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Posted on 12/02/2004 8:30:22 AM PST by Entropy Squared
While downtown streets were closed to pedestrians, school buses were cancelled in the name of security and protesters were kept out of the sight of George W. Bush, about 60 pro-Bush demonstrators were allowed to stand within metres of the U.S. president's motorcade as it left Ottawa Airport yesterday.
Connie Wilkins, a member of a pro-United States website, www.FreeDominion.ca, and one of the organizers of the rally, said her group contacted RCMP when they heard Mr. Bush was coming. Ms. Wilkins said the group alerted RCMP they intended to be on the parkway, just past the first bridge on the way out of the airport, and the force had no problem with them setting up a rally there.
"We had to kind of keep our plans under wraps until the last minute," said Ms. Wilkins. "When we found out that President Bush was coming to Canada, we immediately started talking to the RCMP, as well as the American embassy, because they were familiar with us."
An elaborate plan was created that would see the group call a pro-Bush rally at South Keys shopping centre, only minutes from the airport, shortly before Mr. Bush's arrival. From there, demonstrators would walk to the east side of the Airport Parkway, where they could wave, cheer and welcome Mr. Bush to Canada.
A spokeswoman for Ottawa police said security was aware the group intended to be at the roadside and no action was taken to stop them.
"We expected the demonstrations to be peaceful and the police were prepared to react accordingly," said Ottawa police Const. Josette Sencal.
She said police did not intend to prevent any type of demonstration, whether it was pro- or anti-American.
Ms. Wilkins and her group of about 60 was permitted to stand less than four metres from where the president passed. He smiled and waved back to the demonstrators as his car rolled past.
Ms. Wilkins said while she did not know many of the people who followed her group to the parkway, she was confident that no one would use the pro-Bush rally to try and hurt the president.
"We were told the area we had to stand in. We had to be a certain distance back from the road and we were told if anyone got on the gravel, before the road, it would assumed that they were a threat and they would be dealt with immediately," she said. "They took lots of security precautions."
John Thompson, director of the Toronto-based Mackenzie Institute, a think tank that specializes in terrorism, said it is highly unlikely the demonstrators could have presented a serious threat to the presidential motorcade, even if they wanted to.
Mr. Bush's car is practically impervious to small weapons fire and members of the Secret Service would have been watching the crowd closely, he said. _________________
BTTT
Thank you for the nice greeting for our President.
He mentioned the nice five-finger wave he received.
Everything I've read about the president's visit to Canada has been positive. I think he scored some points.
Thank you VERY much for supporting Pres. Bush.
Your actions make us all feel better about Canada.
Eh?
Cheers,
knews hound
Thank you for your efforts ES, Connie and all involved. I wish I could have been there.
It's great!
I wished my fellow American FReepers wouls stop dissing your great country, In my "unbiased" opinion, (my mom is from Saskatchewan, so I'm part American) Canada has done more for my country after 9/11 than any other country with maybe the exception of Great Britian.
I wished they would remember that. also I can't forget the first person to call to see if I was all right on that day was a friend of mine from Toronto.
So all I have to say is God Bless Canada and God bless the Canadian people!
God bless you and the Canadian FReepers!
The President appears to be very relaxed and funny while in Canada. I think he knows he was on the side of right in the Iraq war. And probably about 1/2 the people of Canada agree with President Bush. Thank you for your support of our President.
I'm glad Canada no longer has to deal with Cretien and we no longer have to deal with Hillbilly Bill.
Thank you for your comments.
Stop bragging!
Any photos?
I wanted to see some Free Dominioner in action.
What do you mean?
I wanted to see some Free Dominioner in action.
One of our rogues (ccurrie) set up this photo gallery with a lot of "Welcome, President Bush" pictures.
I looked at the photos and it looks like you had a great turnout, smiling faces, an actual good look and wave from W..... very successful Freep in my book.
I loved seeing the pictures from the wonderful welcome you guys gave our President. It looks like he enjoyed seeing all of you too! I love how he mentioned you waving with all five fingers! (see, he is witty!) Thanks from my heart to all of you for this terrific display of support! Made my day!
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