Anti-Bush Protesters Converge on Rome

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Jun 9, 5:36 AM EDT
Anti-Bush Protesters Converge on Rome
By ARIEL DAVID
Associated Press Writer

ROME (AP) -- Anti-globalization and far-left activists from across Italy were converging on the capital Saturday to protest against President Bush during his visit to Rome and the Vatican.

Thousands of police swarmed around the Colosseum, the downtown Piazza Venezia and other venues amid fears some protests could turn violent.

At Milan's railway station, police in anti-riot gear flanked the tracks and monitored demonstrators boarding trains heading to Rome. Groups of 100 to 200 protesters were blocking tracks at stations in Milan, Venice and Padua trying to board trains without tickets, news agency ANSA reported.

Two main demonstrations, each expected to draw thousands of protesters, are planned for the afternoon in Rome. The U.S. Embassy on Friday issued a warning to Americans to avoid the demonstrations or risk "becoming targets of opportunity."




Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH_PROTESTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-09-05-36-22

[Jensen]

1. This will make Lil Boots ill again!

:kick:

[rodeodance]

2. Good for them-the Italians protesting!

[Massachusetts]

3. The Italians know and hate a fascist when they see one.

I'm sure that little w and Benito have a lot in common.

[David__77]

4. That last sentence is BS.

If Americans joined the demonstrations, there'd be nothing but total friendliness toward them. These protesters have nothing against Americans who take some responsibility and oppose their government's actions.

[young_at_heart]

5. Quite a contrast to previous presidents

Did Clinton go to Rome?

[Doctor_J]

6. "Far-left activists", "other Americans would be targets"

who wrote this, Rove?

[cliss]

7. Interesting.

I've read that Bush is fairly philosophical about demonstrations. Someone asked him what time "how does it feel?" He shrugged and commented, "Well that's the price of following my principles", I think he just waved it off.

I wonder.

At some point, it's got to get to the man, realizing he can't go anywhere without big protests. He's trapped in the White House.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. What do they mean by "targets of opportunity?"

My daughter, an American, took part in the protest at the Vatican against bush in 2004 when he was there. They gave her and her friend a rainbow flag of peace to carry as the protested bush and his war.

They were not violent toward her then, they embraced her desire to participate. Has sentiment changed that much since then?

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Italians are great! I would not be afraid to protest with them.

They have to put up with some obnoxious American tourists but they still like Americans.

And what great protest organizers they are!