Posted on 10/27/2004 12:39:07 PM PDT by real saxophonist
Student disrupts protest
Julie Piotraschke, juliep@windsortribune.com
October 26, 2004
The detaining of a college student shattered hours of passionate but peaceful protesting by hundreds who lined up Monday morning outside of Island Grove Regional Park.
Michael McCarthy, a journalism student at the University of Northern Colorado, was wrestled to the ground by police after he continued to smack an officer on the top of his head with a red and blue "Veterans for Kerry" sign.
According to witness Monica McRae, who had come up from Denver in support of the president, McCarthy had ignored the officer when he was asked to stop hitting him and get the cardboard sign out of his face.
McCarthy refused and was quickly swarmed by half a dozen officers. As he was taken away, the crowd erupted into a chorus of boos.
McCarthy was cited for disorderly conduct and later released.
The altercation came midmorning when the protesters were allowed to cross 11th Avenue and stand near the park entrance once the political rally had started.
Doing so put supporters who had come for a long-range peek of the president face to face with sign-carrying protesters chanting "One more week" and "George Bush go away -- you are sexist, racist and anti-gay."
The differences in opinion proved to be too much.
"People were no longer respecting physical and verbal boundaries," said protester Matthew Parker, a 22-year-old Greeley resident. "I was worried about things getting out of hand once we crossed the street."
For UNC student Brian Sleevi, 21, the altercation just made an eventful day even more so.
"It completely added to the experience and will be something I can tell my kids about," he said. "I think it adds to our collective message that we need to get Bush out of office."
That message was what propelled many who never thought they would join the ranks of protesters to stand on the sidewalks in the dawn's chilly weather. They lined up along D Street with brightly painted handmade signs and banners. As they chanted, drivers either honked their horns or returned hand gestures.
Even first-time protesters weren't deterred.
Fort Collins resident Joan Dooley joined other protesters for the first time with her red sign, "Women for Kerry."
"I am so full of sorrow and outrage at what Bush has done to our country in four years," she said. "I need a way to express myself that isn't violent."
Greeley resident Donna Saxe has seen quite a few presidents come and go in her 58 years.
No other leader has made her feel like Bush has.
"I've never felt so strongly against a candidate who made me want to come out here and do this," she said. "But he's not sincere in his personality or his attitude. We need different policies."
And Larry Bethards, 59, came out of retirement to finally join the protest line.
The last time the Greeley resident protested was after he served nearly three years in Vietnam. He went to an anti-war demonstration in Washington, D.C., in the 1960s. Tear gas was used to scatter the crowds then, and he was arrested.
Until Monday, Bethards said, he hadn't found anything worthy of bringing him out again.
But with Bush's rush to war and a skyrocketing deficit, Bethards now feels there's a need.
"I haven't felt this strong dislike for a president before, but I have to do something," he said. "And it feels good to participate and show democracy like this."
A journalism student waving a Veterans for Kerry sign. I wonder when he did his service?
Like most Veteran's For Kerry their service is imaginary.
How dumb is that? They apparently don't know that the term of office runs until noon January 20, 2005. That calculation might be beyond their grasp.
Not that I accept the premise that's behind their "one more week" chant.
how do you "disrupt a protest" ? isnt a protest itself a disruption?
That was a great movie, probably Eddie's best.
"I am so full of sorrow and outrage at what Bush has done to our country in four years," she said. "I need a way to express myself that isn't violent."
That's what voting's for DA. And the "no violence" thing won't last long anyway.
Michael McCarthy, a journalism student at the University of Northern Colorado, was wrestled to the ground by police after he continued to smack an officer on the top of his head with a red and blue "Veterans for Kerry" sign.
Is he really a veteran? Is the Kerry campaign using fake veterans?
The story of leftist men in America, were it ever to be told, would be a sad tale of misguided adolescents following their hormones down the wrong side of history.
Fun with Google:
York Police Report - Thursday, November 21, 2002:
Driving under the influence, first offense -- Larry Bethards
O.K., how'd you do that?
Mind if I use that for my tagline?
A rabid, anti-Bush journalism student. He'll have a bright future at the New York Times or CBS News.
Maybe ole Larry didn't retire voluntarily, you spose?
I find it interesting that this vet who also protested the Vietnam war just happened to mouth the Democrat talking points and protested the Vietnam war after his return and so did John Kerry.
Kerry still has contacts with lots of his fellow travelers.
Why wasn't this idiot charged with assault & battery? If you play footsie with these brownshirts, they'll only become more emboldened.
Look what we have here, a former Vietnam vet, who also protested the Vietnam war after his return, mouthing the Democrat talking points and protesting Bush, and he just happens to be the one interviewed.....ummmm
Do you think this is a former member of the VVAW?
When I went back to college a few years ago, the non-traditional student population(age 26 & over) was around 20%.
BUSH isn't 'sincere'? WTF?
Love him or hate him, W is who he is.
No pretense.
That can NOT be said for JFinK!
None so blind as those who WILL not see!
And Larry Bethards, 59, came out of retirement to finally join the protest line.
The last time the Greeley resident protested was after he served nearly three years in Vietnam. He went to an anti-war demonstration in Washington, D.C., in the 1960s. Tear gas was used to scatter the crowds then, and he was arrested.
No, leftists hormones are defective. Men with normal hormones want to defend thier lives, the lives of thier loved ones, thier country, and thier history and pass them along to thier children.
Leftists deny thier hormones and become pussies without any values or morals. Leftist men are anything but men.
No, leftists hormones are defective. Men with normal hormones want to defend thier lives, the lives of thier loved ones, thier country, and thier history and pass them along to thier children.
Leftists deny thier hormones and become pussies without any values or morals. Leftist men are anything but men.
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