Topple Rummy the War Criminal Rumsfeld

Around 400 people turned out for the Topple Rummy protest on Saturday March 20th just north of Taos, NM. The turnout was sizable, but lower than expected as the rally was moved, participants were threatened, signs announcing the move were apparently destroyed, and there were rumors of cancellation. The event was sponsored by ACT Taos.

Hightlights of the rally included radical cheerleaders, passionate speeches and the popular "I want to topple Rumsfeld" contest. The El Rito Marching Band played a festive tune to accompany the toppling. Rumsfeld was successfully toppeled and chained up to his beloved missile.

The Rally had originally been planned for the Taos Plaza, but the location was changed on the 18th due to threats of violence instigated in part by a local radio station and several local politicians. According to Bernie Torres, Taos County Republican Party Chair, the rally is an "Act of Hate" and if it remained at the plaza it was "going to get ugly". Several members of the group ACT Taos received threatening telephone calls, and at one point individuals were threatening a violent blockade of the town plaza. Apparently the irony of their violent suppression of dissent was lost on those making threats.

Despite the threats, no violence materialized. The worst that happened was minor vandalism to the head of the statue the night before. According to Molly McNamara, one of the heads builders, "I worked very hard on the Rummy and was disgusted to see that someone had knocked a hole in the back of his neck. I don't know what did it but if it was a rock it would have needed to be quite large as the gash was around eight inches long and even the neck was heavily built. Some people have suggested it might have been a gun shot, but I don't know about that."