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Pima County locks down Cheney protestors
by Emrys
Saturday, Jul. 31, 2004 at 4:23 PM
Pima Country Sheriff's Department keeps anti-Cheney protestors at bay
About 2 dozen people protested Dick Cheney’s campaign rally at the Pima County Fair Grounds Saturday morning at the Houghten Rd. exit on I-10. Turnout seemed low considering the escalating frustration with Bush and Cheney’s leadership. Two other actions were also set for Saturday, which also further splintered activists’ resources.
After holding signs on the roadside for a few hours, catching most of the incoming traffic flocking to hear Cheney, Pima County Sheriffs brought down the iron fist of control and censorship. Well in advance of Cheney’s motorcade, over a dozen squad cars formed a blockade along the roadside to “protect us” from, well, they never really said what from. Although they ensured that they were not there to block our signs from being seen by motorists (after all, we could just hold the signs higher), they made sure none of us walked past their line of squad cars.
SWAT members with bean-bag launching rifles backed up the line of Sheriff’s deputies. Over their radio, we heard a conformation that the protestors had been “locked down.” Indeed. When someone entered the wash at the back of the parking pullout to pee, two officers immediately sprinted over to keep an eye on him. Secret service agents also showed up, keeping tabs on the work of Pima County’s finest.
After locking us down for well over an hour, to the absolute delight of all the Cheney supporters leaving the rally, we were finally let free. “They can protest to the bushes for all I care” was the final comment heard over their radios.
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