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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/National
Protesters gear up for Bush
By SUE BAILEY
Canadian Press
Ottawa ? Protesters are frantically organizing to yank the welcome mat out from under U.S. President George W. Bush when he arrives here Tuesday.
Sporadic graffiti heralds what could be a nasty reception as he starts a two-day visit to Canada.
The black scrawl spray painted across a walkway near Parliament Hill uses a familiar obscenity to tell Bush to stay away.
A noon-hour rally Tuesday is expected to draw thousands of marchers anxious to vent their views on everything from the war in Iraq to plans for a U.S. anti-missile defence shield. Smaller events and candlelight vigils are planned in cities and towns across Canada.
Organizers say they hope participants will be peaceful but warn they can't control individual troublemakers or the police.
?We're organizing mass, inclusive demonstrations,? said Ottawa resident Jessica Squires of the No to Bush Committee.
?I would hope that police would not repeat their mistakes of the past, would not provoke confrontations, would not use dogs and batons.
?If they're well behaved, we'll be well behaved.?
Ottawa Police Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland said officers with local and provincial forces will join the RCMP in a ?soft hat? approach. Police in helmets and riot gear will not be seen unless trouble erupts, she said in an interview.
The same tactic was used for large but mostly calm marches two years ago when Canada hosted the G8 group of world powers.
Police respect the public's right to demonstrate but will respond ?professionally and appropriately? to any crime, Staff Sgt. Ackland said.
?This is a high-profile visit with very high security.?
Protesters are also mobilizing in Halifax, where Mr. Bush is expected to express thanks Wednesday for the city's warmth toward stranded travellers after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Tamara Lorincz, a spokeswoman for the Halifax Peace Coalition, is promising a ?very bold and creative action? but said it will be peaceful.
?We would actually prefer to welcome President Bush with open arms but we absolutely cannot,? she said.
?We must bear in mind that the United States has launched this illegal war and occupation that has slaughtered at minimum 100,000 innocent Iraqi men, women and children.
?Wherever Bush is going to be, we are going to have a mass convergence of people there.?
The U.S. must allow Iraq the freedom to define itself, said Sid Lacombe, co-ordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance. The coalition includes individuals, churches and labour groups across Canada.
?We want to see self-determination for the Iraqis,? Mr. Lacombe said. ?The Iraqi population is under the thumb of an occupation that does not represent them.?
At least one conservative group is planning a pro-Bush rally and hopes police will keep any rabble-rousers in line.
Connie Wilkins of Free Dominion is baffled by the extent of American-bashing among Canadians and even some politicians. She co-founded the on-line forum that offers about 5,000 members a place for right-wing views but is not officially linked to any political party, she said.
?We stand behind the United States and we stand behind their President,? Ms. Wilkins said in an interview. ?We consider them as our allies and their country as our friend.
?If it had been the CN Tower that had been bombed instead of the World Trade Center, the U.S. would have been right there.?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/National
Protesters gear up for Bush
By SUE BAILEY
Canadian Press
Ottawa ? Protesters are frantically organizing to yank the welcome mat out from under U.S. President George W. Bush when he arrives here Tuesday.
Sporadic graffiti heralds what could be a nasty reception as he starts a two-day visit to Canada.
The black scrawl spray painted across a walkway near Parliament Hill uses a familiar obscenity to tell Bush to stay away.
A noon-hour rally Tuesday is expected to draw thousands of marchers anxious to vent their views on everything from the war in Iraq to plans for a U.S. anti-missile defence shield. Smaller events and candlelight vigils are planned in cities and towns across Canada.
Organizers say they hope participants will be peaceful but warn they can't control individual troublemakers or the police.
?We're organizing mass, inclusive demonstrations,? said Ottawa resident Jessica Squires of the No to Bush Committee.
?I would hope that police would not repeat their mistakes of the past, would not provoke confrontations, would not use dogs and batons.
?If they're well behaved, we'll be well behaved.?
Ottawa Police Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland said officers with local and provincial forces will join the RCMP in a ?soft hat? approach. Police in helmets and riot gear will not be seen unless trouble erupts, she said in an interview.
The same tactic was used for large but mostly calm marches two years ago when Canada hosted the G8 group of world powers.
Police respect the public's right to demonstrate but will respond ?professionally and appropriately? to any crime, Staff Sgt. Ackland said.
?This is a high-profile visit with very high security.?
Protesters are also mobilizing in Halifax, where Mr. Bush is expected to express thanks Wednesday for the city's warmth toward stranded travellers after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Tamara Lorincz, a spokeswoman for the Halifax Peace Coalition, is promising a ?very bold and creative action? but said it will be peaceful.
?We would actually prefer to welcome President Bush with open arms but we absolutely cannot,? she said.
?We must bear in mind that the United States has launched this illegal war and occupation that has slaughtered at minimum 100,000 innocent Iraqi men, women and children.
?Wherever Bush is going to be, we are going to have a mass convergence of people there.?
The U.S. must allow Iraq the freedom to define itself, said Sid Lacombe, co-ordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance. The coalition includes individuals, churches and labour groups across Canada.
?We want to see self-determination for the Iraqis,? Mr. Lacombe said. ?The Iraqi population is under the thumb of an occupation that does not represent them.?
At least one conservative group is planning a pro-Bush rally and hopes police will keep any rabble-rousers in line.
Connie Wilkins of Free Dominion is baffled by the extent of American-bashing among Canadians and even some politicians. She co-founded the on-line forum that offers about 5,000 members a place for right-wing views but is not officially linked to any political party, she said.
?We stand behind the United States and we stand behind their President,? Ms. Wilkins said in an interview. ?We consider them as our allies and their country as our friend.
?If it had been the CN Tower that had been bombed instead of the World Trade Center, the U.S. would have been right there.?
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