Protesters in Grand Junction, CO, Attempt to Block Palin Motorcade (w/ video)
Shades of Ghandi's non-violent protest? Tienaman Square? Or just plain jack-assery?
A group of protesters in Grand Junction, CO, attempted to block Palin's motorcade yesterday.
The local newspaper, the Grand Junction Sentinel, had this to report:
Grand Junction police are investigating an incident in which Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's motorcade was momentarily blocked at 12th Street and North Avenue on Monday evening.
Police made no arrests immediately but have video that they will use in a criminal investigation, Deputy Chief Troy Smith said.
No injuries were reported.
***
"It was very dangerous what (the protesters) did," Smith said. Two officers laid down their motorcycles "in an action to save these guys from injury."
The incident endangered the protesters, as well as the officers, one of whom stumbled and fell back into the path of the motorcade, Smith said.
The officer got out of the way without injury, he said.
The incident took place next to Mesa State College, home of the Mesa State Mavericks.
Woo Hoo! First successful video embed!
October 21, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
It worked on the main page, but not on the individual blog page. It reads "MALFORMED ERROR"
As to the clip, it looks like it was probably a peaceful protest that police tried to break up in a rather violent fashion. They could have re-routed the motorcade, and probably should have if they thought there was any kind of security risk to the candidate - which would again confirm that police did not see this as a security issue.
The police claim to have a video, is there a video of the whole incident from the beginning? Otherwise, the only crimes I could see were assaults by the police on the protesters, and perhaps "failure to disperse" or "failure to obey a police directive" or perhaps that they failed to get a permit.
October 21, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The GJ Sentinel link has a different video showing the incident.
October 21, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
The people trying to block the Palin caravan should leave this country. Just get out. There I said it, and I know I am not the only person who is thinking this. If you dont agree, that's fine. Diversity strenghtens this county. However, no matter who you support, no matter what your political leanings are, trying to stop the democratic process, silencing someone you dont agree with, smells vaguely fascist to me. We have a system in progress, not perfect, but it works the way it works. How do you justify, as Americans, the actions of these few individuals. It shames me that we are both Americans.
Don't feel like your alone. I'm sure Vladimir Putin agrees with your tactics, at least.
Bryan R
Vancouver, Washington
to reply:
politicalrov@yahoo.com
Please put aboutprotesters in the subject heading, or message will go straight to trash
October 22, 2008 2:30 AM | Reply | Permalink