Protesters Rally Against Bush Administration (Casper, WY)

[kainah]

By BRENDAN BURKE
Star-Tribune staff writer Sunday, January 18, 2004




Across the street from a building bearing the name of Vice President Dick Cheney, around 100 people gathered in Pioneer Park on Saturday to protest the policies of Cheney and his boss, President George W. Bush.

"We went into a sovereign nation and decimated the population," said event organizer Thomas Bleming of Lusk. "Saddam Hussein certainly was a dictator, but he provided his people with water, electric, jobs. We can't provide anything but promises.

"And the Iraqi governing council is just a puppet on the string to the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld mafia that continues to run this country here," he said.

"We lost nearly 60,000 Americans in Vietnam fighting for a lie," said Bleming, a Vietnam combat veteran. "The same lie was used to fight Saddam Hussein ... that he was going to take over the world and use their weapons of mass destruction to do it."

"We should immediately pull out of Iraq," he added.

more....

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2004/01/18/news/e8f5545f5884b66687256e1e007fa6d7.txt

The paper is probably a little low with their estimate of only 100. Nonetheless, we're talking about Casper, Wyoming, in the middle of January -- where it was about 30 degrees yesterday. Bleming didn't do a great job of reaching out to other groups in the state and many of us only learned of this demonstration last week. But this was the lead story in the paper this morning.

[hlthe2b]

1. I know Casper and Wyoming, well. Kudos! This is heartening!

It all starts with a single person, after all (and spreads and spreads and spreads!)

[0007]

3. Go Cas[er Gp

Bet this will make Lynne and Dick happy. Good news!

[Polemonium]

2. Right on

My home state is coming around.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Woo Hoo!

I just met with a disparet group of people who came together for one reason-they want Bush OUT! And they are talking about doing whatever it takes to get out the vote in November for the Democratic nominee-and some were lifelong Republicans!

[diamond14]

5. GO Wyoming...we're PROUD of everyone who braved the cold

and STOOD UP for American values....true Patriots....


Hopefully, others will follow the example of these brave people in Wyoming....the ONE year anniversary of bush* Iraq war is March 20th, 2004....it's time to STAND UP and demand an end to this madness...here in OUR Nation's Capital, in New York, in San Francisco, and in cities all across America...STAND UP on March 20th...and help organize a protest in YOUR own neighborhood, through your Church, community group, raging grannies, pink ladies, Veterans...or just your very own unique approach...but STAND UP and start your plans now....March 20th....

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2136

[kainah]

6. Well, now, that's my problem

I was all set to fly out to West Virginia to meet my sister (DU's remfan) and go to DC for the 3/20 protest. My Stand Up for Peace friends here were not so happy with that plan since it would mean I wouldn't be here to help organize the Wyoming protests, but I was set on going to DC. And then we discovered that the Wyoming caucuses are on March 20. So now conflicts abound.

Currently, here in Laramie, we're talking with the county Democratic Party and hoping to organize it so that we can all go to the caucuses in the morning, break for an extended lunch hour during which Stand Up for Peace will sponsor a march to be followed by a lunch served by Food Not Bombs before we come back to the business of the platform at the caucus in the afternoon. Hopefully, we can get everyone on board with that plan and, in so doing, multiply the turnout at both the caucuses and our march.

And, at the moment, I think I'll be staying in Wyoming in March, counting on the fact that there's likely to be another, equally large DC demonstration this fall as the elections draw closer.

[DUreader]

7. You cannot do some kind of absentee caucus? Also

Just curious cause I don't know.

Take care if you leave the caucus , a dirty trick would be some lockdown or arrests at the demo to interfere with your planned return
to finish the electoral biz.

[kainah]

10. No, there's no way to do absentee caucuses

You have to be there to vote. And since I'm in the undecided column -- ready to support anyone but bush or lieberman -- I think it could be quite a lot of fun!

I'm not too worried about people trying to lock us out. That's not the kind of thing that would probably happen in Wyoming. Besides, these are the WY Dems -- no repugs at the Dem caucuses -- and so most of them will agree with us. By working with them before the caucuses, we are hoping the idea for a lunch march will be almost an official part of the agenda.

[diamond14]

9. stay and help in Wyoming...here in DC, we can help....think about

a giant Wyoming sized banner (maybe with Wyoming flags and all) to be carried down Pennsylvania Avenue by DC volunteers....big enough to make the National news all the way back to Wyoming....

Show bush* that Wyoming is here too, and show America that Wyoming is against the war and against the shrub and against cheney too....

there are always people who show up without a sign or banner, and many would be please to hold Wyoming's banner....I carried a sign for an aging Veteran at the October 25, 2003, DC protest...the Veteran had been a POW in WWII, could barely hear even with hearing aids, used a walker, real frail looking....he was interviewed by several small newspapers as two of us held him up...then we called a 'disabled vehicle' and he rode in a BIG van with TWO paramedics and lots of other seniors, for most of the parade....I picked up his sign and proudly carried on...honored to have been in the presence of such an American Patriot....STANDING against bush*, even as a very old frail WW-II POW....amazing....

if you make a banner and get it here to DC...we will carry it and make you proud of Wyoming....maybe your sister can bring it to DC....or a friend? KEEP FIGHTING, DON'T GIVE UP.....contact me if you need someone to carry the banner for Wyoming...I will organize it here in DC...

IMO, you should work in Wyoming for your event...it is especially important to bring it home to your area....

[kainah]

11. thanks for the idea, Amen1234

I'll mention this to the Stand Up for Peace folks. I'm sure they'd think it's a great idea to make a banner to send to DC on behalf of all the antiwar Wyomingites who will be opting to stay here and fight in the Democratic caucuses.

We were talking with Nebraskans for Peace about maybe collaborating on a bus. Now, with the caucuses on the schedule, we probably wouldn't have too many folks to contribute. But maybe they'd take a banner for us.

Or, if not, I'll be back in touch to see if you'll carry it for us! Thanks so much for this great idea and offer!!!

[diamond14]

12. sounds like a great plan....sadly for all you 'anti-war Wyomingites'

we'll have to send cheney back to YOU, after we boot these THUGs out of DC....cheney claims to live in Wyoming, doesn't he???? so he'll be back to pollute your beautiful state....

make your banner BIG enough to cover Pennsylvania Avenue one side to the other (8 feet banners are barely enough)....if you can't get it here by your neighbors in Nebraska, you can always fold it up, put it into a box and mail it to me....I'll flatten it out, find some poles to hold it up, and get some GOOD people to march along Pennsylvania Avenue with the Wyoming banner...we can put out a notice on DU and other boards for all GOOD Wyomingites, living near DC, to JOIN US right outside the White House....

where there's a will, there's a way....

love your PEACE webpage...keep up the wonderful work...let's add a great BIG anti-war Wyomingite banner on Pennsylvania Avenue to your photo collection....our thoughts are with the "anti-war Wyomingites", the PEACE people, all the way from OUR Nation's Capital, where we want PEACE too....

may you take cheney back soon, so we can be safer here in DC....cheers...

[kainah]

18. cheney CLAIMS to be from Wyoming

CLAIMS is the operative word. He did NOT live in Wyoming in 2000 and that was yet another travesty of the 2000 stolen election. He should NEVER have been able to claim the votes of Texas from the Electoral College. (That would not have affected * being declared the victor, but Cheney should have had too few votes for election as VP.)

He was NOT eligible for a hunting or fishing license in WY in 2000. He did NOT have the required identification to register to vote in WY when he flew into Jackson & was put back on the voter rolls. The county clerk should have challenged him but, of course, s/he did not because he was/is ... Dick Cheney.

The weekend before his selection as VP, he flew into Jackson on a private jet, went to the courthouse & registered to vote & got in his jet and flew back to Houston, presumably to spend the night in his multimillion dollar home there on which he claimed a Texas homestead exemption worth tens of thousands of dollars. Presumably to claim that, he signed something attesting that that was his principal residence, as required. Then he came to WY and registered to vote, attesting that THIS is his principal residence. The man signed a false oath somewhere. While his Constitutional ability to claim electors from both TX and WY was challenged, I could never get anyone to notice that somewhere he absolutely must have signed a false oath.

So get him the hell out of DC -- but please don't send him back here. We endured him for quite long enough. We have suffered enough. I'm sure his "residence" in Jackson can be sold for a healthy profit.

I think there's a really good chance we'll be sending you a banner from Wyoming!! Thanks again for your VERY GENEROUS offer! I'm sure I have NO idea how big Pennsylvania Avenue is. If you want to suggest good measurements for it, I'd be appreciative!

THANKS!!!!! :toast: :party: :bounce:

[Just Me]

19. Maybe I can arrange to go with your sister,...

,...heck, I may even know her since I am a native (recently returned to WV after living in WA for awhile). Send me a message :)

[mbperrin]

8. I lived in Gillette in the 70s. Go you Wyoming folks,

go!

[fabius]

13. Way to go, Wyoming!

My wife lived in Casper 25 years ago and knows somebody that went to school with Cheney.

If you can get a protest in Casper, you're really doing something!

[proud patriot]

14. yay Thank You Casper Wyoming

You Rock :bounce:

[xchrom]

15. excellent!

that's great news.
thank you wyoming.

[cthrumatrix]

16. be afraid Cheney...more people can see thru your lies and BS

[diamond14]

17. of course, reTHUGlicans vandalized the park and attacked people

it's nice to see the police in Wyoming enforcing free speech and ordering the reTHUGlicans to stop threatening people or they will be taken to JAIL...wish the National Park Police/SS/DC Police would do that here in DC....here's a good lesson


-snips- from the main article on this thread

As Bleming addressed the crowd, Cloyd ran through the peace protesters holding high a pro-Bush sign and yelling, "No peace without victory." After Cloyd made several passes through the crowd, protestor Jerry Martin of Laramie made an attempt to stop him.

But before any blows could be thrown, Lt. Chris Walsh of the Casper Police Department intervened and took Cloyd back to the corner of Center and "A" streets where the pro-Bush contingent was stationed ("a handful of vocal counterdemonstrators").

"I told him (Cloyd) if he incites a fight with these people, then I am taking him to jail," Walsh said. "Both sides can present their views in a peaceful way and that is fine. But if one starts antagonizing the other ... that is when it can turn from a peaceful demonstration to problems that are not necessary."

There were no further direct conflicts between the two groups. However, some of the peace protesters did express anger at the hundred's of Bush Cheney '04 campaign stickers placed all over Pioneer Park sometime before the rally began. The stickers, which were stuck on the park's sheep statues, benches, trash cans, obelisk, and light poles, were technically litter and the person who stuck them did break the law, Walsh said. The five police officers at the event were not going to investigate the stickers but were focused on keeping the peace, he added.

[Just Me]

20. There is no power that compares to the human spirit!!!!

There is no courage like the expression of that spirit!!!

God Bless the Wyoming Peace-keepers!!!

You are more inspiring than you will probably ever realize :D