Posted on 05/08/2003 10:48:35 AM PDT by CedarDave
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Peace Advocates, Police Will Work Overtime This Weekend
By Wren Propp Journal Staff Writer
While President Bush and his wife, Laura, may have relaxation in mind for their weekend in Santa Fe, peace advocates and others want the first couple to get a few messages while they're here.
Santa Fe police will be working overtime during the Bush visit, and 500 young people at the National Dance Institute will be performing for the first lady.
The police also are offering to make arrangements to accommodate in a "nonconfrontational" way anyone who wants to be arrested to protest the Bushes' visit, according to Police Chief Beverly Lennen.
Peace Action New Mexico and other groups plan to stand with signs along the south side of West Alameda between St. Francis Drive and Camino Alire on Friday afternoon and evening before Laura Bush arrives at the new National Dance Institute, a block or two away next to Alameda Middle School on Alto Street.
"This will be a peaceful, nonviolent vigil" in protest of the Bush administration's policies, said Peggy Prince of Peace Action New Mexico.
"They should be reconsidering their desire for hegemony, for the good of the people of the world, and redirecting the huge, obscene amount of money going to the military and military contractors to health care, arts, environment and the schools," Prince said.
Prince said she's concerned the Friday protest could get too big and wants to encourage protesters to plan for a presence at other Bush stops as well. For example, if the Bushes land at Kirtland Air Force Base, perhaps peaceful protests could occur there as well, she said.
Prince said she wants a vigil for Santa Fe where no one is hurt and no one is arrested.
Lennen said she wants everyone to understand that local police officers — used to keeping the peace during local protest rallies and marches — will have a different role while the Bushes are in town. While providing law enforcement for Santa Fe, officers also are serving as back-up to the Secret Service to provide security and protection for the Bushes.
Security for the Bushes will be a priority for SFPD officers on those details, she said. She's pleased that many protest groups are cooperating with security needs.
"I would make an appeal to any other groups to please follow the lead for nonviolent outlets and ... don't take away from what these young people (the performers at the National Dance Institute) have created with the help of NDI," Lennen said.
Anyone who plans to protest, or show signs of support for the Bushes, should talk to the police department in advance and find out about the "security perimeter" that will be around the Bushes all weekend, including Laura Bush's appearance at the Dance Institute, Lennen said.
Lennen also is asking for those who want to be arrested while the Bushes are around as an act of protest to contact her.
"We can arrange so that would happen in a nonconfrontational, nonviolent way with no risk to the officer," she said.
Because of the need for security, Lennen would not say how much overtime is likely to be racked up over the duration of the Bushes visit.
"We are keeping track of it. ... We have canceled some days off, particularly in those areas where we need technical and operational expertise," Lennen said.
Santa Fe City Hall spokesman Juan Rios said that Mayor Larry Delgado and his wife plan to attend the Dance Institute gala Friday.
While organizers at the institute are pleased that Laura Bush plans to attend their gala Friday, she's not the centerpiece of this year's fund-raising event, said Catherine Oppenheimer, co-founder and artistic director for the institute.
In past years, the gala has honored others for their contributions to the institute, which provides dance instruction to hundreds of children throughout the state.
"We're honored to have her, but we really thought the building would be the guest of honor this year," Oppenheimer said.
The "building" is a new, 33,000-square-foot facility that includes dance studios, offices and 500-seat theater.
The dance institute in New Mexico usually invites the White House to celebrate with it during the gala, but this year Laura Bush said "yes" before the invitation even arrived, said David Miller, a spokesman for the institute.
Laura Bush's presence is mainly due to her friendship with a former institute board member. Miller wouldn't name the former board member.
"This happened because of that personal friendship," Miller said.
Tickets for the gala events are still available, but tickets for the event where Laura Bush will be present — a presentation of "Jo Kid for President," dinner and dancing — at $300 apiece, are going fast. A second show that evening, at $150, includes dessert, champagne and dancing.
Ticket sales haven't been hurt by the Bushes' plans, Miller said.
In previous years, before the construction of the NDI facility, the gala was held at the Lensic Performing Arts Center and other fairly large theaters.
"Right now we're at about the same level as previous years," Miller said.
Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal
Children and Politics...LAURA BUSH/SANTA FE PROTEST
ARTISTIC LEFT VS ANTI WAR LEFT REGARDING LAURA BUSH
From the first link:
Ever since word got out in March that first lady Laura Bush might attend the gala grand opening of the National Dance Institute Dance Barns, the nonprofit organization has been overwhelmed with letters and calls from political protestors. "I've been told the blood of the Iraqi children are on my hands," said NDI-New Mexico co-founder and artistic director Catherine Oppenheimer. "I've had two swastikas."
These folks are both nuts and dangerous.
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