Spring Break
Demonstrations in full swing for presidential visit
By: Madiha Rizvi
Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: News
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In between the canopy of trees and in the midst of grass and mud, many national and state organizations with various chapters, members and students made their way into the field from buses, dorms and locations off campus, some even out of the county. They were carrying banners, signs and posters, exercising their freedom of speech. A&M's College Republicans were the overall organizers of a bulk of the protest with their "Hands of Texas" rally, which began with an understanding of respectfulness.
This crowd of many protesters and fewer supporters set up in Spence Park, about a quarter of a mile away from Rudder Auditorium, where President Obama spoke about community service and honored 4,500 recipients of the Points of Light Institute's "Daily Points of Light Award"- the Points of Light Institute is a national volunteers organization.
The scene at the park was similar to a Fourth of July picnic, with people sitting on lawn chairs, and blankets spread out on the grass. People gathered around the stage, located near the University Center parking garage, listening to country music before the rally "officially" began. The rally kicked off with the American national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, to both the American and Texas flags, situated on opposite ends of the stage.
The majority of the rally's attendees were older people. Some were focused on protesting against healthcare, others against excessive spending, but almost all with the word "socialism" on tips of tongues.
"We are protesting against extreme left, what the policies are moving towards," said Lily Wright, a member of the Georgetown Tea Party who commuted to College Station for the event.
"We have seen history in the socialism in France and England and the Marxism. As old people, we have seen the trend and it is very scary," she said with the placard "stop the spending" in one hand and the American flag on a wooden stick in the other.
The make-up of the crowd began to change as the event neared, attracting bystanders to the cement wall by the University Center parking garage. The students interviewed by the area said they wanted to stay away from the protests because they did not want to be associated with the people in the park.
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