By Gabe Wells / Wheeling News-Register
WHEELING, WV – As many as 50 mostly peaceful protesters lined Main Street on Wednesday in anticipation of the arrival of President George W. Bush.
Only one minor heated exchange between a protester and a ticketholder to the Bush event, a town hall forum, was reported.
Martins Ferry resident Kent Moore walked back and forth along a two-block portion of Main Street carrying a sign stating “Mission Accomplished?” as people waiting to enter the Capitol called him a “traitor” and made other comments from across the street. One person yelled at him to “leave America,” but Moore replied with a simple “no.” Moore, who is a member of the Martins Ferry American Legion and served in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War, said he voted for Bush in 2000, but he no longer has confidence in the president or the war.
Many of the protesters left when the president’s speech began inside the Capitol, but several said they planned to stay until the president left Wheeling.
Valley Grove resident Sally Starkey said the war is only one of the reasons she demonstrated during the president’s visit.
“The president has his head in a bubble,” Starkey said. “He’s a megalomaniac. He doesn’t care how people feel, and he didn’t get to see that this city is in disrepair. There are many (U.S.) cities in disrepair, but he’s rebuilding Iraq.”
Wind Ridge, Pa., residents Ron Teska and his wife, Guilia Mannarino, were the first demonstrators outside the Capitol Music Hall prior to the president’s town hall meeting. Mannarino carried a sign that stated,”Support our troops – bring them home.” Teska, whose son-in-law served as a member of the U.S. Marines in the current war in Iraq, said he came with his wife to Wheeling because he opposes the president’s handling of the war.
“There’s no flag big enough to justify innocent civilians being killed,” Teska said. “They (Bush administration) want a dictatorship that supports corporate interest. ... We support the troops more than anyone. That’s why it (war) has to end.”
As Teska stood outside the Capitol Music Hall, he was handed campaign literature from Michael Ganoe, who is the West Virginia field director for U.S. Senate candidate Hiram Lewis. Teska and Ganoe exchanged words regarding the war in Iraq before Ganoe said protesters like Teska are misguided.
“I have compassion for folks like that,” Ganoe said. “They are ignorant of foreign policy. A lot of them are paid by special interests to stand out here.”
However, Teska said he has a firm grasp of U.S. policy and the war, and he believes President Bush misled the same people that cheered for him at the Capitol Music Hall.
“These people are patriotic, and he is taking advantage of that patriotism ... ,” Teska said. “We all support the troops, but they fall in line with the way the president wants them to support the troops.”
As people got in line to enter the Capitol, an elderly man became angered by the sign held by Mannarino and yelled at the couple.
“Get out of this country,” the man shouted before he was pulled away by his wife.
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Impeachment Resolutions Sweep America!
From California to Vermont, from Wyoming to North Carolina, from New Hampshire to New Mexico, impeachment resolutions are sweeping America!
They are popping up in Town Meetings, City Councils, and Democratic Committees. And when they pass, they make headlines locally and even nationwide.
Let's turn this local activity into a nationwide grassroots movement! We've collected everything you need to know here:
http://impeachpac.org/resolutions
To help organize impeachment efforts in your town, county, or state, join the Impeachment Working Group of Progressive Democrats of America:
http://pdamerica.org/impeach-wg.php
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Support Feingold - Censure Bush - Stop Cowering!
It's been 10 days since Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced a resolution to censure George Bush for illegally wiretapping American citizens. Just two Democrats have joined him: Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
Polls show Americans support Feingold's censure by 48%-43% - including 29% of Republicans. Rightwinger Bill Kristol called it a smart move and says it helps Democrats. When the Republican Party ran attack ads against him in Wisconsin, Feingold got a standing ovation.
So why are the other 41 Democrats still cowering?
Call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and deliver a simple message:
"I urge you to support Senator Feingold's bill to censure George Bush."
And for Democratic Senators, add this:
"And stop cowering in fear of Republican thugs!"
If you have time, join Jane Hamsher in visiting the local office of your Senator:
http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/03/22/git-yer-boots-on-its-recess-time/
Post the replies you get here:
http://democrats.com/senate-censure
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33 Congress Members With Courage
Congressman Bob Filner from San Diego has signed onto H Res 635. There are now 33 Congress Members supporting Congressman John Conyers' bill to create an investigation into possible grounds for impeachment. Filner's name is not yet in the official list, because Congress is out of session this week, but Congressman Conyers' staff confirms that he has agreed to co-sponsor. Learn more and ask your representative to join the list:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/635
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NEW FLYER FROM AfterDowningStreet.org
Print this out, make copies, post it around your town and hand it out at events!
Open PDF
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/2006-3-flyer.pdf
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Boycott ExxonMobil
Consumers for Peace launched this boycott campaign, supported by After Downing Street and many others, seeking an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops and mercenaries from Iraq and the impeachment of George W. Bush and prosecution of U.S. officials responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The campaign urges consumers to boycott of ExxonMobil products and to purchase CITGO products as an alternative.
ExxonMobil has been selected for boycott because of its apparent active involvement in U.S. policy in the Middle East in general and Iraq in particular, and its power to help change these policies. The campaign urges the boycott of products and services of nine consumer products firms connected with ExxonMobil through its board of directors. They are: Campbell's Soup; Carlson Companies (Radisson Hotels, TGI Friday's); Corning Inc. (Steuben Glass); Metlife; Novartis; Pfizer; Verizon; Wells Fargo and Wyeth.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/9488
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UPCOMING EVENTS
A Panel Discussion with Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, and Larry Everest
Speaking the Unspeakable. Is the Bush Administration Guilty of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity?
March 23, 7 p.m.
International House at 2299 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/9038
Political Musicians Anti-Flag and Congressman Jim McDermott to Discuss Depleted Uranium
March 24, 11 a.m.
Henry Fonda Theater Lobby, 6126 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Anti-Flag, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), Dr. Donald Broder, Jodie Evans, Tim Goodrich.
Launch of a Petition Campaign to Support Depleted Uranium Munitions Study
http://www.anti-flag.com/
Town Hall Meeting Examining The Cost of Iraq: Lives, Jobs, Security, Community
Sponsored by the Progressive Democrats of Ohio
March 25, 1 - 3 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, Ohio
Gold Star Mother and PDA Board Member Cindy Sheehan
Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Tim Carpenter, National Director, Progressive Democrats of America
Francis Chiappa, President, Cleveland Peace Action
Paul Schroeder, co-founder of Families of the Fallen For Change
Farhad Sethna, Immigration attorney and concerned citizen
Event emceed by actress and PDA Board Chairwoman Mimi Kennedy
An opening chant for Peace will be performed by Michael McMurray in Arameyic, Hebrew and Arabic.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/9539
Progressive Plan for Ohio
March 26
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/ohioplan.pdf
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH: The Evidence, and What the
Constitution Dictates
March 28, 7:30 p.m.
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now hosts a panel discussion featuring Michael Ratner, Bill Goodman, Shayana Kadidal, and Maria Lahood, attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights and authors of a new book, Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush (Melville House). At The Culture Project, 45 Bleecker Street, NYC (corner of Bleecker and Lafayette Streets) Admission is free - seating is limited - first come, first served
LINK
March to Redeem the Soul of America
April 1 – 14, 2006 in Texas: Irving – Dallas – Waco – Crawford
ConsumersforPeace.org, Crawford Peace House, Dallas Peace Center, Texas Peace Action
www.marchforredemption.org
SOUTHERN REGIONAL MARCH FOR PEACE IN IRAQ & JUSTICE AT HOME
April 1, Atlanta will host the largest anti-war march in the history of the South. The date, APRIL FIRST, links the 3rd anniversary of the war, March 20, with the 38th anniversary of Dr. King's death, April 4. Activists are organizing contingents from Birmingham, Alabama; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Memphis & Nashville, Tennessee; Tallahassee, Florida and all corners of Georgia.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/7943
Easter in Crawford, Texas
April 10-16
Join Cindy in Crawford. Everyone's welcome!
Sign up for these events, find others, and create your own at
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event
See Also UFPJ:
http://unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?caltype=39&lcountry=&state=&search=Search
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