The Phoenix Project： Rebuilding The Branch Davidian Church (Day One) Sept. 19, 1999 [ESeM8Ppom60]

00:03 While more information on the 51-day siege continues to surface, some Austinites packed up their tools today and headed north up I35 towards Waco. Their mission is to build a church on the grounds of Mark Carmel. Lisa Hanna has this story.

02:29 After just a week of planning, dozens of volunteers from across the state gathered at Mount Carmel to build a church. It's a project that was started by Austin radio talk show host Alex Jones We're going to build this church back I've talked with the Surviving Branch Davidians and they concur with my idea to have it a church and at the same time a memorial and museum for what happened right here on this very ground in 1993 It's called the Phoenix Project, a church that will rise from the ashes of the Branch Davidian compound. I think it is important that we have a place to worship again after our church was destroyed. Volunteers are doing all the work. Volunteer such as Austin contractor Mike Hanson We just think its the right thing to do

03:17 Jones says the 50 by 50 foot church is more than just a building. He says it's a symbol of what happened here more than six years ago. Jones calls it an attack on religious freedom. Todays effort was organized by syndicated radio talk show host Alex Jones, he says rebuilding the church will be a state wide effort And so now a large group of people here in Austin, we're going to be met by others in Waco and Temple and surrounding areas in Central Texas are all going to travel to Mount Carmel the site of the fiery conflagration in 1993. To rebuild the church sanctuary area out of the Mount Carmel complex The church is expected to be completed in about three months. We're just thankful to God that there are certain people in this country who still got a spirit of assistance and wanting to do something to show their sympathy and concern for what happened here, we appreciate it

04:13 Plans call for the new site to hold a new 30 by 40 foot white frame church. It's expected to be completed in two, three months. A scene of mass destruction becomes a foundation for a new beginning good evening I'm Kim Barnes and I'm Phil Scott Austin volunteers are rebuilding a chapel on the side of the branch Davidian compound near Waco The compound burned down in 1993 after 51 day standoff between Davidians and federal agents Davidian leader, David Koresh and about 80 followers died. KB24's Joel Thomas reports on the new plans for the property I've known the Branch Davidians a long time and i think they're good God-fearing people. I think they were demonized. Most are galvanized by the thought that federal government murdered The Davidians, videotaped deputies who come to hurry them along They don't trust law enforcement anymore or the media with donated materials and labor Take exit number three nine They receive directions head to ground zero We're gonna rebuild it!

05:14 Waco. At the Davidian compound, the work begins even as the convoy pulls in. Plans are for a modest chapel. We anticipate at least three months for the construction process. They build on the very site where America saw a shootout I think it's sad that a lot of people don't really care, you know what happened here Seeing the battered rubble here staggers even those who've studied the standoff As they reflect on what happens there is a sense even students of Waco Don't know the entire message It's not the same...I want to live here

05:58 But I need a trailer to do it and i don't have money. You would come back out here and live like that? You bet I would in a wink! Watson walks into Memorial Grove, each withered tree planted for someone who died here there is still the lonely vigil for David Koresh's return only feeling no one from outside of the compound can ever understand. I'll tell you when helicopters come after you and you see them, and you hear them. And you know what they're doing." That's an entirely different story. Even so one of the workers who drove here from Austin says he feels like he is building a future tourist stop...a sort of Alamo for the Branch Davidians but one of the Branch Davidians who was here tells me that's okay after all he says the only chapel they really need in heaven in Waco Joel Thomas KVU 24 News

06:55 Good morning Mike. I got you already. The early people... He's with channel 8 and he is with Channel 42. We're in the Capitol Plaza, that's Capitol Plaza! Well as you can see it is about ten after seven by 730 we'll probably have twice this number of people good Patriots standing up against this massive witch hunt was conducted unsuccessfully I might add in 1993 what we are witnessing here a large group of Americans Texans out here attempting to get away from the evil

07:53 Hey, I'm being told not to film and I wouldn't do it. What are you saying? She came over here and said she came over here and said I couldn't feel...I mean I couldn't hear anything. She just wanted us to feel the love! I'm sorry bud. It's okay. I'm sorry we're used to this trust um What you're seeing is a group of Texas Americans standing up against the police state, standing up against what happened to the Branch Davidians who were demonized back in 1993. The basic cover-up with the federal government and we're now witnessing media and many others finally realizing that we've all been lied to, we've all been conned. Now the Branch Davidians have never changed their story they've always told the truth and that's been borne out in the past six years

08:46 And so now a large group of people here in Austin, we're going to be met by others in Waco and Temple and surrounding areas of Central Texas. are all going to travel to Mount Carmel, the site of the fiery conflagration in 1993. To rebuild on the church sanctuary area of the Mount Carmel complex What exactly happened there in 1993? If you could just give it to me... if you can analyze this for me What happened in 1993 was basically that BATF wanted their funding increased They were out there with four cameras They had a 100-man assault team that went in and basically opened fire first. They were going there wanting blood, they only had an arrest warrant for David Koresh And they could have picked him up any time in town but they didn't choose to do that They sent in 100 man assault force, 100 man assault force Opened fire, helicopter gunships came in This is something really hasn't been told but we have the video evidence of it actually happening

09:45 And then 51 days later, after psychological warfare and basic torture. When people would try to leave they would have flashbang grenades thrown at them Now the Texas Ranger report shows this They were basically contained The Army Special Operations Delta Force was sent in with the FBI's hostage rescue teams and from the internal Delta Force memos that have now been confirmed to be real via the Freedom of Information Act It showed that they discussed in the memos violence of action basic arrest situation, not a hostage situation. They went in there to basically according to the Dallas Morning News take them out and in special forces terms and most people know what take them out means but for special forces term it means kill

10:26 What exactly are you going to do today? How much are you going to get done today is what I mean. Yesterday we were out there and surveyed the area, put stakes in the ground We're basically going to dig the foundation, pour the foundation That's the most important stage of any building project Then in a few weeks we'll move forward and start building superstructure And I would say within two and a half to three months you'll have the fully functional sanctuary there for the surviving branch of dividends, and for a monument to what happened in 1993. With the police and the military all working in concert attacking any group of people it's horrible! Then to see them demonized where they were demonized and all that has been now disproven is really a frightening trend in this country. In fact its reminiscent of Nazi Germany

11:14 And so we need to focus on that and have a historical perspective about how dangerous it is when you have these type relationships forming. The news media fell for it big time, didn't they? A lot of Americans fell for it. The news media was held back two and a half miles, the only footage we got was a German newscam on a 24-foot platform amongst ranch land from far distance with super zoom lens and all we got was the very front and incidentally that probably saved Clive Doyle's and David Thibodeau's lives because that The only people that survived were those who got out the front and side where the news cameras could actually get some footage. Everyone that was hurted towards the back by the tanks, that actually went inside died We now have the actual flare footage of the Delta Force and the hostage rescue teams shooting at people as they tried to exit Now what do you folks need to complete this mission?

12:08 We need people to donate time and materials, and yes if they want money the legal department will just go buy the materials we need and deliver them as central points like this morning. That's all we need is peoples' time and peoples energy and peoples heart And were going be able say certain elements of government that would try to engage in a cover up and smear campaign against American citizens We would say to them that this is about standing up and saying the people of Central Texas, the people of America are firmly against this type behavior. Well it's about freedom of religion and free exercise thereof... The Davidians have never changed their story and government has

13:15 Well, ever since it happened. And as time goes on I began to realize this was basically a witch hunt about getting more funding for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and what happened here was wrong we've got an Air Force base over here We've got a great observation tower over there. We've got nice little undercover houses They picked this place It was a perfect area to basically ambush a group of innocent people start initiating America into the modern police state. Let's talk about today and how did you get everything organized here? Who brought this all together, what was the plan for it?

13:55 For years coming to the remembrances we've talked about trying to do something for the Davidians, but it was all talk. And finally myself and Mike Hanson said look let's just do it I think we can get people behind that I think there are enough people in Central Texas that care and realize what happened was wrong We put it together, in fact we started announcing it last Monday and here we are on Sunday as we said we would. And a lot of great people have shown up more or other way from Dallas and Fort Worth right here in Waco and Temple and Austin all areas in between and were going to build this church back I've talked with the Svalbard Branch Davidians and they concur with my idea to have it be a church

14:33 and at the same time a memorial and museum for what happened right here on this very ground in 1993. I believe there's only four Davidians out here today, surviving Branch Davidians. Now these are just concerned citizens from here in Texas and from all across America people who were hearing about this saying that they're going to come for at least part of the construction so this is mainly a volunteer effort Central Texas showing the world that hey we think what happened here was wrong these people's constitutional rights were violated they were stamped as criminals and

15:14 paraded before the press and basically demonized. And I don't even blame the press for that, it was the government! They held the media back two-and-a-half miles and then engaged in their demonization program. We're here to say hey enough is enough we're not going to talk about this anymore we are here to support these people and support America that's what America is about. What's the time frame in terms of what you guys are doing today? Well, we have built another home for a veteran in Austin Texas Joe Campana. We did that in 14 days of city record and it's fully furnished because the bulldozers were coming they condemned his old home and said he wasn't going to help him That took 14 days but that was inside Austin in the metropolitan area Since we are outside Waco and Bellmead I can certainly say three months but probably within a month-and-a-half or two months you'll have a fully completed church We need to complete it that fast to keep our momentum up and get the job done properly

16:05 As far as the land dispute goes, they said it's okay to go ahead and build. Yes absolutely well Clive Doyle has paid the back taxes. Clive Doyle as you see lives here on the property in his mobile home and regardless of what ends up happening with a land I've talked attorneys and others and it's even been on The Waco Tribune that basically once a church is built here It'll just be up for the trustees at the church who basically owns the property so it's even more let's see, affirming whose property this is. And it says this property belongs to the surviving branch Davidians and Clive Doyle has paid the back taxes. But regardless we're building a memorial to what happened here and I don't think anybody would ever want to tear it down

16:45 Hey, thank you sir. Appreciate it. Could you address any legal ramifications or legal advantages that you have filling a church here rather than going to any other ramification? Well I've talked to attorneys and actually read some of the reports, published reports. Clive Doyle is already positioned he has a renowned attorney, former Attorney General Ramsey Clark. He's paid the taxes and regardless of who gets this property this place will always be basically a battlefield museum almost people are going to be coming out here probably forever wanting to understand what happened here so basically that is why we're here

17:30 put a mark on history saying the people of Central Texas and America said no, this is wrong what happened here. And we're not gonna believe the propaganda We're not going to believe the lies and hopefully by leading by example that media and others are finally starting to wake up to what happened will also join us in trying to heal some of the wounds Thank you. Okay who it is with his shovel? Not yet. Just stand still.

18:27 Everybody's talking about these tear gas rounds. It's the 250, 40 millimeter high explosive round that we're all here for. You know what shot that helicopter down? You know Mario. Remember Mario? Yeah. I love Miss Catherine. There she is, we're going to rebuild you a nice beautiful church out here. There she is missy how are you doing? Hi, proud of y'all. Oh it's good, flat. Hey are you burning, did we rebuild it?

19:38 Volunteers of America. Does anybody need any sunscreen? I'll go to one our photo, although there was a guy here earlier he's got a digital camera and he said he's gonna email me some his photos and I figure once people see the activity they'll be

20:22 Steve Wayne swinging it as he always does. He's been involved in so many projects now no breeze at all folks and Steve helping cut the steel with the steel cutter tying to seal. trying to! well they're doing a great job you're welcome man

21:31 We got crime overtaking our cities. We got gangs taking over our streets. They keep handing out more and more welfare, though it never seems to meet their needs. Come on son, sit down right here. Everybody say Central Texas Resistance! I need Mike Hanson. Why? Because they're all messed up You mean they've got none of the materials we need? What about a Home Depot? Oh you mean... I had an accident about a year ago here Is that right? Shredder Yeah, shredder huh? Shredded my whole heel off Damn And then i had to have it amputated two days later All the way to the knee

22:38 No, but about eight inches below the knee. Okay, I was walking within six days there Praise God yes there we are local origin Oh, okay Dairy barn back there's our challenge. Okay? Got a lot of folks out here today, and a lot of folks are still working hard. A lot harder than I had you guys make sure you don't have heat exhaustion drink lots of fluids It feels good! Challenging the false reality not playing along with all their garbage put it in their face getting up off our butts this is good ladies and gentlemen this is important This is fantastic God bless you all we're gonna build this thing

23:46 This man does it all. that's Jeff Davis digging is that Jeff Davis diggin? how long has he been out here digging an hour now get out of the way Jeff Davis got the pig he is blue eyed you know one eye blue left and the other blue right

24:50 get used to it. Get out of the way Keith let her swing I thought he had a hernia on him He does! you better stop he ain't got no hernia What'd you find? Okay, this is to a .44 Magnum. Yep! You can tell...you know all about guns? Heck yeah, you're a great American kid ain't ya?! And this is to a 9mm. That's a 9mm shell? Uh-huh. You got some bullets there! 308. Same man that did Joe Campala's house.

25:55 what's going on Jimmy? Hi. Hold on just a minute I already got you on there going like that looking so pretty hello Alex hello Jimmy just got done eating some great food my friends call me pokey like slow pokey I know Pokey hows it going? It is going! appreciate your help out here on this project as you can see we're ahead of schedule pouring all the cement with 60 something holes dug spec we got the engineer 60 holds all the specs yep there's my dump truck over there it is great great job that's my brother great job Ritter for bringing all the concrete okay hey you hide, hey there's one of Gene's ex-girlfriends already hold on Alex we lost this

26:52 It's the ones of us that ate the excess at camp. Eight black helicopters, buildings on fire? San Antonio! Where are you guys from? Weaver and Fort Worth. Call down to... call down just ask the police department about the Delta Force and the bribery and how the Police Chief and Mayor had to throw them out. What is your loving Delta Force that was here? Your loving Army Special Operations? But it has been five years six years how many years has it been? Six and a half years. I mean, why take you all so long to come up here? Because there's been a big issue going on the land. Well number one for about what three years they had barbed wire around it and the feds wouldn't let you in on it. Wow that was... Yeah. But no there's a land issues still pending but it's almost done. Yeah and Clive has paid taxes on it For last five years We just moved forward You know it feels good to actually do something with my life Not just react to uh media And all of rest of it

27:48 I don't think we're supposed to be here now, but we're here anyway. Yeah governments can stomp and kill people in other countries they are not going do it here the next time they try it they are going to be in for an unhappy surprise just that simple...I've confronted FBI and BATF out on this very ground That's right! They are spouting their propaganda I'm just sick of it They can blow up their federal buildings like Hitler burned the Reichstag They could build their concentration camps They could gear up for fun, they got prepared for all of us It is history of the world From Rome to Babylon, to Nazi Germany, Russia, China... USA Indonesia See people always doubt it because we're not taught the face of evil. We're never taught the face of evil They always show us something else than what the person was really like or what the system was truly like You ever noticed your military is merging with your police basically? I don't know! We've had about four Marines out here that have gotten out and are still in They are out training with foreign troops putting people in camps Just find a young Marine who's in force recon with the elite forces ask them about it

28:47 The whole doctrine's changed. And they got new uniforms, by the way—they're gray and black. Our Marines have urban warfare and they wear SWAT team knee pads and stuff. Ready to rock man! Ready to rock against the American people. It's all about And what was Delta Force doing out here serving a search warrant that they never brought with them? I mean since when has Delta Force served... Delta Force was here with them on the first day. That's now been proven, but see what you got to do is go to the Texas Rangers website It's Texas Rangers far from Cooks They'll tell you about mines and explosives placed on top 40 millimeter exploding rounds Delta force running around killing people with wanton abandon it's all there for everybody read So it's interesting

29:28 What are you guys police or something? No. We live by police. You guys, no I just we always like to talk to people. I was interrogated like that being interrogated about the other thing. Who cares This was an education of the South. The point is, I've talked to hundreds of Americans that say well are people like that really healthy for America? Who created your perceptions? Who with a scientifically crafted spin doctor campaign and then are you strong enough to go back and look at the evidence or even spend time... Go to the library, go look up information, look up data watch wake of the rules of engagement FBI's own flare footage snuck out by good FBI agent. There's footage gunning people down

30:18 but go back to day one. It's all serious. And the missing doors and which way do the bullets go through those doors? What is that? 37mm. Now this is a police tear gas type weapon, we got some fragments from 40mm, not tear gas explosive, if you read the Dallas Corp news you'll read about it also... Working with Bombay right now. I was just telling them how i first met Jeff Davis of the Jeff Davis show

31:11 And he thought I was nuts and of course he's right. But how Mike Hanson had overheard us talking, and Mike come to me and said that he wanted to learn. And Mike has taken off like a duck to water and he and Alex are together so... All I know is we're getting this built, we're gonna build it. Huh? We're gonna build this place. By the hand of God y'all will build it. Monthly Sundays but it might take... a month of Sundays. That's right. Might take two months to Sunday. You can call us by the hand of god you can call us wherever you want. Alright guys where are you putting your name at? At H-Point What are we building? A church For who?

31:51 What is this, Jesse? Not so big. That camera he's got there has night vision. You can't film at night and do it. Hey Josh! What are you all using? Nails! Go ahead Josh put yours in there too. There are some hand prints. And now we're supposed to use our homemade Yes, I'm a kid. Just our first name? Steve Lane. Don't mess with me. Steve Lane used to be on the show we produced. Freedom Report with Alex Jones then The Freedom Report by myself

32:48 Then it became the trailer park show of course well now, it's the trailer Park Show but then it was What did we started out as Jimmy I don't know You were in charge not conspiracy debate and you didn't take charge very well. It was I'm sorry. I really tired it was originally I had to work But then we changed it Freedom Forum. That was it? that was your idea and believe it or not I had somebody well I don't think freedom forum was my name I canceled on him. Well, it came out for the better. Now I just stick with it. The credit park show is a good show. I watched it before on Spring.net. Yeah, 10-4 on spring dot net what did you think

33:38 I liked it. I can't remember which episode i saw now. Can I have a nail? Where's the nail? You ain't seen them all? No. Alex Jones, you burn it we rebuild it! There is right there look at folks. You burn it we rebuild it. Right over the heart. Right over the heart. Great job. Hey aren't you supposed to be dumping some dirt? Okay guys don't jump he's gonna bang the door It's the fun part. Hey Sonic Boom! I warned ya!