Coalition of the unwilling' greets President in northern Ohio
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Photo By Sam Robinson
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Jeff Seeman, president of the Stark County Peace Coalition,
says the opposition to Bush must stay active.
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CANTON -- The apparent end of combat in Iraq doesn't
mean the end of street demonstrations against the Bush Administration.
The April 24 protest that greeted President Bush during
his visit to the Timken Co. wasn't especially large. But the
150 protesters easily outnumbered the few dozen Bush supporters
outside the steel company's research facility.
More important, though, was the range of issues represented
in the protest. Anti-war messages were prominent, but so were
signs criticizing Bush's economic policies. Members of the
United Steelworkers stood alongside environmentalists and
gay rights advocates.
"This is the coalition of the unwilling," said Harold Pyle,
a member of the Steelworkers. "I don't like anything this
man's done. I don't like his war. I don't like what he's doing
to the working class."
Secret Service agents required demonstrators of all persuasions
to stay behind a fence about a half-mile from Akron Regional
Airport, where Bush landed. Forcing Bush supporters and foes
to stay together helped make an important point, according
to Larry Lanham II, a member of the Stark County Peace Coalition.
"A lot of anti-war people have been dealing with a lot of
antagonism, which we take with pride," he said. "At the same
time, we're also Americans and we have the right to express
our views."
Some of the pro-Bush contingent were less amused about the
company they were forced to keep, sharing a field with people
carrying signs saying, "Queers for Peace." A woman adorned
in a huge yellow bow waved a large American flag while carrying
a sign saying "Proud to be an American" and yelling, "Praise
God for President Bush!"
When the woman started criticizing union workers' signs,
a group of Steelworkers surrounded her and started singing
"Solidarity Forever." Jeff Seemann, president of the Stark
County Peace Coalition, intervened when a sheriff's deputy
warned both sides to avoid jostling one another with signs.
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Photo By Sam Robinson
|
The Millionaires for Bush joined the rally to ensure
their needs are safeguarded. Left to right are Adrian
Walker, Jennifer Roniger and Darryl Smith.
|
"Thank
you for the alert," Seemann said. "We're under control here."
The protest was a high point for the peace movement in Canton,
whose previous claim to fame was a photograph that appeared
in The New York Times.
"We did a late night surgical strike, making a chalk outline
of a body in the street to represent dead Iraqi civilians,"
Seemann said.
The war's apparent end is no reason to end protests, according
to Seemann. Bush's opposition has to work harder as the 2004
election approaches, he said.
"He promised us the first tax cut would stimulate the economy,"
Seemann said. "He promised us he wouldn't rest until he captured
Osama. He promised Iraq had tons of weapons of mass destruction.
Why should we believe anything he says at this point?"
Don Dechiara, a Steelworker employed at the Timken Co.,
said he's not usually active in politics. But the U.S. invasion
of Iraq and the economic recession brought him to the demonstration.
"I think the main purpose of this war was to take the focus
off the economy," he said. "I think it's a tactic. I feel
bad for the people who were killed over there."
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Photo By Sam Robinson
|
The rally featured activists on a broad spetrum of
issues.
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Sharon
Taucer of Cincinnati, whose job was lost to corporate downsizing
in January, said she joined the protest to support U.S. Sen.
George Voinovich, R-Ohio. Bush's visit was widely interpreted
as a way to pressure Voinovich into supporting Bush's proposed
tax cuts.
"I'm here because Bush was going to bitch-slap Voinovich,"
Taucer said. "We want to show it's OK to dissent, even for
politicians."
When Bush's motorcade left the Timken plant for the airport,
the protesters -- mindful that Bush didn't win the popular
vote in 2000 -- began chanting, "Go home, Gov. Bush!" The
slogan seemed to confuse at least one Bush supporters.
"He hasn't been a governor for a long time," the man said.
©
E-mail Gregory Flannery
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Previously in News
Hate Hunter Comes Calling Canadian hate crimes expert addresses Holocaust Week
By Gregory Flannery
(April 23, 2003)
Linkin' Logs Rebuilding history and moving into it
By Lew Moores
(April 23, 2003)
The Horse's Mouth Police change their story in protester's trial
By Maria Rogers
(April 16, 2003)
more...
Other articles by Gregory Flannery
Stuck in Place The abridged version of the never-ending boycott story (April 23, 2003)
Porkopolis Peace Protester Vindicated; Lawson Keeps a Promise (April 23, 2003)
Porkopolis The Path to Justice Runs from Columbus to North Carolina (April 16, 2003)
more...
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