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."
I find it telling that the two biggest Kerry supporters at work are also the two biggest idiots at work.
I'll say it again: The Democrat Party is the largest 'hate group' in the country.
I'm guessing that if a person got unruly at a pro-life protest, the focus of the article wouldn't be on how peaceful and respectful the rest of the crowd was.
I'll say it again: The Democrat Party is the largest 'hate group' in the country.
Yep. Right on
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.
I’ll bet Ashcroft is behind this egregious disregard of this young man’s 1st Amendment right to repeatedly bop police men on the head while expressing his political opinion.
The differences in opinion proved to be too much.
So says the author, yet she could find not one Bush supporter to quote.
Party of Peace, aye.
Excuse me Officer but may I suggest using your nightstick?
And Larry Bethards, 59, came out of retirement to finally join the protest line. "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."
Fun with Google:
York Police Report - Thursday, November 21, 2002:
Driving under the influence, first offense -- Larry Bethards, Greeley, Colo., fined $400, ordered to six months probation and ordered to pay $60 restitution.
He should have been charged with assaulting a police officer. The left wingnuts get away with ...well, an awful lot, because everyone's afraid their fellow fascists will riot and become even more violent. All this does is give positive reinforcement for unaccptable behavior.
Poor lady, how she misses those knee pads.
59 and retired. I guess the past four years haven't been so bad after all.
Eddie Murphy grin :)
59 and already settled into retirement! Yes, the US Govt and AmeriKKKa in general must have been truly horrible for this man.
More violence from the Damnocrats.
Brace yourselves for next Wednesday after Bush wins the election.
McCarthyism at its' worst!
LOL!
That's the first thing I picked up from the story also, besides the idiots protestors. A journalism student waving a Veterans for Kerry sign. I wonder when he did his service?
Looks like we may have a former/current member of the VVAW!
These are the reporter's words. No bias here, nosirree.
Damn, hit a cop here in NYC and before they wrestle you to the ground you'll be maced, pepper sprayed and tasered before they slam you to the pavement and he wouldn't be charged with discon he'd have a felony assault charge shoved up his behind if the officer wasn't injured. If the cop was injured in any way the punk would have a resisting arrest charge tacked on for good measure.
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