My LTTE Regarding protesting the Bush rally Sat.

[mongo]

To the Editor:

In the Sunday 8/1 edition of the Times Recorder there was an article about the Bush rally in Cambridge entitled “Rally draws only few with opposing views”. There was a reason for that – we were not allowed to protest!

I was part of a group of about 50 protesters organized by the Guernsey County Democratic Party. With our handmade signs, we planned to march from the Democratic Headquarters on Wheeling Ave. to the rally. As we approached the rally on Clark Street, we were met by the police, who diverted us off Clark Street onto a side street. We were told to go to the (and I quote) “public viewing area” at the IGA at 1330 Clark Street, or face arrest.

This so-called “public viewing area” was more than a quarter mile from the rally. The rally could not be seen from this area, and there of course was no one there. After a few minutes, the group consensus was that this was pretty lame and we again tried to get to the park.

Again we were met by the police and threatened with arrest. We started heading back down Clark Street back to the Democratic Headquarters. There were lots of people standing on Clark street, some with signs in support for President Bush, hoping to see a glimpse of him as he left the rally.

Near the intersection of Clark and Wheeling, we stopped with our signs. Within two minutes, the police arrived and told us to move on or face arrest for “unlawful assembly”. This was on a public street, outside of the rally area, where there were already lots of people standing around – all of whom I am sure did not have “permits to assemble”.

I attended the Kerry rally in Zanesville later that night. The 10 -20 protesters were allowed to set up on the sidewalk directly in front of the entrance to the rally. Everyone attending the Kerry rally saw those protesters – no one saw us protesting the Bush rally.

The treatment of protesters at the Bush rally was a tremendous breach of our First Amendment rights. I guess it just goes to show you what George Bush thinks of our Constitution – he believes it does not apply to him.

---------------------------------

Here is the article I was refering to: http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/news/stories/20040801/localnews/956990.html

CAMBRIDGE -- Presidential visits usually draw protesters, but few demonstrators were noticeable around the rally for President Bush.

However, one John Kerry supporter was asked to leave the rally.

John Prather of Wheeling, W.Va., was wearing a Kerry-Edwards T-shirt while standing in line to attend the rally, for which he had a ticket.

"I seem to be alone," he said as the line moved slowly forward.
<more>

[jimshoes]

1. They can't stop the Kerry Freight Train...

They can only hide from it. But it's coming nonetheless.

[Joanne98]

2. Good letter

I wonder if they will print it?

[mongo]

3. thanks.

They have printed every letter I have sent them so far. It takes 2-3 weeks sometimes.

The TR is really starved for LTTE's. You should see some of the sophmoric crap they print sometimes, usually GOD says to kill gays and the like.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

4. Funny, in Greensburg for Kerry's rally...

No one was there to stop any protesting and the strange thing is there was not ONE except for two young guys in a corner by the Palace Theater holding a sign that said VOTE BUSH on one side and SMOKE POT on the other. And both boys had silly smirks on their faces as if to say that they were simply mocking bush protestors.