Clash revealed true patriots

MY VIEW •ÊFor the protesters on the other side of the barricade during last week’s presidential visit, it was civil liberties that were the most in danger

By Alan Graf

The Portland Tribune, Aug 30, 2002, Updated Oct 30, 2009

On Aug. 22, King George III came to town to help Prince Gordon throw a party and make some money so the prince could get re-elected. The rest of us “po’ folks” weren’t invited. But, as gracious hosts, we paid for the party’s security, costing us more than $100,000.

We took to the streets to have our own party, where we could shout our opposition to the threat of war, reminding George that chief U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter advises that Iraq is not a threat to U.S. security. We exclaimed our dismay about corporate CEOs looting and plundering our pension plans and economic security.

We proclaimed our love for our planet and our wish to prevent global warming along with spiraling deaths from cancer caused by corporate pollution. We expressed our devotion to our children and our desire to invest in them, not in more bombs and weapons. We took to the streets to let George know that we firmly believe that terrorizing our civil liberties will not make us any safer.

We were peaceful, loud and noisy. We were boisterous and joyful. And we were as American as apple pie in the fundamental sense of the word American. At no time did we threaten or provoke the Portland police to merit the militaristic and inhumane response that we received.

I was there when it started. Folks at the front of the barricade were so well behaved that no one even leaned over the barricade. There are videos that clearly show this to be true.

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