Bush supporters rally at Capitol Hundreds back Iraq confrontation
By Matt Larson and George Merritt
Special to The Denver Post
Monday, February 17, 2003 - Hundreds gathered on the west steps of the state Capitol on Sunday to show their support for the Bush administration's stance on Iraq. 
Post / Kirk Speer Hundreds rally on the west steps of the state Capitol on Sunday in support of the Bush administration and a possible war with Iraq.
Amid growing opposition both nationally and abroad, participants waved signs proclaiming "Saddam, bin Laden - two Branches, one Tree," and "A war against terror is a just war." Others waved American flags while local politicians and religious leaders spoke.
Colorado Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, delivered an impassioned plea for Americans to support the actions of the government.
"Defense is not duct tape, continued inspections, misguided peace marches, and empty U.N. resolutions," Andrews said. "How about a little air power, how about some ground troops."
Andrews criticized the anti-war movement and the recent wave of protests.
"Some of them don't remember Sept. 11," he said. "We remember Sept. 11."
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., also condemned the protests.
"They are not anti-war rallies, they are anti-America rallies," he said.
Anti-war protesters do not think there is any evil in the world or think any particular culture is better then another, Tancredo said.
"But raise the gates all over the world and find out which way people run," he said. "They run here."
Tancredo also noted, however, that Sunday's rally was by no means pro-war.
"I don't know a soul who is pro-war," Tancredo said. "The people are gathering for a pro-America rally."
Down the steps from the Capitol, Lincoln Avenue became a boundary line between war supporters and anti-war demonstrators. About 150 protesters on either side hurled slogans, insults and gestures across the traffic.
"Why don't you go to Iraq and see if they like your liberal policies over there," yelled Chris Montoya of Denver.
"Bomb Islam," shouted Dann Dalton of Aurora.
"Fascist," returned a call from across the street.
Troy Evitt, whose sign read "Eat lead Iraq," said war is better than letting a totalitarian leader control a country.
"I am for a lot of liberal issues," Evitt said. "But the bottom line is I'm more annoyed at radical Islam and terrorists than I am with the far right."
Activists on either side of the street prompted honks and cheers from passing motorists on Lincoln. As many as four Denver police cars and two mounted officers watched the banter.
"We are here to balance things out and support our troops," said Pat Jasper of Westminster. "It was the troops that liberated Europe (in World War II), not the peaceniks."
Siobhan O'Keefe and Amra Tipura, both college students, said they were studying in the public library when they heard about the rally. They decided to show their opposition.
"They have a right to say what they want," O'Keefe said of the war supporters. "But we can say what we feel, too. There have been some pretty nasty insults here today."