QUOTE
PSU Presidential Visit
Protesters fail to get near president
Hundreds chant well out of leader's earshot
By Erin L. Nissley
enissley@centredaily.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Cara Rosenthal is four years from being able to vote, but it didn't stop her from joining hundreds of others Tuesday at Shortlidge Plaza to protest President Bush's brief appearance.
Holding a sign that read "PA Farmers know Bull when they hear it," the Williamsport 14-year-old said she became fed up with the No Child Left Behind Act and decided to do something.
"I thought it was time to teach a cheater a lesson," she said. "And even though we failed, it's important to continue."
Protesters began gathering about 11:30 a.m., a few hours before the president was to address the Pennsylvania FFA convention at the adjacent Eisenhower Auditorium.
Although Shortlidge Plaza is adjacent to Eisenhower, the auditorium separated the protesters from any view of Bush's arrival or departure.
Police officers were posted, watching for signs of unrest among the protesters, who wanted to voice their opinions on a range of issues, including Social Security, abortion, the war in Iraq and agribusiness among them.
The silent protest became a chant at about 1:20 p.m., led by State College resident Tony Coray. As a few protesters beat drums, Coray began yelling "By the power, by the power, by the power of the people" and "Impeach."
Other protesters picked up the chant, although Centre County's Democratic Chairman Bob Shepherd, whose group was the umbrella organization for the protest, said his group didn't condone leaving the silent format.
The same chant was repeated just before 2 p.m., again led by Coray shouting through a bullhorn.
The only drama came when some of Bush's audience left Eisenhower Auditorium about 2:40 p.m.
By then, many of the protesters had left the brick patio between the Life Sciences Building and the Chemistry Building and edged nearer Eisenhower Auditorium.
As Bush supporters passed by on their way to a hospitality tent nearby, protesters aimed shouts at them. "Your support kills people," one yelled. Another chimed in, "Stop the killing!" Others began chanting "Impeach."
Many protesters considered Bush's audience their only chance to truly make their voices heard, because police told them they had to remain out of sight of the door the president used to enter and exit the auditorium.
"They call this the free speech zone," said Peter Morris, a retired Penn State professor who was holding a sign that read: "He Lies. They Die."
"It used to be that the whole country was a free speech zone."
Katie Kolesar, a student at Penn State, also expressed frustration at being corralled in the plaza, far from the president.
"I know they're trying to protect him from assassination. But we're all peaceful," she said. "He's not going to see us. And the less opposition he sees, the more he thinks he's right."
No protesters were arrested, university police supervisor Bill Moerschbacher said Tuesday evening.
Protesters fail to get near president
Hundreds chant well out of leader's earshot
By Erin L. Nissley
enissley@centredaily.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Cara Rosenthal is four years from being able to vote, but it didn't stop her from joining hundreds of others Tuesday at Shortlidge Plaza to protest President Bush's brief appearance.
Holding a sign that read "PA Farmers know Bull when they hear it," the Williamsport 14-year-old said she became fed up with the No Child Left Behind Act and decided to do something.
"I thought it was time to teach a cheater a lesson," she said. "And even though we failed, it's important to continue."
Protesters began gathering about 11:30 a.m., a few hours before the president was to address the Pennsylvania FFA convention at the adjacent Eisenhower Auditorium.
Although Shortlidge Plaza is adjacent to Eisenhower, the auditorium separated the protesters from any view of Bush's arrival or departure.
Police officers were posted, watching for signs of unrest among the protesters, who wanted to voice their opinions on a range of issues, including Social Security, abortion, the war in Iraq and agribusiness among them.
The silent protest became a chant at about 1:20 p.m., led by State College resident Tony Coray. As a few protesters beat drums, Coray began yelling "By the power, by the power, by the power of the people" and "Impeach."
Other protesters picked up the chant, although Centre County's Democratic Chairman Bob Shepherd, whose group was the umbrella organization for the protest, said his group didn't condone leaving the silent format.
The same chant was repeated just before 2 p.m., again led by Coray shouting through a bullhorn.
The only drama came when some of Bush's audience left Eisenhower Auditorium about 2:40 p.m.
By then, many of the protesters had left the brick patio between the Life Sciences Building and the Chemistry Building and edged nearer Eisenhower Auditorium.
As Bush supporters passed by on their way to a hospitality tent nearby, protesters aimed shouts at them. "Your support kills people," one yelled. Another chimed in, "Stop the killing!" Others began chanting "Impeach."
Many protesters considered Bush's audience their only chance to truly make their voices heard, because police told them they had to remain out of sight of the door the president used to enter and exit the auditorium.
"They call this the free speech zone," said Peter Morris, a retired Penn State professor who was holding a sign that read: "He Lies. They Die."
"It used to be that the whole country was a free speech zone."
Katie Kolesar, a student at Penn State, also expressed frustration at being corralled in the plaza, far from the president.
"I know they're trying to protect him from assassination. But we're all peaceful," she said. "He's not going to see us. And the less opposition he sees, the more he thinks he's right."
No protesters were arrested, university police supervisor Bill Moerschbacher said Tuesday evening.