Kept away from rally, hundreds protest Bush policies

By RICHARD PEARSALL, Courier-Post Staff, EVESHAM, October 19, 2004

President Bush could not see or hear any of the opponents who showed up to criticize his policies, particularly the war in Iraq.

But they were there, several hundred strong, some in a parking lot assigned to "protesters," several hundred yards from the point where the president spoke. Another, smaller group was at the point on Tuckerton Road beyond which the public could not proceed.

"It's one of the things that upsets me," said Chris Hansen, 42, of Medford. "He's so

JOSE F. MORENO/Courier-Post

Jess Christianson of Moorestown joins other supporters of Democrat John Kerry in a demonstration during President Bush's visit to South Jersey.

insulated."

Hansen, the vice president of a manufacturing company, described himself as "an active independent who's become a Democrat" and said that, for him, the war is the main issue.

"I'm sick of feeling ashamed of my country," Hansen said.

The protesters carried Kerry-Edwards posters and signs bearing messages such as "No billionaire left behind."

They chanted "Bush lied and soldiers died" and "Hey hey, ho ho, George Bush has got to go," and, most popular of all "Two more weeks," a response to the Bush supporters' "Four more years."

Organized labor was represented, led by members of the Boilermakers' union, whose bus provided a platform of sorts to rally the crowd and lead its chants.

So were active members of the Democratic party, such as Roxie Decktor, 50, a party committeewoman in Alloway, who said it was not the first time she has turned out to protest a president who "wants to be in control of the world."

But there were others who described their presence at a political protest as unusual.

"I haven't felt the need to do this in a very long time," said Erica King, 51, of Cherry Hill. "I think four more years of Bush would be a disastrous route."

While the president was far removed, his supporters weren't and some of them chose to "greet" the protesters as they passed by on their way to their designated area.

And later, when Bush supporters were leaving the parking lot in their cars, the two sides exchanged "opinions," sometimes good naturedly, sometimes angrily.

Brenda Probasco, 43, of Lawrenceville, shook her head at the verbal sparring.

"They're certainly not convincing anyone," said Probasco, who said she is supporting Kerry because "after 9/11 we had the sympathy of the world. Now we're hated."

On Tuckerton Road, a group of high school students who took the day off to be on hand, engaged in a "debate" with a group of Bush supporters, the two sides separated by a drainage area and a vast difference of opinion.

"They say that young people don't care about the issues," said Caitlin Crossen, 17, of Haddon Heights. "Well here we are and they're still mad at us."

"We're here to see the president," said Jackie Jones, of Spring Lake Heights in Monmouth County, who described herself as in her 30s. "They're here to bother people and get on TV."

A group of students who support the president decided to "protest the protesters" by marching through the designated protest area, Bush-Cheney posters in hands, on their way to their cars.

"We wanted to show the Kerry people we're not afraid to stand up for what we believe in," said Justin Lowry, 17, a Shawnee High School student from Medford. "They were very hostile."

Reach Richard Pearsall at (856) 486-2465 or rpearsall@courierposttonline.com