SILENCED BY THE PRESIDENT

[Guest guest]

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Silenced by the President

By Trish Bowcock

Oct. 16, 2004

 

http://www.iconoclast-

texas.com/Columns/Guest/guest42a.htmhttp://www.iconoclast-

texas.com/Columns/Guest/guest42a.htm

 

 

 

A few weeks before my father died, he woke me in the wee hours of the

morning. He needed to talk. He was worried about Attorney General

John Ashcroft and the destruction of American civil liberties. I

comforted my father, believing he was delusional from medications. I

was wrong.

I write this from my home in Jacksonville Oregon (population 2,226).

President George W. Bush came here this week. The purpose of his

visit was political. Southern Oregon has been deemed a " battle

ground " area in the presidential race. John Kerry has made incredible

inroads in this traditionally Republican stronghold. President Bush's

campaign stop was an attempt to staunch the slide.

 

Jacksonville is an old gold mining town. Our main street is only five

blocks long, lined with restored storefronts. The sidewalks are

narrow. We are a peaceful community. The prospect of an overnight

presidential visit was exciting, even to me, a lifelong Democrat. My

excitement turned to horror as I watched events unfold during

President Bush's visit.

 

In the mid 1800s, when Indians invaded Jacksonville, citizens

clambered upon the roof of the old library. It was the one building

that would not catch fire when flaming arrows were shot. This week it

was a different scene. Police armed with high powered rifles perched

upon our rooftops as the presidential motorcade approached.

Helicopters flew low, overhead. A cadre of motorcycle police zoomed

into town. Black SUVs followed, sandwiching several black limousines

carrying the president, his wife and their entourage as they sped to

the local inn where they would eat and sleep.

The main street was lined with people gathered to witness the event.

Many supported the president. Many did not. Some came because they

were simply curious. There were men, women, young and old. The mood

was somewhat festive. Supporters of John Kerry sported signs, as did

supporters of George Bush. Individuals, exercising their rights of

free speech began chanting. On one side of the street, shouts

of " four more years " echoed in the night air. On the other side of

the street, chants of " three more weeks " responded. The chants were

loud and apparently could be heard by President Bush. An order was

issued that the anti-Bush rhetoric be quieted. The local SWAT team

leapt to action.

 

It happened fast. Clad in full riot gear, at least 50 officers moved

in. Shouting indecipherable commands from a bullhorn, they formed a

chain and bore down upon the people, only working to clear the side

of the street appearing to be occupied by Kerry supporters. People

tried to get out of their way. It was very crowded. There was nowhere

to move. People were being crushed. They started flowing into the

streets. Pleas to the officers, asking, " where to go " fell upon deaf

ears. Instead, riot police fired pellets of cayenne pepper spray into

the crowd. An old man fell and couldn't get up. When a young man

stopped to help, he was shot in the back with hard pepper spray

balls. Children were hit with pepper spray. Deemed " Protesters "

people were shoved and herded down the street by the menacing line of

armed riot police, until out of the President's ear-shot.

 

There the " Protesters " were held at bay. Anyone vocalizing anti-Bush

or pro-Kerry sentiments were prohibited from venturing forward. Loud

anti-Bush chants were responded to by the commanding officer

stating: " FORWARD, " to which the entire line of armed police would

move, lock-step, toward the " Protesters, " forcing backward movement.

Police officers circulated filming the crowd of " Protesters. " Some

were people like me, quiet middle-aged women. Some sported anti-Bush

signs, peace signs, or Kerry signs. A small group of youth, clad in

black with kerchiefs wrapping their heads chanted slogans. A young

woman in her underwear, sporting a peace sign sang a lyrical Kumbaya.

Mixed among the " Protesters " were supporters of the President. One 19

year- old man shouted obscenities at anyone expressing

dissatisfaction with the president, encouraging the police to " tazar "

the " Stinking Protesters. " Neither the " Protestors, " nor the police

harassed this vocal young man. Across the street, individuals

shouting support for the president were allowed to continue. Officers

monitored this group but allowed them to shout words of support or

hurl derisions toward Kerry supporters, undisturbed. Honking cars

filled with Bush supporters were left alone. A honking car full of

Kerry supporters was stopped by police on its way out of town.

The standoff with " Protesters " ontinued until the President finished

his dinner and was secured in his hotel cottage for the night. Only

then were the riot police ordered to " mount-up, " leaping upon the

sideboard of a huge SUV, pulling out of town, and allowing " free

speech " to resume.

 

In small town American I witnessed true repression and intimidation

by law enforcement. I saw small children suffering from the effects

of being fired upon by pepper bullets. I felt legitimate fear of

expressing my political opinions: a brand new feeling. Newspaper

accounts state the chaos started when a violent " Protester " shoved a

police officer. No one I talked to witnessed this account.

It is reputed that President Bush and his staff will not allow any

opposition activity to occur within his ear or eye sight. I can

confirm, that in tiny Jacksonville, Oregon, this was true. Physically

violent means were taken to protect the president from verbal

insults. Freedom of speech was stolen.

My father was not paranoid as he lay dying. He was expressing great

insight into the dangers of our current presidential administration

and its willingness to repress personal freedoms. If I could talk to

my father today, I would say, " I am sorry Daddy for doubting you. "

And, no matter what, I will continue to exercise my individual right

to freely express my opinions. Americans cannot take four more years.

 

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