Rocky Urges Protest of Bush Visit
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson is encouraging a protest he hopes will be "ten times as large" when President George W. Bush visits Utah next month. The outspoken mayor drew criticism for spearheading a large protest during last summer's presidential visit. This time, he hopes Bush's low approval ratings are a sign that even more people will rally in opposition to not only the Iraq War, but a host of Bush policies he claims hurt seniors, schools and cities.
"I think everyboy, whether they're in government, religion, education, business, should be speaking out," says Anderson. "I think this President is absolutely out of touch."
Still, Anderson says he's glad the president is coming to town and even welcomes him as mayor of Utah's capital city. But he says he'll leave the warm reception to others while he takes the opportunity to voice his disgust.
"I'm going to speak up every chance I get. You shouldn't miss those opportunities," adds Anderson.
President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are scheduled to address the annual conference of the American Legion on August 30th. Mayor Anderson has not yet been invited to address the convention as he did the Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting last year. But if the invite comes, Anderson says he'll gladly accept it.
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1. Eileen McCabe-Olsen said:
Mayor Anderson did not spearhead the protest efforts last year, nor is he doing so this year. These protests were and are led by grassroots activists in the community.
3. Glenn McBeth said:
you people are socialist nutcases that thinks that money grows on trees and is a renewable resource that you don't have to work for...only demand and it will be given to you
4. Bill R said:
The last time Bush visited Utah, I was happy to greet him with Rocky et al downtown. Has the date of Bush's visit been set yet? I need to put in for time off from work so I can join the crowd again.
2. Deanna L. Taylor said:
As a member of last year's organizing committee for the protest against Mr. Bush's visit to SLC last year, I can safely say that Mayor Anderson not only did not spearhead the protest efforts, but was not part of the planning process, nor does he profess to have been. He is also not involved in the process this year.
It is thanks to many grassroots activists from the community that many of these events take place.