Replies

Bush, Kerry supporters clash at Labor Day picnic

ROMANO CEDILLOS
Tucson Citizen
7 September 2004

Some 200 Tucsonans wearing T-shirts and holding signs emblazoned with such messages as "We're taking back America," "Bush lied," and "Kerry in '04," took to the streets around Reid Park yesterday for an annual Labor Day "March for Justice." The event was meant as a chance for Tucsonans and their families to come together and show support for the American worker while bringing attention to the issues affecting working families, according to James Watson, services director of the Arizona AFL-CIO.

The march began at 10 a.m. near Hi Corbett field and ended at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park. It was capped off with a free picnic and speeches from Pima County Supervisor Steve Leal and Arizona congressman Raúl Grijalva, as well as words from Gov. Janet Napolitano and Linda Chavez-Thompson, national executive vice president of the AFL-CIO.

Napolitano was cheered as she spoke of the importance of organized labor in America and how President Bush has let the country down with high unemployment figures, outsourcing of American jobs and reduced overtime pay.

"Workers are feeling disenfranchised," said Bill Miller, 32, a software consultant who listened to the speakers with his wife, Pacie, 31, and their children.

"I'm secure in my job, but I know there are many people who are concerned with issues like outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries," Miller said.

Though most in attendance were John Kerry supporters, a group of about 15 Tucsonans arrived to show support for the event's persona non grata: President Bush.

Chanting "two more months" to the tune of "four more years," several of the more vocal picnic attendees followed the Bush supporters, taunting and sometimes screaming anti-Bush and antiwar slogans and remarks as the group quietly walked the perimeter of the picnic.

One of those taunting the group was Frank Sianzo, who carried an anti-Bush sign.

"It's very important that we all stand up for what we believe in," Sianzo said.

Bush supporter Nina Samuels, 55, was doing just that as Sianzo yelled and teased her group.

"Our goal today is just to be seen and to show other Tucsonans that there is support for President Bush out here. We don't want to answer their hateful remarks with more hateful remarks," said Samuels, who answered Sianzo's screams with "God bless you."

Meg Econ said her daughter, Rachel, was upset by the reaction the Bush supporters received at the event.

"The hateful words were upsetting, but we have as much right to be here as anyone else," Econ said.

The interruption lasted for about 15 minutes.

Gina Jones-Rodriguez, 40, said she was concerned Bush is "too focused on war, and not giving enough attention to basic things like universal health care coverage."

"I think we should create a health care system similar to Canada's," said Jones-Rodriguez, a public health researcher who attended the picnic with her two young daughters. "A lot of people in our country go without health care, and most of them are children."

Samuels said those issues keep Democrats' minds off of Kerry's weak spot: national security.

"They've created an entitlement mentality," Samuels said. "But their ideology does nothing to truly raise people up from the bottom. It doesn't see the real potential that people have.

"The people here are good people, but they do not put the same amount of value on security that they do on social and labor related issues," said Samuels, a native of Peru who became an American 30 years ago.

"I did not have the honor and privilege to be born in this country. When I became an American, I swore to defend this country with my life," she said. "There are only three things I would die for without question: my country, God and my family."

Evangelina Ochoa, 51, a colorful picnic attendee who wore a Mexican sombrero, said she hoped all Tucson workers will band together to deny Bush a second term. Although she was concerned with labor issues, her main concern was the war on terror Bush launched after 9/11.

"We don't want anymore war . . . we're sick of it," said Ochoa, who also wore empty gun holsters to symbolize her dislike for war. "Why did we have to attack another country 'cause we were attacked? War never solved anything," Ochoa said.