- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- The standoff with "Protesters" continued 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.
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- 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.
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- 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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