Greensboro, NC
Protesters Dog Bush in North Carolina
By David Dixon
http://operationimpeachment.org/ Action Center For Justice
http://operationimpeachment.org/ When President George Bush came to North Carolina on
Oct 18, he was met by protesters all through the day.
He came to the predominantly African-American Waldo C
Falkener Elementary School to tout the supposed
success of his No Child Left Behind Act. Some 45
people showed up to demonstrate against his policies
of endless war, torture, neglect of Rita/Katrina
victims, and dishonesty. One protester held a sign
that said “No child left a dime! (behind)” to
highlight his tax cuts for the wealthy & gutting of
social programs for working & poor people.
Afterwards, Bush was greeted by a group of protesters
in Randleman, NC when he went to the Victory Junction
Gang Camp, founded by Nascar’s Kyle Petty.
Then came the real life nightmare on Elm St when Bush
came back to Greensboro to a wealthy enclave near Elm
St & Sunset Dr to attend a private republican
fundraiser where he raised over $900,000. It was held
at the home of Louis DeJoy, CEO of New Breed Inc &
Aldona Wos, the U.S. ambassador to Estonia. People are
so disgusted with Bush & his policies that even some
people in the neighborhood joined the protest.
Some 130 people came out demanding Bush be jailed for
his war crimes & subversion of our constitutional
rights. It was a lively protest with drummers keeping
everyone’s spirits & energy up. People chanted to the
beat of the drums saying, “There’s a killer in the
White House, time to drive his ass out!” (the favorite
of the day), “End the occupation”, Bush is bananas,
b-a-n-a-n-a-s, this war is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s.”
When protesters attempted to march into the
neighborhood to demonstrate in front of the
fundraiser, a line of cops formed. Progressive
attorney Louis Pitts, after speaking with police,
informed the crowd our rights were being violated.
Police claimed the area was a “secure area” but were
allowing cars to drive in and Bush supporters were
visibly on the sidewalk ahead. Demonstrators held an
impromptu street meeting to decide what to do next.
Before the discussion ended, police had closed off the
entire street. It was decided not to risk arrest &
police violence by crossing the line and the protest
continued as people marched around the busy
intersection. However, several protesters were able to
sneak around the block & protest at the fundraiser.
Some signs at the demonstration included “Arrest
Bush”, “Arrest the Terrorist”, “Drive Out The Bush
Regime”, “1776: Patriots v George III; 2006: Patriots
v George W”, “Torture hurts, don’t do it, not in my
name, thank you” (referring to religious beliefs) In
addition, the peace ribbon, honoring “coalition”
soldiers & Iraqis killed in war, was on display. There
was a makeshift jail with Bush inside, a towering
orange arrest warrant, a hula-hooper for peace, a
black coffin with “Roe v Wade” painted on the side,
and a large pink banner saying “Impeach to support our
troops.”
Almost all the protesters wore an orange ribbon and
some dressed in orange to show their opposition to the
recently passed Military Commissions Act of 2006 which
legalizes torture. The act also strips away the right
to habeas corpus to anyone Bush declares an enemy
combatant, among many other unconstitutional aspects
of this new law.
The protest was organized primarily by Greensboro
World Can’t Wait, with the support of Action Center
For Justice & Char-Meck Code Pink. People from around
NC participated including the city’s of Charlotte,
Reidsville, Kernersville, Burlington, Wilmington,
Winston-Salem, & Chapel Hill.
The protest was covered by a couple local news
stations and Greensboro’s News & Record. As usual,
they under reported the number of people & ignored
many of the most significant statements & details of
this incredible display of disillusionment with the
Bush regime.
-Carol M. contributed to this report
For photos see
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/actforjustice/album/576460762327121156.For news coverage, including video see
http://charlotteaction.blogspot.com/2006/10/oct-18-bush-protest-news-coverage.html.I also tried this site for photos- just if you want to see another site- and check it our for your own use.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jarnocan/Worldcantwait