PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Dick Cheney "Protest"
by Matt Flege Monday, Jul. 12, 2004 at 7:56 PM
fmatty02@yahoo.com (513) 403-6061 South Side

My perceptions of the "protest" that took place during Dick Cheney's visit to Pittsburgh on 7/12/04.

As I was driving home from work on Thursday, I heard on the radio that Cheney was in town, and would be speaking at a fundraising dinner at the William Penn Hotel. I decided to forget about dinner and go protest. I stopped at Giant Eagle to buy some posterboard and markers, and made a sign that said "No War, No FTAA, No Bush."
When I finally found my way to the hotel where Cheney was speaking, it was pouring down rain, but there were about 30 people out holding Kerry/Edwards signs and chanting. At first, I was happy to see that there were people out protesting, but I gradually became more and more confused and disillusioned the longer that I stood there.
I listened for the chants about peace, social justice, and the power of the people that I hear at any good protest, and tried to start a couple myself, but it they just weren't there. Everyone was much more interested in their pro Kerry/Edwards slogans. It became evident that this was not any kind of protest, but a rally for John Kerry.
I then began to think about what I had written on my sign, "No War, No FTAA, No Bush." After all, John Kerry voted for the war in Iraq, and he voted for NAFTA, the precursor to the FTAA. I realized I had just as much reason to write "Kerry" on my sign as I did "Bush."
The thing that made me the most sad was a woman standing with a sign that said something to the effect of "I'm homeless with 3 children. We live under a bridge and haven't ate in 2 days. We need money for rent and food." What would George Bush do for this woman? What would John Kerry do for this woman? What did I do for this woman? Nothing. Pick your corporate sponsored candidate in 2004, pick your 'liberal' or your 'conservative' activist. It just doesn't seem to make any difference to the people who are really in need.
So what am I trying to say with this? I really don't know. It was just one of those moments that made me look at my country, my views, my life, and just wonder what was going on.

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My perceptions...
by pjd Monday, Jul. 12, 2004 at 10:52 PM

I worked a bit late waiting for the rain to stop then went past my bus stop to check the Cheney visit. I likewise was pretty apalled. I didn't recognize any of these "protesters", and they may as well have just been showing their support for a ball team, and lukewarm support at that. I tried to bring this up with some of these Democrats or whatever they were, but they seemed to studiously avoid conversation with passers by. I suspect they were just paid hires of Democratic Party. At any rate, like you pointed out, what diffence from Bush is there to support?

I caught the motorcade leaving, and recognized the same old smart-look on Cheney's face as back on January 20, 2000.

I likewise noticed the homeless woman chatted with her a bit and gave her $2. Told her she should vote Socialist.

The whole scene left me with a deep sense, formerly just in my head but now in my gut, of how utterly useless the Democratic party is. 4-8 years of Kerry could be as big a disaster for global economic justice and peace as 8 years of Clinton was. Better 4 more years of bush then maybe more USAns will ready for real change.

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It happens
by dannyp Tuesday, Jul. 13, 2004 at 2:31 AM
dannyp@indypgh.org

Matt,

It wasn't so bad at the beginning of the event. I know I was there and with a few people who are no friends of Kerry, but after about an hour many of us went to the Hill District where they had a 4th of July event complete with readings of Fredrick Douglas, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and radical spoken word performances. We would have loved to have had you there instead of at the rally! :)

Granted, it was only a handful of us, but none of us were Kerryities. Just goes to show how much the Democrats really care about community. When others went on about their day (which in my case included supporting real productive radical community events), there they stood, in the rain, shouting their slogans.

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Matty
by Arson Daley Tuesday, Jul. 13, 2004 at 11:12 AM

Good observation.

The anybody but Bush movement pisses me off. What a waste of tim, energy, resources, and people power.


http://www.dontjustvote.com
http://blackteasociety.org/index2.php
http://rncnotwelcome.org/

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dannyp
by pjd Tuesday, Jul. 13, 2004 at 5:34 PM

Are you talking about the same event? The event we were talking about happened yesterday evening, July 12, at the William Penn Hotel.

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my bad
by dannyp Thursday, Jul. 15, 2004 at 7:27 PM
dannyp@indypgh.org

Sorry, we were indeed talking about different events. I'm off by about a week.

I didn't even know of the event on the 12th...

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