Mother Nature keeps pres. even more miles from protestors

Mother Nature keeps pres. even more miles from protestors

April 22, 2005

By TEARSA SMITH
6 News Anchor/Reporter

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS (WATE) --
Protestors stood in their designated spot
Friday, about seven miles from Cades
Cove waiting for President Bush's visit.
But Mother Nature did what they could
not on Earth Day. Storms forced the
president to changed his course. [ changed
plans ]

The protestors had big displays up, along
with big hopes that they'd have a chance
to get their message across to Bush.

About 50 protestors gathered in what was
called the free speech zone, well out of the president's sight.

Jonathon Bentley, with the Canary Coalition, says, "I think it's getting
to be the norm that the voice of dissent is kind of kept away from
places where it could actually be seen."

Ulla Reeves, with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, says some
people have the wrong idea about their collective causes. "Maybe tree
hugger hippies would solve that problem. It's really, you know, it's a
disassociation of what's truly meaningful to our kids and our families.
We need to breathe clean air."

Stormy weather around noon nixed the president's arrival by air.
Instead, his motorcade was summoned to get him. That meant the
protestors' push for clean air dialogue might get a little visibility.

However, the storms continued and the president cancelled his visit to
Cades Cove. He spoke at McGhee Tyson Airbase instead.

"I think the elements drove the president away. They're angry," one
protestor said.