cars did pass by witnessing the 30-minute protest with some honking in support.

The purpose of the coalition's demonstration was to voice its support of the pro-democracy movement in the country of Egypt, and to protest the end of oppression, state violence and 32 years of family rule in Egypt.

The event was also inspired and dedicated to Fred Ulmer, a long-time peace activist and coalition member, who died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack last week. Fred was a thin and trim healthy 65 years, retired, rode a bike everywhere, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, and helped many neighbors and friends. Fred had no known medical or family history of heart problems.

However, what is remembered that might have some heavy bearing on Fred's illness, is that he strongly believed that the United States government was spying on the antiwar activists in the local area. Many times Fred did not want to talk on the phone to convey his antiwar opinions via the internet, out of fear of our own national government's opposition to the group's lawful dissent. He even felt strongly that the peace group was being observed and recorded during the coalition's numerous demonstrations.

The FBI's activities against antiwar activists last year in Chicago, St. Louis and Oregon contributed to Fred's growing concerns, as well as impacting the NatureCoast group as well. The coalition carried signs at the Weeki Wachee intersection several months ago protesting the FBI's harassment of peace activists.

Hernando County Sheriff's Office did take several hundred pictures of the peace group, made videos of the group's dissent actions and typed detective reports, covertly, in early 2003, prior to the start of the Iraq War. The ACLU assisted the coalition in forcing the sheriff's office to make the recorded documents and film public.

NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

DEMONSTRATION TO SUPPORT PRO-DEMOCRACY FOR EGYPT AND PROTEST AMERICA'S CONTINUING WARS: Sat., Feb. 5, 10 AM, Weeki Wachee

The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice will hold a demonstration to support Egypt's pro-democracy movement and its' efforts to end state violence and oppression; as well as to protest the continued American wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The demonstration will be from 10 AM to 11:30 AM, at the corner of State Road 50 ( Cortez Blvd.) and U.S. Highway 19 (Commercial Way), across the street from the Weeki Wachee Unerground Spring Park.

The purpose of the coalition's demonstration is to voice its support of the pro-democracy movement in the country of Egypt, and to protest the end of oppression, state violence and 32 years of family rule in Egypt.

The NatureCoast Coalition also holds the Obama Administration , and the previous seven American administrations, accountable for their complicit silence and support of an undemocratic and oppressive regime for over thirty long years. America has also participated with Egypt in its rendition actions of torture .

Egyptians have taken to the streets demanding an end to dictatorship, violence, corruption and poverty. The coordinated wave of anti-government action is the result of a government which has refused to heed the demands of its' people, continued to ignore the misery of its poor, and persistently denied the elementary rights of humanity.

The Coalition joins with other American and Florida peace groups, along with the people of Egypt, in calling for freedom and an end to the corrupt administration of President Hosni Mubarak.

Those who support democracy and civility must speak out now.

Brian writes letter-to-the-editor, January 20, 2011, criticizing a sports columnist’s attempted watering down of unethical actions by the USF leadership.

Letter-to-the-Editor
St. Petersburg Times

Dear Editor:
Sorry, Mr. Sheldon, this matter will not fade away (St. Petersburg Times, “Exit wounds begin healing as former USF Bulls coach Jim Leavitt heads to San Francisco 49ers“January 20, 2011).
Moral principles were violated, people were treated unfairly, and an injustice was done to Coach Leavitt and to the University. USF is an institution dedicated and committed to higher learning, pursuing truth, and respecting the dignity of man. Individuals at the university violated those norms and fundamental truths upon which other truths are based.
The university needs to acknowledge and rectify the wrongdoing, and to hold accountable those individuals that allowed such rules of conduct to be violated.

We have seen such calls for accountability on a higher plane, such as in the Nuremburg Trials, or just in the plain pursuit by society of criminals who have violated the law.

The Coach Leavitt-USF affair violated fundamental laws of conduct and has affected not just the two obvious parties, but more importantly all USF students and all citizens.

Doing the right and proper thing, has yet to be acted upon.

Brian P. Moore. Spring Hill, Florida

C.T. Bowen
Editor of Editorials
Hernando and Pasco Times
St. Petersburg Times
New Port Richey, FL

Dear Mr. Bowen:

The St. Petersburg Times’ recent articles labeling the newly appointed Hernando County Sheriff, Al Nienhuis, as a “Dark Horse” candidate, (“New Hernando Sheriff Named,” Dec. 29, 2010 http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/pasco-undersheriff-tapped-to-complete-hernando-sheriffs-term/1142325, and “Critics Cry Politics in Pick,” December 30, 2010 http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/critics-cry-politics-in-crists-pick-for-hernando-sheriff/1142547) seems laughable and is way off the mark. If anyone was the dark horse, or long-shot, it was I along with similar lesser-known candidates. Also, there were a total of ten candidates applying for the position, not eight, which the St. Petersburg Times incorrectly reported in the two above articles (see below for correct list, Sunshine News, December 30, 2010).

In addition, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 164 of Hernando County displayed its bias even more by inviting only six of the ten candidates to a November meeting of Sheriff Office employees. Ironically, the Police Lodge mission statement obligates its members “not to show impartiality” in their work with the citizens they serve. Apparently impartial and equal treatment did not apply to all ten candidates for sheriff either.

Contrary to the Times’ declaration that Pasco Undersheriff Al Nienhuis was a “dark horse” candidate who won, Mr. Nienhuis really was one of the two “favored candidates,” along with Mike Mauer of the Hernando Sheriff’s Department, because of Sheriff Richard Nugent’s early and strong endorsement of Captain Mauer. However, Nugent’s deceptive and underhanded actions with congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, in becoming the only qualified Republican candidate for congress, sealed Mauer’s fate of not having any chance of winning, because of his affiliation with Nugent, who is now tainted, and convincingly perceived as part of the backroom crowd and old boy network.

Plus, two end-of-year articles in the Times earlier this week, summarizing sharp increases in crime and homicides in Hernando County during 2010 (http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/a-deadly-year-for-hernando-county/1141952, and http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/lies-and-crimes-that-dominated-2010-in-hernando/1141950 ), was the final nail on the coffin for Captain Mauer or any related Hernando County Sheriff candidate for that matter. It became apparent, an outsider was needed.

I can appreciate Mike Mauer’s disappointment in governor Crist’s decision, but it should be redirected anger toward Congressman-elect Nugent and what his friendship toward Captain Mauer has now caused.

Even if “politics,” and State Senator Mike Fasano and Governor Charlie Crist’s “friendship” with Mr. Nienhuis played a major part in Al Nienhuis’ appointment, along with the Governor’s probable anger with being slighted by his own party earlier this year; Senator Fasano and Gov. Crist now have fodder to explain or justify recommending and choosing a Pasco County friend for Hernando County Sheriff, because they can display Al Nienhuis as an “outsider,” and, incredibly, get away with it.

Sincerely,

Brian P. Moore
Candidate for Hernando Sheriff
5559 Cactus Circle
Spring Hill, Florida 34606
Tel: 352-686-9936

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