Pro, con meet in streetHundreds shout, jeer at foes; some clashes erupt
11:11 PM PDT on Monday, August 29, 2005
Hundreds of protesters and supporters showed up for President Bush's appearance in Rancho Cucamonga on Monday in a loud demonstration marked by emotional clashes between the two groups.
An estimated 700 people were on hand as the presidential motorcade raced down Base Line Road toward the James L. Brulte Senior Center, where Bush spoke about his prescription-drug plan.
San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies tried to keep supporters and protesters separated on opposite corners of Milliken Avenue across from the senior center.
Greg Vojtko / The Press-Enterprise Protesters surge off the sidewalk, momentarily overwhelming an unidentified San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy as President Bush's motorcade passes. But they could not control the war of words streaming from bullhorns and chanting demonstrators throughout Bush's appearance. Occasional skirmishes broke out.
Bush supporters took placards out of the hands of protesters and tore them up. Some who wandered into the territory of the opposite side were greeted with loud jeers and taunts until deputies intervened.
No serious injuries were reported. Authorities made one arrest after a woman provided sheriff's deputies a false name, sheriff's spokeswoman Robin Haynal said. The woman was cited and released at the scene.
"We are a country divided," said protester Seana Estalilo, 30, of Ontario. "After 9/11, our country was supposed to be united but we are a very divided country because of this president."
William Wilson Lewis III / The Press Enterprise Diana Hayden, 36, of Rancho Cucamonga yells, "Support our president!" after tearing up an anti-Bush sign that was brought to Monday's demonstration by a critic of President Bush. As he stood among a sea of U.S. flags, Bush supporter Eiler Miraflor, 51, said the difference between the supporters and protesters was easily visible.
"There are no American flags over there," said Miraflor, pointing to dozens of signs criticizing the war in Iraq, the president's prescription drug plan and his environmental policies.
An American flag occasionally was lifted up among the placards and banners that denounced Bush as a liar.
Pat Mistretta, 73, of Upland called the protesters communists.
Greg Vojtko / The Press-Enterprise Breanna Araiza, 18, and Marion Yates, 54, both of Rancho Cucamonga, show their support for President Bush before his arrival. "I say I am the good person, and they are the bad people," said Mistretta, who donned a red, white and blue top hat for the president's visit. "They look different than we do. We have lots of flags and children over here."
The president's supporters, many from the Inland area, said they came to show their approval for Bush's domestic and foreign policies, especially the war in Iraq.
"I believe it's great we finally have a president who has some moral character," said Vietnam veteran Steve Hackett, 57, of Rancho Cucamonga.
Hackett said he believes the comparisons between Iraq and the Vietnam conflict are "not even close. We have leadership now that wants to win."
Greg Vojtko / The Press-Enterprise A woman is led to a waiting patrol car after she and others were rounded up while crossing a street on a red light before the appearance by President Bush. Officials issued several citations to people walking against the light. Brad Wise, 21, of Rancho Cucamonga, said he joined the Bush supporters to "denounce the ignorance of the anti-war people who think the war is for oil."
On the opposite side of the road, protesters said they support U.S. troops but not Bush's policy to send them to a war they contend has nothing to do with terrorism or weapons of mass destruction.
"The war in Iraq is for oil," said Bush opponent Lila Higgins, 26, of Riverside.
Waymon Fitts, 22, of Moreno Valley, said he joined the protesters because he does not want any more blood shed for Bush's policies.
Greg Vojtko / The Press-Enterprise Pat Mistretta, 73, of Upland, shows her spirit as she waves at traffic from the pro-Bush side before President Bush's arrival. "We have lots of flags and children over here," she said. "The war on terrorism has lost its focus," Fitts said.
Retired teacher Wendy Bayer, 60, of Claremont, criticized Bush for saddling the nation's schools with higher standards without sufficient funding.
After the president left the senior center, more than a half-dozen motorcycle deputies attempted to disband the anti-Bush protesters by turning on their sirens.
San Bernardino County sheriff's Sgt. Frank Gonzales said the technique could have been used on either side.
Gonzales said two people were taken into custody and several citations were issued for obstructing traffic.
"There was a lot of animosity between both sides and we had to do something," Gonzales said.
Haynal said she was not aware of sirens used to disperse protesters.
But, "We had to keep them out of the street," she said.
Staff writer Duane W. Gang contributed to this report.
Reach Kimberly Trone at (951) 368-9456 or ktrone@pe.com
Online at: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_protest30.8f9daa1.html
