Protesters converge for Bush visit

[rooboy]

Thousands of "loud and militant" protesters from around Australia will be at Canberra airport tonight to greet US President George W Bush when he arrives for his visit.

Socialist Party national secretary Stephen Jolly said about 5,000 people from around Australia were making their way to Canberra for the protest tonight and tomorrow.

He said participants were adamant the protest, against the US occupation of Iraq and a free trade agreement between Australia and the US, would not be violent.

"We will be loud and militant," he said.

"The protest will be peaceful but we will be defying the ban on megaphones and PA systems and if the authorities try to take them off us, then we will link arms and resist peacefully.

"This is not about throwing eggs at the president, it's about a coalition of people from students to old age pensioners, making their views known."

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/22/1066631487845.html

[amlouden]

1. protesters

2 weeks ago, bush came to where i live to raise money, and i've never seen so many protesters

[MaineDem]

4. Welcome to DU!

Glad you've joined us!

:hi:

[izzie]

8. But not on TV did we see them. Were they on your local TV?

I see the Russian got better treatment in UK than the US prez.is going to get. Now that is something to chew on.

[LibertyorDeath]

2. Can't they do both

"This is not about throwing eggs at the president, it's about a coalition of people from students to old age pensioners, making their views known."

[La_Serpiente]

3. Bush is coming to Hawaii soon

There will be a protest this Thursday when he come to Hawaii. We are sure it will be pretty big for Hawaii standards...however, the officials, as of yet, have not given us a place to protest. I hope the ACLU of Hawaii is keeping notice of this event.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Your permit will be granted.

On Ni'ihau, unfortunately.

[0007]

5. C'mon my Aussie friends and wake up

this sleepy world to one of the biggest crooks that has ever been born.
Do ya care if ya do embarrass your bloody Prime Minister 'eh?

Boil those two peas in a pot.

[onehandle]

6. They'll never be seen in the American press...

Protesters need to learn how to sneak into the GOPs' crowds of paid supporters. Shout him down.

[dbt]

7. onehandle is right, US Media will ignore this

So, dear Australians, we'll need some firsthand (fair and blanced) reporting on bu$h's warm reception! Please continue to make us proud of you by the way you don't give Shit One about protesting the dictator tot. Maybe someday we'll learn...

Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!!
:bounce:
dbt

[dArKeR]

9. If Australia can muster up 2000 protesters that'd be a record.

In my impression they're not the protesting type of people even if they don't like wants going on. Secondly it's a sprawl. Many would have to drive a long way. If 2000 show up that means they really really hate Bush and what he's doing. If 2000 show up I'd extrapolate that to 85% of Australians hate Bush.

[Polemonium]

10. 1000 protest in Melbourne tonight, 5,000 in Sydney

They say only 500 in Melbourne but there were around 1000 when it started. A far cry from the 250,000 march in February but always nice to get out with other like minded folks to beg for shrub to go crawl into a cave and stay there. Should be more protests, tomorrow in Canberra, and over the weekend. The news had fairly decent coverage of the protests, with some pictures and saying thousands were protesting Shrubs visit. Nice thing about the news here is that most protests are covered a bit.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s972938.htm

[Violet_Crumble]

11. And 5,000 in Canberra...

At least that's what they're estimating. I was going to go on the way to work tomorrow, but they've going to have most of the roads round Parliament House closed and the protesters probably won't be within eye or earshot of Bush anyway, especially with that ban on loudspeakers...


Violet...

[Polemonium]

13. Bush may not hear but..

The press can't get near him either, so I imagine it will get pretty good coverage, and he or his staff will hear about that. give him hell