From the September 2000 Idaho Observer:

ACG sustains two-hour Millennium Protest/Rally in CDA

Message was clear: Get U.S. out of UN now

COEUR D'ALENE -- Nearly 50 people participated in a protest here Sept. 6 in response to the Millennium Assembly which convened at United Nations headquarters in New York City the same day to usher in the age of global governance. The event was also a rally as the sign-carrying group walked 7/10 of a mile to the district offices of U.S. senators Jim Crapo and Larry Craig and U.S. Representative Helen Chenoweth to urge support of the American Sovereignty Restoration Act, HR 1146 sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

The protest/rally began just before noon at the convergence of Sherman Ave. and Northwest Blvd. at Independence Point here. Approximately 30 signs denouncing the UN made a graceful arc on the sidewalk as Northwest Blvd. makes a left-hand sweep into Sherman Ave. in front of the posh Coeur d'Alene Resort Hotel. Hundreds of lunch hour cars witnessed the protest/rally.

Photographers from the CDA Press and the Spokesman-Review recorded the event.

By 12:15, Coeur d'Alene police began to swarm the peaceful demonstration. CDA Police Chief Tom Cronin learned that the protestors intended to leave their original position and march up Northwest Blvd. to visit their congressional delegation. Rather than cite people in violation of a city public demonstration ordinance, Chief Cronin gave the entire procession a police escort.

At 12:45, the demonstration began to move toward Harborview Plaza where Rep. Chenoweth and Senator Craig keep offices. KHQ out of Spokane and Fox News Network appeared with video cameras and interviewed Idaho Observer Editor Don Harkins.

By 1:15 every protest/rally participant had signed a Thank You card that was given to Rep. Chenoweth for her co-sponsorship of HR 1146. The group moved across the parking lot to inform the office of Senator Craig that an informed element of his constituancy would appreciate his support in the removal of all U.S. support and participation in UN activities. His staffer promised that the senator, who supports U.S. participation in UN activities, would forward a letter c/o The Idaho Observer describing his position on the matter.

The group proceeded across the street where Senator Crapo's district office is kept. His staffer also promised that a letter describing his position would be forwarded to ACG c/o The Idaho Observer.

Once the demonstrators had made their point with their congressional delegates, CDA police escorted them back to where Northwest Blvd. empties into Sherman Ave. where the demonstration ended at 1:50 p.m.

The group, which was comprised of participants from as far away as St. Maries, Spokane, and Clark Fork, was able to sustain a peaceful demonstration in Coeur d'Alene for two hours. By all accounts the protest/rally was an overwhelming success.

Of all the dominant news media that recorded the event, the CDA Press was the only outlet that ran anything. “Exercising the First Amendment” was published above a photo of the demonstrators with a nice caption that referred to a story on page 8. The story on page 8 was a pro-UN story with a photo of President Clinton.

“I find it a little ironic that the Aryan Nations can advertise a year in advance that it plans to have a parade that only 20 people march in becomes international news but when 50 well-informed people demonstrate in favor of a bill before Congress that would end all U.S. participation in United Nations activities, there is a virtual media blackout.”