Tensions run high as visit ignites clashes (Matt Margolis of Blogs4Bush in brawl)

Boston Herald ^ | 3.26.04 | Steve Marantz

[mhking]

A brawl erupted between opponents and supporters of President Bush [related, bio] last night behind police barricades a block from his fund-raiser at the Park Plaza Hotel.

     Two Bush supporters, twin brothers Matt and Aaron Margolis, traded blows at the corner of Arlington and Boylston streets with several men who they said were union members.
     The fight started after a man wearing an Ironworkers Local 7 sweatshirt, perched atop a subway entrance, repeatedly taunted the brothers.
     ``They told us to get out of here or we'd get beaten up,'' said Matt Margolis, 24, of Beverly.
     ``I said, `I support your freedom of speech - please support mine. Come on down and we can have a conversation.'
     ``He jumped down and swung on my brother. Then they all jumped in and tore our signs apart.''
     One union worker, declining to give his name, said the brothers instigated the brawl.

     ``They called the guy down, and he obliged them,'' the union member said.
     A crowd estimated at 750 to 1,000 was largely anti-Bush, including hundreds of union workers.
     ``Bush wants to get rid of unemployment (insurance) and overtime - we need to get rid of him,'' said Charlie Walsh, a Local 223 laborer.
     The Bush opponents held signs that read, ``Get the terrorists out of the White House.''
     Supporters of the president held competing signs that read, ``A vote for Bush is a vote for freedom.''
     The clashes followed the detention of two protesters who refused to move to a designated protest area before Bush's speech earlier in Nashua, N.H.
     Police said the unnamed protesters were not arrested.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[CheezyD]

Typical union thuggery.

[keithtoo]

When I think 'union' I think 'thug'. Those words are synonyms to me.

[cyborg]

I love unions...NOT!

[Bahbah]

It's looking like things may get very ugly between now and November.

[fml]

One union worker, declining to give his name, said the brothers instigated the brawl.

Wussy.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Matt & Aaron bump !

[therealmikeg]

I wish I was in a union. It must be nice to skip out on work to bitch about the President.

[xJones]

The unions would vote Democrat if George Washington could come back and run as a Republican.

[MrB]

Notice how it's always the guy in the wheel chair, the 67 yr old man, the two guys getting beat up by 20 Goonion thugs,

who are always the one to "instigate" the fight with said Goonion thugs?

[Bahbah]

Do we know Matt and Aaron? If not, I would certainly like to.

[mvpel]

The Union thugs were much more polite in Nashua, NH earlier in the day - they knew that about one in 20 people in New Hampshire holds a concealed carry permit, and that jumping down and attacking someone would be hazardous to their health.

Quite an illustration of the "armed society, polite society" principle.

[lormand]

...wishing I was there to set these Union thugs right.

There needs to be a special unit that takes care of these thugs at counter-protest rallies. I'll volunteer.

[ohioman]

Stalin would love how these Union thugs operate. Especially, since commie agents infiltrated many US unions a many, many years ago.

[martin_fierro]

Two Bush supporters, twin brothers Matt and Aaron Margolis, traded blows at the corner of Arlington and Boylston streets with several men who they said were union members.

Gee. What are the chances.

[No Blue States]

I agree, and its still a long way to Nov.

It might be a good idea to keep the 2 groups separated at protests.

Im surprised the headline wasnt "2 Bush terrorists maul crowd of 20 innocent union patriots.

These 2 brothers have my respect, Unions have less than they did if possible. It must take alot of courage for 20 to pick a fight with 2.

[subterfuge]

``They called the guy down, and he obliged them,'' the union member said.

What he probably actually said was:

"Yeah, day called da effin guy down, and he effin obliged 'em"

[spunkets]

"They told us to get out of here or we'd get beaten up..."

LOL! Typical rat thugs.

[Bahbah]

"Im surprised the headline wasnt "2 Bush terrorists maul crowd of 20 innocent union patriots."

LOL, that would be it if it was in the Missourian.