For the past two years, protesters have met Bush wherever he has traveled in the world. Now they are greeting him here in the US! This is only the beginning............
Bush arrives in NorCal
Anti-war activists rally in St. Helena
By J.M. BROWN/Times-Herald staff writer
ST. HELENA - With only a week's notice, about 1,500 anti-war demonstrators calling for President Bush's impeachment packed into a mile-long stretch of Silverado Trail on Friday, hoping to show the visiting leader that wine country bleeds blue.
Toting colorful signs warning Bush he was "not welcome in my hometown," the protesters mixed peacefully with police in riot helmets and a small contingent of mild-mannered Bush supporters near the plush resort where the president was staying overnight. A second demonstration is planned for 8 a.m. today, when the president is expected to leave for fund-raising events in Southern California.
Considering the protests were planned only after Bush's policy-pressing swing through California was made public last week, organizers who carefully coordinated the events with local authorities said they were relieved by the strong turnout and peaceful tone.
"We want the president to follow the law," said Summer Mondeau, member of the Napa County peace group UNCOIL. "We can't make that point by being violent and breaking the law."
timesheraldonline.com
Protesters turn out in force
HUGE CROWDS CALL FOR END TO WAR, FORCE VENUE CHANGE FOR STANFORD EVENT
By Linda Goldston and Lisa Krieger
Mercury News
From mothers pushing babies in strollers in San Jose near Cisco Systems, to students blocking a road at Stanford University, more than 1,500 protesters greeted President Bush's Friday arrival in the Silicon Valley.
Their messages -- and their signs -- varied widely at times, but the common theme of the day was clear: End the war with Iraq and bring the troops home.
``Why are we in Iraq? Why is there no exit strategy?'' asked Karen Meredith of Mountain View, whose son, Lt. Ken Ballard, was killed two years ago in Iraq. ``When did `peace' become a bad word?''
continued...........
mercurynews.com |
