Anti-war Protests Ahead of Bush Visit to Italy

[Robbien]

<snip>

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he hoped Italians would use Mr. Bush's visit to show their gratitude for allied help in the war. But Italians are expected to turn out in large numbers to protest U.S. policies in Iraq. A massive anti-war demonstration has been planned for Friday by an alliance of anti-globalization groups, the Greens and Communists.

"We want nothing to do with the Bush administration," says Antonio Di Pietro, former magistrate. "Italians love and respect Americans, but do not want to see democracy being exported with war because violence only generates more violence."

. . .

"We are asking everybody to refrain from violence," he said. "The demonstrators, including the Greens from the United States will go to the cemetery to honor the Anglo-Americans who died to free Italy from Nazi-fascism. We are friends of the Americans, but against war and torture."

According to the results of a poll released this week, 54 percent of Italians consider Mr. Bush's visit ill-timed. Many Italians feel the government should pull its 2,700 troops out of Iraq.

http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2004_06_2_3004.html

what irony, you can protest in Italy but not France

[lebkuchen]

1. Will Bush visit Landstuhl, Heidelberg and Wuerzburg army hospitals?

and take unprepared questions from the families of the 1AD and 1ID?

[0007]

5. (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((NO)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[TahitiNut]

6. Only if there're cameras and only long enought ...

... to get campaign photos, if even then.

[AspenRose]

9. Heidelberg, that's where I was born

I doubt he'll show up, the coward.

[joefree1]

2. Saturday we'll be protesting the smirk here too

Int'l Day of Emergency Protests:
Saturday, June 5
Los Angeles March and Rally

Sat. June 5, 12 noon
Assemble at Olympic & Broadway
March to downtown federal building

Mass Mobilizations in San Francisco & Los Angeles

For Los Angeles information go here:
http://answerla.org /

International events here:
http://www.answercoalition.org/campaigns/j5/index.html


For the Los Angeles protest we're bringing a much taller and more elaborate Bush puppet then the last protest. I need DU volunteers to help pull it and hold the arms.

For more info go to this thread:
http://tinyurl.com/2osl8

[Just Me]

7. This will be the first protest I will be unable to attend.

I'll miss being a part of that fabulous sea of humanity.

I'll be watching for everyone and my spirit will be with you all!!!

I hope another incredible thread of photos will be posted.

O8)

[Barkley]

12. See ya Sat. at Broadway and Olympic

joefree1:

Your Bush puppet looks totally awesome!

[Claire Beth]

3. I hope he is met with LOTS of protesters.

[struggle4progress]

4. Me too!

:bounce:

[Leilani]

8. Hurray for the Italians!

They said they love & respect Americans...

This is all about Bush!

[DemBones DemBones]

10. I love Italians! They know how to take to the streets!

How they got stuck with Berlusconi is a mystery to me.

Viva Italia! And Vive la France if the people ignore the government ban on protests in Paris and commit civil disobedience.

[SoCalDem]

11. Did they use electronic voting machines??? That may be why

:(

[Barkley]

13. I think Berlusconi owns a large part of the Italian media?-n.t