Tag Archives: peace

We received a phone call yesterday from Camp Casey informing us that Cindy had been re-hospitalized and questioning Cindy’s coming to Salt Lake for tomorrow’s protest. That was confirmed today by another phone call early in the day and then via a press release to the media by Cindy Sheehan’s spokespeople:

An ill Sheehan cancels S.L. protest speech
Sheehan cancels appearance at Salt Lake anti-war protest

From today’s Salt Lake Tribune. See the note below the list. As far as I know, the sidewalk is still public property……

Today’s events:American Legion convention, Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City
(George Bush is scheduled to speak on Thursday)

10 a.m.: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld speaks. (KUTV Channel 2, KSTU Channel 13, KSL Channel 5 and KCPW Radio will carry the speech live. KSL Radio hadn’t confirmed Monday if it would be able to carry the speech.)

10:50 a.m.: Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Sen. Bob Bennett, Reps. Jim Matheson and Rob Bishop, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon offer remarks.

12:10 p.m.: Legion national commander makes presentation to Sen. Orrin Hatch.

1:15 p.m.: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks to convention. (KUTV Channel 2, KSTU Channel 13, KSL Channel 5 and KCPW Radio will carry the speech live. KSL Radio hadn’t confirmed Monday if it would be able to carry the speech.)

Note: Convention events are open only to Legion members and credentialed media.

Today’s news has pieces where Utah GOP asks backers to call Rocky and object to his protest.

The Utah Republican Party is asking its supporters to call Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and tell him they disapprove of his scheduled participation Wednesday in an anti-war rally preceding a visit by President Bush. The party put out radio ads Monday asking people to call Anderson and “tell him to stop embarrassing Utah.” The mayor’s office had received 183 calls by late afternoon. The office hired three temporary workers to staff the phone lines, and they took calls from throughout Utah and even some from out of state, one of the temporary workers said.

What a waste of time and money.

Hartley said he wasn’t concerned about the extra cost to the mayor’s office for hiring people to answer the phones.
“If that encumbers the city that he represents at all, I’d say that’s Rocky’s fault,” Hartley said. “I have no sympathy for him if his office has to incur some financial responsibility to take all the phone calls from people who don’t like what he’s doing.”
Hartley’s radio ad tells listeners that Sheehan’s beliefs are anti-American and that her “cut-and-run strategy” is an effort “to convince you that America should retreat.” Ads started running Monday with heavy play in Utah’s rural counties, where residents are “hopping mad this man is representing our state to the world,” Hartley said.

Senator Bob Bennett says that he believes that everyone, including Anderson, should have respect for the office of the U.S. president. “Rocky has made a serious mistake” by calling for protests against Bush during the president’s visit, Bennett said.

Well, first, Rocky didn’t call for the protest, average citizens did. And believe me there are folks involved in organizing this rally who have never been involved before, a reflection of the dissatisfaction of citizens in Bush’s Administration. And while I might agree with Mr. Bennett that “everyone” should respect the office of U.S. president, “everyone” should also be taught to respect all exsitence, not “offices”. I do not agree that “everyone” needs to respect Mr. Bush the war criminal and fabricator of facts to the American Public. The man needs to be impeached and indicted and this will be a display of that demand and an expression of Utahns dissatisfaction of such. These actions are the “respectful” and rightful way to demonstrate this.

It astounds me that Republicans are making such a big fuss over this – and going to lengths to spend their party money on radio ads and paid telephone petitioners – telling their followers how to protest. I tend to think that members of this party are afraid – of the medai attention that rarely happens with Utah’s small activist community – but that is likely to put Salt Lake on the map again this year.

I have learned that there will be an evening program on Wednesday August 30 at Pioneer Park, as an add-on to the days’ rally activites, with entertainment and more speakers.

It will be from 6-8pm.

Last night I attended a party at a friend’s house where we made signs in preparation for Bush’s visit this week. The entire driveway was filled with people with paintbrushes and other sign-making materials.

Here are just a few photos: