Traverse City Bush Protest Arrests

On Monday August 16, 2004 a thousand protesters gathered outside of the Grand Traverse County Civic Center to "greet" president Bush who held a campaign rally in which only Bush supporters were welcomed to attend. Demonstrators likened the event to a "large street party" as a diverse group of citizen groups came together. Three people were arrested near the entrance of the public park as the president's motorcade sped past.

	Demonstrators were mostly left alone as a combination of local area law enforcement and secret service personnel maintained traffic flow for Bush supporters entering the Civic Center. Later demonstrators moved to what was called a "sterile zone" where signs and demonstration was supposedly not allowed. As the crowd continued to grow, police made a choice not to push the issue, but did set up a police line that was not to be crossed. Two demonstrators, and their attorney, were eventually arrested for crossing the police line as the President's motorcade sped past the jeering crowd.
		images by photographer gary l howe

 

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