Pittsburgh "Report from the Front," from CLG member, Cynthia: "I am still livid about today."

pResident Bush made an appearance in Pittsburgh, PA, August 5, 2002. CLG member Cynthia provided this report:

WHEN I ARRIVED to denounce Dubya's cynical use of the rescued miners, who he wasn't concerned about when he slashed the budget for mine safety, the police directed me to move inside the fence where I struck up a conversation with the only other protester there, who is a former Gulf War veteran and the daughter of a local coal miner.

She and I both placed our signs over the outside of the fence facing the hotel where al-Queda George was speaking at a thousand dollar a plate fund raiser after leaving the miners with squat.

He wouldn't even go to Somerset. THEY had to travel an hour to meet him not far from his route to the city.

Twenty minutes pass and the local steelworkers arrive to join us.

All was well for an hour until a man stepped beside me to place his sign in front of mine. Did someone in the hotel complain?

I moved to the left and so did he. I moved again thinking nothing of my fellow American at my side...until he moved in my direction again, at which time I asked him if we had a problem.

He began to demand to know why I was there.

After I thought I convinced him that our issues were the same, he left.

Five minutes later, another gentlemen comes to my left and tried to take the sign from my hands as he was telling me that he didn't like the sign and I had to leave.

I held my ground and my sign and sent him packing after I told him that since he doesn't have health care insurance that my sign was appropriate. After all, it did read "Economic Terrorist" under Dubya's photo. (*The great photo of Dubya is displayed on "The Smirking Chimp" website in their art section. Click here for photo.)

Moments later, lo and behold, a woman approached and told me clearly that since the steelworkers got the permit, they were the only ones that should be there.

I informed her that I, as a city resident, pay TAXES for the upkeep of the park and that one of the reasons organized labor, liberals and progressives are being stomped into the ground was due to our lack of cohesiveness.

Unfazed, she then turned to the Gulf War vet who was wearing a red, white and blue shirt with a flag on the front and the Bill of Rights on the back, and told her to scram as well!

We left and met up with another woman standing on the corner reserved for 'outsiders' who is either a member of CLG or knows of it who shared the same story.

My calls to Steelworkers president, Leo Gerard (412) 562-2400 and national president, George Becker (202) 778-4384, have gone unanswered.

This is a sad day for organized labor and free speech in Pittsburgh but a great day for the police who loved my sign, were very friendly and supportive. Sadly, I expected that of labor too.

I can't tell you how I shaken I was to be treated that way by people who I marched and was gassed with in Seattle during the WTO protest. I don't know that I will be going down to their headquarters to work the phone banks again any time soon. :(

Cynthia
August 5, 2002

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