S.C. protesters take on Sarah Palin
By Marc LaFleche | May 17, 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C.--When Sarah Palin came here to show her support for Republican Nikki Haley's campaign for governor, hundreds of her supporters turned out with red, white and blue signs. She won over the already charmed audience using her "down home" lingo, calling Haley a "good ole gal."
But not everyone in Columbia was charmed by Palin's appearance. Friends of the Earth and others organized a protest with theme of "Spill, Baby, Spill" to draw attention to Palin's support for oil drilling. We stood near the Confederate monument, holding signs of our own, occasionally jeering.
Police prevented us from venturing into the crowd with our signs. One protester, Gregory, was stopped by police for offering supporters Styrofoam cups filled with fresh "oil" from the Gulf of Mexico.
People who drove by mostly honked and gave protesters thumbs-up, and some of them engaged them in conversation. A few people on bicycles stopped in their tracks and joined us right away.
Palin recognized and welcomed us, then sneeringly reminded her audience that soldiers like Haley's husband fight for our right to protest. I'm not sure if she knows that Michael Haley, a member of the National Guard, doesn't protect our First Amendment rights. Perhaps this note couldn't fit on her hand.
The protest was a worthwhile step in making people aware of the environmental costs perpetuated by Palin and her ilk.
http://socialistworker.org/2010/05/17/sc-protesters-take-on-palin