BALTIMORE, OCTOBER 2, 2002 -- President George Bush was greeted by a crowd of sixty cheering supporters this afternoon as he arrived at the downtown Hyatt for a fundraiser to support Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert Ehrlich. A block away, well out of sight of the presidential motorcade, Baltimore police threatened 150 anti-war protesters with arrest if they attempted to cross a police line on the southeast corner of Pratt and Light Streets.


One hour before Bush's arrival, a few protesters managed to stake out territory on the motorcade route. Members of the Baltimore Police Quick Response Team (QRT) removed those protesters, but only after engaging in a half hour debate on the legitimacy of exercising free speech rights. Police prevailed and anti-war protesters retreated, leaving the President's supporters to wave signs and chant "we love Bush" unhindered by dissenting voices.

James Vorhis, a Bush supporter from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, expressed some dismay about police sequestering protesters. "The groups should be together so both ideas can be in the same place and heard at the same time," he said.

Fellow Bush supporter Andrew Miller disagreed. "If everyone was in the same area, I guarantee you there'd be a lot of fights."

Anti-war activist Ryan Harvey said that police were "disrupting democracy" by corralling anti-war protesters.

"I'm personally offended, as well as politically offended, by this treatment," added Harvey.

Although they failed to catch the eye and the ear of the President, protesters were successful in attracting news photographers, print reporters and local TV news crews with anti-war chants and sign-waving.

Bucking the stereotype of the humorless protester, Abbie Kirsch, 21, held a sign encouraging passing motorists to "Honk if You're Smarter than Bush."

"A lot of people are honking," commented Kirsch. "A lot of people are smarter than Bush."

Kojo, a terrier who was conspicuous as the sole canine protester, declined to comment on his motivations for attending. His owner, Susan Ridgway, was more forthcoming. She became so upset about the "offhanded" way the Bush Administration was presenting the impending Iraqi war to the American people that she felt compelled to protest.

Many protesters seemed disappointed in the turnout.

"People are afraid to come to protests," said Abbie Krisch, pointing out that the police were videotaping everyone there.

"They grew up, they don't care," explained a 19-year-old about the relative absence of older protesters. "They grew up, cut their hair , got jobs and they don't care anymore."

As the protest became subdued, a young man in chinos walked by intent on getting home to Federal Hill from his job downtown. As he approached the Hyatt's entrance on Light Street, he encountered a handful of police and yellow police tape blocking the sidewalk. As he attempted to cross to the other side of Light Street, police began yelling at him to halt. He ignored them. Six cops sprinted towards him, pinned his arm behind his back and deposited him back in front of the police tape. Confused, he turned around and walked back towards downtown.

"What's going on?" He asked a passerby.

"Bush is here."

"Bush?" he repeated "Here?"

Dazed, he walked off, looking for another way home.