Bush draws a crowd [USC Daily Trojan covers pro-Bush Iranian-American/Free Republic rally]

www.DaliyTrojan.com ^ | March 4, 2004 | SHRADDHA JAISWALI

[RonDog]

.

Bush draws a crowd

President Bush spoke at the Shrine Auditorium Wednesday. More than 100 showed up for the event.

	Elizabeth Leitzell | Daily Trojan
	Mixed Emotion. The Iranian American Republicans were among the demonstrators who welcomed President Bush to the Shrine Auditorium Wednesday afternoon; they said they support him because he opposes terrorism in Iran.

By SHRADDHA JAISWALI
Staff writer

President George W. Bush's visit to Southern California on Wednesday was marked by demonstrations from more than 130 supporters and opponents who packed onto the four corners of Jefferson Boulevard and Shrine Place in the early evening.

The demonstrators, both for and against the president, waved signs and shouted slogans at the drivers passing the Shrine Auditorium where Bush was scheduled to speak at 5:35 p.m.

With the clock ticking down to the November presidential election, Bush planned a three-day visit to California in hopes of raising funds for his re-election campaign.

The anti-Bush corner was home to about 80 people of all ages waving signs reading everything from a general "Stop Bush" to the more specific "End Occupation in Iraq" and "Immigrant Rights."

Many of the anti-Bush signs were provided by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism organization, but they were joined by groups such as Code Pink, The Socialist Organization and Out Against War as well as by individuals simply wanting to be heard.

Those gathered at the corner shouting against Bush's policies felt it was necessary to protest even at a fundraising event to open the eyes of Californians.

"I hope to call attention to the fact that other people who think he should not be president will know they are not alone," said Eda Hallinan, a member of the women's peace group Code Pink.

"Bush is probably the worst president this country has ever had," she said. "I think that we are so much worse off now than when he first took office, in terms of the economy and our own security."

Along with the sea of anti-Bush posters, the protesters chanted their messages from a megaphone with sayings such as, "George Bush — we know you — your daddy was a killer too," and "Hands off Haiti."

But despite the loud anti-Bush sentiments, Bush supporters were not deterred from standing their ground. The largest group of Bush advocates at the four corners was a group of Iranians waving flags and shouting praises of the president's international policies.

"We're here to support President Bush because he's for democracy, not only in Iran, but around the world," said 59-year-old Reza Ershadi.

Fellow conservatives praised the Iranian effort to support Bush saying that they were dedicated and knew that Bush could help them.

"These guys have been here since 3 p.m.," said Ron Smith pointing to the Iranians. "Think about it, they've got family in Iran. They've got family right now in a brutal regime, and they're saying, 'well we appreciate what you did in Iraq, how about coming over here and helping us out in Iran.'"

The topics of demonstration on both sides ranged from the war in Iraq, the issues in Haiti, and same-sex marriage rights.

"People don't support a war in Iraq, but if you look at it, we've liberated an oppressed people," said Ryan Reid, a business administration student at USC. "Saddam Hussein, thank God we caught him. He's killed over a million of his own people since the 1980s, and these people obviously wanted to keep him in power. I think we did the right thing."

While the conservative groups supported and even welcomed Bush's occupation of Iraq and his goal to "stop terrorism," liberal groups remained pessimistic about his true motives.

"If you wait, Bush will take everything you have, and that's a guarantee. He will take your oil, he will take everything," said Lyzegte Blanco, a senior at Harbor College. "That's pretty much why we got Saddam Hussein out of office, because we wanted the oil. With Bush, there's always a hidden meaning."
Copyright 2004 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 151, No. 34 (Thursday, March 4, 2004), beginning on page 1 and ending on page 13.

[Rockitz]

Interesting..... I'll be in NYC on the 20th.

[Rockitz]

Great job, guys! And you found some new comrades in the Iranian group.

[Rennes Templar]

"With the clock ticking down to the November presidential election,..."

Yes, theres only 20,995,200 ticks of the clock until the election.

[So Cal Rocket]

I am also a USC Alumni (Class of '82) and faithfully contributed to the USC Alumni Fund up until a few years ago. I stopped when the School of Journalism hired avowed Communist Robert Scheer as a Professor - and I let them know this fact every time they call my house asking for a donation.

[international american]

BTTT

[PRND21]

Fight On!

[TheMole]

Many of the anti-Bush signs were provided by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism organization, but they were joined by groups such as Code Pink, The Socialist Organization and Out Against War as well as by individuals simply wanting to be heard.

A.N.S.W.E.R. = Stalinists

Code Pink = Susie "Medea" Benjamin's radical lesbians

The Socialist Organization = commies

Out Against War = too gay for those nasty guns

[DoctorMichael]

I was at USC for my Doctoral degree, over on the "other" campus (next to LA County Hospital). We were all D's over there: Ph.D.'s, Pharm.D.'s and M.D.'s. There were many Iranians enrolled in the various programs over there.

I made it over to the main campus 3 or 4 times a week to use the gym facilities. I was unaware of Scheer. Unbelievable!

[DoctorZIn]

Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
Want to understand what REALLY happening in Iran, Join us!

Click on the link above!

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”

[freedom44]

These pictures are from an earlier rally where thousands of Iranian-Americans attended in California.

[SusanTK]

My husband was born in Iran and is a huge supporter of George W. Bush. We have a satellite service that shows Iranian-exile T.V. stations produced out of California. These stations are very influential in the Iranian-American community. He should do some interviews on them and run some ads. There are over a million Iranian exiles in the L.A. area alone and they could help President Bush carry California. Noone who cares about the future of Iran - Iranian-Americans or those of us that love them could ever vote for that appeaser- John Khameini Kerry!

[nutmeg]

bookmark bump

[DoctorZIn]

Welcome to the FreeRepublic.
Check out our daily Iranian Thread.
We post all the news on Iran including personal reports from inside of Iran.

http://www.freerepublic.com/~doctorzin/

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

"If you wait, Bush will take everything you have, and that's a guarantee. He will take your oil, he will take everything," said Lyzegte Blanco, a senior at Harbor College. "That's pretty much why we got Saddam Hussein out of office, because we wanted the oil. With Bush, there's always a hidden meaning."

Why then are our oil prices going up ? They still have not explained that if GWB is over there for the oil we should have gas at about 45 cents a gallon instead its expected to reach record highs this summer

Their stupidity on this war and what it means to the world never ceases to amaze me !

[F14 Pilot]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[RonDog]

our "DEFEND AMERICA" rally on March 20

That would be THIS rally:

Please FORWARD THIS MESSAGE to all of your pro-USA friends!

"Support Our Troops" RALLY...
"DEFEND AMERICA!"
SATURDAY, March 20
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
HOLLYWOOD

Please bring your AMERICAN FLAGS
and show your support for our troops as we stage a
COUNTER-demonstration
to the "anti-war," "anti-military," and "anti-AMERICAN" rally
sponsored by A.N.S.W.E.R., Code Pink & "Not In Our Name."
(THEIR march will end in a rally near the Kodak Theater)

OUR rally will begin at the corner of
Franklin & Highland
(just NORTH of Hollywood & Highland)


For MORE information, please contact:
RonSmith@quixnet.net - (310) 416-9155

RON SMITH/Free Republic Network - TED HAYES/Justiceville Movement
LAUREN SCHMITT/Citizens for Homeland Defense
www.ProtestWarrior.com

Check out the discussion thread about the GOOD GUYS
now posted on the conservative news forum www.FreeRepublic.com at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1091648/posts

And, if you have a strong stomach,
you can also read all about the BAD GUYS at:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/

Note: We WILL be allowed to peacefully assemble
on the public sidewalks along Hollywood Blvd
just EAST of
A.N.S.W.E.R.’s "anti-war" rally
(in front of the Kodak Theater)
after their march crosses Highland.

Please gather at Franklin & Highland, however,
and wait for the LAPD officers to open those sidewalks.

And, AFTER the rally - please join us
for our traditional "food & fellowship. . ."
so that we can plan for our NEXT event.
(Exact details to follow - soon.)

Will YOU be there?
Please RSVP to Ron Smith at:
RonSmith@quixnet.net - (310) 416-9155

[F14 Pilot]

Post this on Iran thread plz.

[RonDog]

Done.

[F14 Pilot]

Thanks!

[SunkenCiv]

felt it was necessary to protest even at a fundraising event to open the eyes of Californians.

There's some spin -- the sentence should have ended at "event" but the shill, er, reporter, added "to open the eyes of Californians."

"We're here to support President Bush because he's for democracy, not only in Iran, but around the world," said 59-year-old Reza Ershadi.

"...who was part of a demonstration to open the eyes of Californians." ;')