Tiananmen it ain't
As we approached the 'Rock against Rumsfeld' rally in Pioneer Park this evening, we could smell trouble.
Parked on the corner were 22 police cars, 10 cops on bikes, a camo-clad SWAT team in a Suburban and a gaggle of motorcycle cops.
We wondered, "Was this to be a demonstration reporter's dream come true -- a clash between police and protesters?"
Then we arrived at the rally -- 350 Salt Lake folks sprawling on blankets and lawn chairs with their children and dogs, eating salads and listening to a young, insipid folk rock singer who was saying "I support the troops. I pray for all my brothers and sisters out there."
Not exactly Tiananmen Square.
"The police aren't here for us," said Crystal Young-Otterstrom, one of the organizers. "They're using the park as their base for the president's (motrocade) route. The rally is pretty mellow."
-- Glen Warchol
Parked on the corner were 22 police cars, 10 cops on bikes, a camo-clad SWAT team in a Suburban and a gaggle of motorcycle cops.
We wondered, "Was this to be a demonstration reporter's dream come true -- a clash between police and protesters?"
Then we arrived at the rally -- 350 Salt Lake folks sprawling on blankets and lawn chairs with their children and dogs, eating salads and listening to a young, insipid folk rock singer who was saying "I support the troops. I pray for all my brothers and sisters out there."
Not exactly Tiananmen Square.
"The police aren't here for us," said Crystal Young-Otterstrom, one of the organizers. "They're using the park as their base for the president's (motrocade) route. The rally is pretty mellow."
-- Glen Warchol
6:47 PM
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1 Comments:
I watched the set-up from my perch in the Uffens... and those motorcycles where all shiny... probably freshly washed for the event. I even chatted with a few officers down at Carlucci's Bakery ( who had peace-sign-decorated cookies for the event ).
And, well... of COURSE it went-off without a hitch. This is Utah ( and that's a good thing ).
:)
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