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http://www.dailytexanonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/08/26/3d69f22a03aa9?in_archive=1

Gerry McCarthy/ Daily Texan Staff

Mike Clagg, a member of the Denton Activist Movement Network, shows off his American flag filled with corporate logos to reporters at a protest in Crawford Saturday. The protesters were blockaded by state troopers from delivering a petition to President Bush's ranch.
Anti-war protesters halted at Bush's ranch
By Kris Banks (Daily Texan Staff)
August 26, 2002

CRAWFORD - About 100 protesters met a roadblock when they tried to deliver a petition demanding the cessation of economic sanctions on Iraq and cancellation of U.S. war plans to President Bush's ranch Saturday. McLellan County Sheriff Larry Lynch said his department, as well as the Texas State Troopers, were under federal orders not to allow anyone to pass a point in the road leading up to the ranch.

Federal officials did not return phone calls at press time, but according to a press release regarding the president's schedule, he was not at the ranch when the protesters were outside.

The protesters had originally planned to park their cars about a mile away, march up to the ranch, give the petition to one of Bush's representatives and hold a prayer vigil. But Lynch said their cars were illegally parked on the side of the road, and they could not continue down the road.

"We will call a wrecker out, and your cars will be towed," Lynch told the protesters.

Peter Johnson, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and part of the protest, eventually succeeded in convincing the protesters to leave and attempt to take the petition elsewhere.

This task was made difficult because at least four other protesters had megaphones or other amplification devices and many people expressed a desire for a more confrontational approach. One woman said the protest might as well take on an aggressive approach, because law enforcement officials would continue to deny them access.

"We need to maintain a good relationship [with McLennan law enforcement] because we want to return here," Johnson said.

At no point were weapons drawn during the confrontation, making it amicable in comparison with protests last week in Portland, where protesters were sprayed with pepper spray.

The protesters had caravanned to the roadblock from a rally in the parking lot of Crawford's football stadium. About 150 people attended the rally.

Rahul Majahan, Green Party gubernatorial candidate and author on the Middle East, said plans to attack Iraq are an attempt to "recolonize the Middle East" and called for more educational events about the situation there.

He also said Bush's lack of multilateral support was a cause for concern, since even British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom Majahan called a "bootlicker," did not appear to be fully behind the president.

The rally was not only to protest plans for a pre-emptive strike on Iraq, but also to support lifting economic sanctions on the country, which have existed since the Persian Gulf War.

Amira Matsudra, a Denton resident, said she was born in Iraq and returns regularly to visit relatives and has seen the toll economic sanctions have taken on civilian populations.

"Civilian life is getting worse in all aspects of life," she said. "I would say 95 percent is due to the sanctions."

She said the economic sanctions have limited Iraqis' ability to overthrow Saddam Hussein themselves.

About 10 supporters of Bush's plans held a demonstration of their own on the other side of a fenceline from the rally.

"I don't want to see another Sept. 11," said Grace Germany, an Austin resident. "I don't want to see Republicans, Democrats or communists hurt because of anti-capitalist, anti-entrepreneurial Is-lamic fundamentalist militants."