randomhater
+1y
Kalamazoo Students Refused Entrance to Bush Cheney Campaign Stop
In an effort to expose ourselves to the wider spectrum of politics in ourcountry and educate ourselves for the election this coming fall, a group ofstudents from Kalamazoo College obtained tickets and went to see President Bushspeak Monday, May 3rd, at Wings Stadium. Our group includes coordinators of abilingual mentoring program, members of the non-violence student organization,athletes, and work-study employees. On the 3rd of May, we canceled ourwork-study hours, moved up exams, and missed classes to hear the Presidentspeak.
Unfortunately, our group was denied entrance to the event after being identifiedby members of the Kalamazoo College Republicans (who were volunteering at theevent) as "potential threats." Our classmates knew that we were not Bushsupporters and that many of us have engaged in non-violent political protest.Because of their suspicion of our political histories and motivation forattending the event, they refused to allow us to enter, and the policeforcefully removed us from the site.
In a functional democracy, individuals from all perspectives are involved indebate and discussion so that solid policy can be formed. The way to form solidpolicy is not to surround oneself with only likeminded citizens, but rather tointeract with a wide range of people and opinions. It was in this spirit of opendebate that we sought to hear our president speak.
We showed the event organizers our photo IDs and learned that we were on "thelist" to attend the event. As we approached, several Kalamazoo CollegeRepublican members acted astonished that we had tickets and asked us how we gotthem. We replied that we had obtained the tickets from the Chamber of Commercein downtown Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo College Republicans then alerted the event security staff aboutour presence. We waited in line to enter and event security told us that we hadbeen identified as "potential threats" and had to leave. Their excuses werenumerous-- they said we failed background checks, that we were planning toprotest, and that we were on a Secret Service list of people who were likely tocause a "disturbance." We all demanded to see this "list" and wanted to know whotold them this information. They told us "hearsay is enough to be escorted fromthe premises." The event security proceeded to tell us that we would be arrestedif we did not leave immediately.
We remained and again demanded to see this "list," saying that we had never beeninformed the President's speech was a "private" event and that, as citizens, wemerely sought to hear our President speak. We inquired why we were considered"threats." The police arrived, and under the threat of arrest, we allowed themto escort us down the road and out of sight of Wings Stadium.
What is truly frightening about this incident is that we were "blacklisted" byour college peers. Furthermore, we feel misled and misinformed because we had noprior knowledge that the event, for a sitting president, was private and thatthe Republican event organizers held the right to deny us entry. On our liberalarts campus, which promotes community-building and open political discussion,these acts illustrate a shocking example of a blind loyalty and obedience to theRepublican Party and, ultimately, the President. The Republican Party succeededin socializing these College Republican volunteers to enforce the "blacklisting"and profiling of their own college classmates. Unfortunately, this eventhighlights a trend towards extreme political polarization and blind partyloyalty in the United States-no matter the party affiliation. The same unfoundedfear and suspicion that led to "blacklisting" people in the past is starting tobecome a regular trend once again in our own backyards.'
Laura Lonneman (Cincinnati, OH), Ted Hufstader (Toledo, OH), Leah Busch(Cincinnati, OH), Shanna Barkume (Detroit, MI), Lisa Dallacqua (Detroit, MI),Julia VanAusdall (Cincinnati, OH)
i wasnt envolved, just thought some people would like to know what you can get away with in our free country. or lack there of.