Low Protester Turnout in Savannah

WTOC Television ^ | 6-10-04 | Hena Daniels

[FlJoePa]

When we first found out the G-8 summit was coming to Sea Island, there were an estimated 5,000 protestors expected. But only a few hundred actually showed up. WTOC spoke to some of the few who did turn out.

All the heightened law enforcement, camera crews from around the world, and months of anxiety all led up to just a few protestors trying to make their presence known in Savannah.

"It's not the quantity, it's the quality," said one protestor, simply known as Bodhi. He's traveled from New York City to protest during the summit.

He says one reason for the less-than-stellar numbers is many protesters realized they have bigger fish to fry. "They want save energy for this fall for the Democratic and Republican conventions."

Kelli Pearson of the Sentient Bean coffee shop says when she found out about the G-8, she was very excited. "This is the appropriate place for power, this is the gates of power, I was excited people were going to be here."

But not many protestors are here. In fact if you go to Forsyth Park, the designated gathering ground for protestors, you can count their number on your hands.

And they all have their opinions on why the numbers are low. "It's a difficult time to organize," said protester Dustin Langley. "Schools are out and Georgia is kind of out of the way."

Pearson blames "lack of organization," adding the "the South is relatively unknown."

But despite the low number of protestors, city officials say all the extra precaution hasn't been a complete waste. "It's been a good drill," said assistant city manager Chris Morril.

[FlJoePa]

Heh, go figure.

[Torie]

the South is relatively unknown

So many places yet to discover in life.

[JerseyHighlander]

My opinion, protesting always loses out to a good weekend music festival

http://bonnaroo.com/swf-txt/base.html

Up in Tennessee this weekend, 3 days of music and good times, drew away the base of the hardcore cottage industry activism support. Even activists need vacations man...

[BigSkyFreeper]

FOX News said the protestors were largely outnumbered by the number of media covering the event and law enforcement controlling the event.

[piasa]

Pearson blames "lack of organization," adding the "the South is relatively unknown."

And these jokers thought they knew it all...

[goldstategop]

To Yankee liberals, the South might as well be "Terra Incognita."

[dr_lew]

He says one reason for the less-than-stellar numbers is many protesters realized they have bigger fish to fry.

In the night, and overhead a shovel of stars for
keeps, the people march.
Where to? What next?

[Fenris6]

Pearson blames "lack of organization,"

How ironic. Apparently, Anarchists can't organize. LOL

[FlJoePa]

"...He says one reason for the less-than-stellar numbers is many protesters realized they have bigger fish to fry...."

I took this to mean that he was late for his fry cook job @ Long John Silvers.

[AmericaUnited]

Maybe a lot of potential protesters knew that in Georgia, "He just needed killing" is a perfectly valid and reasonable defense.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

the South is relatively unknown....

Lemme think, the South - yeah - they had something to do with the Civil War, didn't they?

[jmaroneps37]

Most of them were probably on drugs so they went to Coney Island instead. They're waiting for the sumit to start and eating hot dogs at Nathan's.

[Carolinamom]

LOL! They were ignorant of the fact that THEY were an island surrounded by a sea of Southern patriots. Bless their hearts.