Huge protest sign taken down
By Joanna Nasar and Kristi Morhbacker, Special to the Rocky
Published August 26, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.
Updated August 26, 2008 at 3:39 p.m.
Photo by © special to the Rocky
GOLDEN — A gigantic protest sign that was visible from downtown Denver this morning has been removed from a hillside near Golden.
The American Right To Life Action unveiled the sign on North Table Mountain with dimensions the group said set a record for protest signs, as measured by the Guinness Book of Records. The group had hoped delegates, journalists and Democratic convention-goers would be able to see the sign which read, "Destroys uNborn Children."
The sign measured 530 feet tall by 666 feet wide, according to a press release. It had the letters D-N-C in huge yellow capitals arranged vertically.
Former Colorado Republican Party chairman and ARTL Action president Steve Curtis said the group began to hike up the mountain at 1 a.m. and finished erecting the sign at 8:30 a.m.
"The protest sign weighs more than 2,700 pounds and was sewed together with more than four miles of seams connecting 2,400 sheets and backpacked onto location and is being unfurled by 44 letter carriers with spotters a mile away to ensure proper letter placement," said Curtis. Curtis did not return repeated phone calls today.
Brian Rohrbough, vice president of the group, did not return phone calls early today, but said in a press release that the group aims to show links between DNC policies and school violence. Rohrbough's son, Daniel Rohrbough, was killed in the 1999 Columbine shootings. The group says it plans to participate in the Power in the Park protest at the Martin Luther King Jr. park each morning during the DNC.
Rangers and sheriff's deputies from Jefferson County responded to a report about the sign at 8 a.m. Jeffco Open Space rangers reported that 60 to 65 people were on the mountain constructing the sign. Soon after, the group became dehydrated and tired because they lacked proper supplies.
"They had not brought enough water and food. They came down to get water and food. There was a rumor that they went to lunch but it's not true. They are just taking a break," said Andrea Burns, the community relations manager with the Jefferson County Sheriff's office.
The groupʼs actions did not violate any state laws and no summonses were issued, Jefferson County officials said.
"I believe they have been cordial," said Thea Rock, manager of Citizen Outreach and Public Information for Jefferson County Parks and Open Space.
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August 26, 2008
1:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dusty_Piniella writes:
Awesome. that sign hits the nail right on the head!!!!
It's great that the cops will wait till the group is re-hydrated to take it down rather than take it down themselves!
August 26, 2008
1:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
Acemon writes:
Zap the hypocrites with cattleprods, and keep zapping them until they take down their graffitti, then toss their pious butts into jail. No tolerance for taggers! It's time to take action against anarchists like American Right To Life Action and start picketing their headquarters. Anyone with me?
Sadly, however, once again Brian Rohrbough tries to blame anyone except for the two psychos who killed his son. What a shame.
August 26, 2008
1:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dusty_Piniella writes:
Bobby_Jones ... you are exactly right!
The "choice" means choosing to have sex...then you are responsible for your actions, which means raising the child, not killing them.
August 26, 2008
1:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
danirobi writes:
I love how Pelosi is getting slammed by the Catholic Church for what she said on Sundays "Meet the Press". Life begins at the moment of conception, why do you think people take birthday control and wear condoms?
Obama is pro-choice and apparently the abortion issues is above his pay-grade. Not to mention the bills that he voted no on while a state Senator in Chicago regarding the life of a baby that survives an abortion.
August 26, 2008
1:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Acemon writes:
Bobby, Dusty,
You're partly correct. The anti-abortion crowd are the very same people who fight against birth control education, access to contraceptives, family planning clinics (even those which don't provide abortions), as well as sex between unmarried adults because that's a "sin" by their book. There's no way to come to a compromise with such people. I personally don't like abortion since I think are ways to prevent pregnancy in the first place, but some fanatics won't even go along with that.
August 26, 2008
1:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
Right2Protest writes:
Have you heard of rape... then what? Just live with the pain and suffering that was inflicted on her? That was not a choice that she had!! Think before you write stupid things, and broaden your mind.
August 26, 2008
1:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
thats amazing. What a forceful and eye opening message!
:)
I.
*wishes he had a camera*
August 26, 2008
1:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Right2Protest writes:
NotUrFriend: What are you talking about? You seem misguided in life?
August 26, 2008
2:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
Virtually all protestors are misguided in life. Its a general rule there. Protestors will always be wrong to other protesters, so I wont argue with you there.
I'd like to repeat the same toward yourself.
I.
August 26, 2008
2:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
treecat writes:
What took them soo long to show us?
August 26, 2008
2:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
ashlandbus writes:
"Dont these people have a job? Shouldn't they be contributing to society?"
Oh, wait. That is only an argument for liberal protestors.
August 26, 2008
2:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hambone writes:
So eye opening!!! Amazing!!!!
So that's what dozens of little old fascist ladies do, sew together a witty sign?
clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right!
August 26, 2008
2:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
goodall1 writes:
It is sad and unfortunate that anyone thinks they have the right to dictate what women choose to do with their own bodies. It is interesting that you can assign someone the "choice" to have sex, and use birth control (which as stated previously, is also looked down upon by many of this persuasion), both actions that affect the body and than tell them that they cannot make "choices" related to their previous actions. Don't you think this is contradictory? Further, while you may be opposed to abortion, that is a choice that should affect your choices, not the choices of others.
August 26, 2008
2:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
goodall1 writes:
As an aside, Bobby Jones said "The pro-choices must think that women are that stupid to not be able to control their own destiney and/or emotions; it's realy an insult to women."
Unfortunately, you are incorrect. The insult to women occurs when Pro-Life advocates insist on making the decision for us. Controlling our own destiny INCLUDES decisions related to abortion. Banning abortion is in effect concluding that women cannot make this decision. That is insutling and offensive.
August 26, 2008
3:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
bthye writes:
If ignorance is truly bliss, why aren't the pro-lifers a happier bunch?
August 26, 2008
3:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
"...sewed together with more than four miles of seams connecting 2,400 sheets..."
WOW! Even for this old parachute rigger, that was a BUNCH of sewing!
O.K. Libs. What is so wrong with an anti-abortion group peacefully protesting? Oh, I forgot. Protesting (peaceful or otherwise) is solely reserved for libs.
Scott
August 26, 2008
3:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
justme1977 writes:
"Brian Rohrbough, vice president of the group, did not return phone calls early Tuesday, but said in a press release that the group aims to show links between DNC policies and school violence. Rohrbough's son, Daniel Rohrbough, was killed in the 1999 Columbine shootings. The group says it plans to participate in the Power in the Park protest at the Martin Luther King Jr. park which will take place each morning during the DNC."
I am a little confused - how does this aim to show a link between DNC policies & school violence? I get the link between DNC policies and the pro-lifers - very cut and dry. But the link between abortion & school violence - I must be missing something.
August 26, 2008
4:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
nodichotomy writes:
First of all - they didn't break any laws - so what they did is protected by free speech. I do find it strange that people who decry these people and what they are saying are the very same people who are not in favor of vouchers which would let parents decide WHAT type of school they would like their children to attend. Instead they want the children educated in almost always liberal leaning institutions where every liberal agenda in the world (gay marriage, abortion on demand, condom distribution, etc.) are the order of the day. For them it is, "I believe in CONDITIONAL free speech". Meaning "Free speech is good until someone says something I don't like or if I perceive it as some kind of insult to myself or someone I FEEL should be insulted - even if they aren't". I don't remember anything in the constitution or the amendments thereto that gives anyone any rights against feeling insulted. Hey take it like an adult and move on.
August 26, 2008
4:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
Acemon writes:
Scott - Even some Republicans and conservatives are appalled by this protest, not just because of the protester's attempt for a world record, but mostly by the graphic statement and baseless accusations. Nobody wants their party blemished by extremists or fanatics, and the Democrats (for now) seem to understand that. True conservatives need to stand up and reject a tiny minority intent on hijacking America's agenda.
August 26, 2008
4:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
justme1977 sez, "... But the link between abortion & school violence - I must be missing something."
Nope. You tain't missin' a thing. Rohrbough hasn't had his face or name in the news lately, hence he needed a fix of media attention. As a previous poster stated, Rohrbough still can't bring himself to blame just the two, and only two reasons, for his son's death. Hence he blames everything.
Scott
August 26, 2008
4:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
GladysKravitz writes:
I think these protesters too should be arrested and fined for the cost of removal and if any trespassing occured.
And then waterboarded for good measure!
August 26, 2008
4:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Acemon,
"graphic statement and baseless accusations" aren't anything new for protesting (left, middle or right winger). Again, I'm all for peaceful protest, therefore freedom of speech, whether I agree with the protesters or not. However, I'll enthusiastically indulge in my freedom of speech to make fun of those that I disagree with ;-)
You've got to admit that at least this banner was a whole lot less "graphic" than the nauseating posters of chopped up babies that the right-to-lifers shove in you face when they protest.
Oh, and what are the "baseless accusations" on the banner? The democrat party is pro-abortion party.
Scott
August 26, 2008
4:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
"The groupʼs actions did not violate any state laws and no summonses were issued, Jefferson County officials said."
O.K. So if the group puts the sign back up tomorrow they won't be harassed, right? Again, a peaceful demonstration.
Scott
August 26, 2008
5:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
IXLR8 writes:
Right2Protest writes:
Have you heard of rape... then what? Just live with the pain and suffering that was inflicted on her? That was not a choice that she had!! Think before you write stupid things, and broaden your mind.
What gives the woman any right to kill the innocent baby? What harm did this baby ever do to anyone? What gives the woman the right to deny to the baby the same basic human rights of life and liberty that she asserts for herself?
As Mother Theresa said: "But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself.
And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts.
By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems.
And, by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion.
Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion."
Right2protest, I turn your words back to you:"Think before you write stupid things, and broaden your mind."
August 26, 2008
6:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
LisaofLongbourn writes:
Thanks for posting more info (the follow up from Jefferson County) - couldn't find it anywhere else. I wanted to know if anyone was arrested or ticketed.
On public property it's hard to trespass. Peaceful protest of that sort is a lot better than the other kind. The government didn't have to pay any money to get the sign down, as the protesters did it all themselves. The only expense was the salaries of sherriffs and rangers, who had they allowed the sign to remain during DNC, would have had no problems since the protesters had every intention of removing the sign all along.
There is nothing false or irrelevant about the protest sign. Both candidates in this election were asked about when life begins at a recent townhall forum, and many people found Obama's answer inadequate. DNC makes no secret of its support for "choice" in the area of abortion and other forms of immorality. It is obvious that abortion destroys unborn children, so I don't know what the objection could possibly be.
I think the worst part of the whole story is that the hikers were ill-supplied.
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn
August 26, 2008
7:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
nouse4u2 writes:
god himself has ordered abortions- god told the jews to kill every man, woman and child in the land he gave them after they escaped egypt. the dead included pregnant women. god ordered genocide, infanticide and abortion.
August 26, 2008
8:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
"then toss their pious butts into jail." How dare those Americans exercise their free speech rights!
"It is sad and unfortunate that anyone thinks they have the right to dictate what women choose to do with their own bodies." And prevent them from killing their children.
Barak Obama.... "I think America’s greatest moral failure in my lifetime has been that we still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me." Of course an innocent, helpless child is obviously the LEAST of his brothers.... and yet the lunatic left like Obama wants to kill them.
August 27, 2008
9:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
4gColoNative writes:
I don't agree with their position, but commend their "achievement" and applaud the way they conducted themselves.