Cross posted at Left In Alabama.
The North Alabama Peace Network organized a protest of George W. Bush's June 21 visit to Huntsville to show that a significant segment of the population here is unhappy with Bush and his policies. I counted about 40 people there, although one of the local TV stations said two dozen. The protest was pretty well recieved by people driving by. We had a few people (even one little old white haired Southern lady) offer a one finger salute, but mostly we got smiles, peace signs, ok signs, and friendly waves. Truck drivers, construction workers, old, young, small car or SUV, there are a lot of Alabamians who don't like Bush anymore. That shouldn't be a surprise; his approval rating is only 41% even here.
This protest was put together in a hurry because the Bush visit to Huntsville and Athens, Alabama was kind of an add on to his Mobile fundraising trip for Jeff Sessions. Maybe the energy speech at Brown's Ferry makes it ok for taxpayers to pick up most of the cost of the trip or something. Anyway, this took place at a busy intersection in Huntsville because the organizers weren't able to get a permit to protest at the airport. Too bad.
It is worth mentioning that the NAPN holds a peace rally at this intersection every Saturday. They have been doing this regularly, somewhere in Huntsville, since before the Iraq war started. You can see from the photos that some of the signs are showing evidence of wear. That is because these people use them every weekend to raise public awareness of the price of war.
The rest of this diary will be devoted to the photos of beautiful, creative signs carried by the dedicated protesters in the hot sun today. And of course to the wonderful War Profiteer costume worn by an especially creative and brave protester.
Note: The Mobile, Alabama protest against Bush was being liveblogged on this DailyKos diary earlier, with lots of photos.
War Profiteer is Halliburton from the front (eating innocent victims) ...
... Bechtel on the back ...
... and is dripping with our tax dollars. This costume was easily 8 feet tall and sometimes the poor woman wearing it was doubled over because of the wind load.
Lynn Leach, one of the NAPN organizers is sure that war is not the answer!
A great sign held by a passionate woman.
Chairman of the Madison County Democratic Party with another staunch area Democrat.
You can love your country and oppose the war at the same time.
The protest was held at a busy intersection in Southeast Huntsville.
The huge photograph of a maimed child was effective in an awful sort of way.
Great looking flag!
Simple and direct -- let's end this mistake.
Incompetence + Corruption + Lawbreaking = Bush
Wouldn't it make more sense to send just kids to college so they can be productive citizens than to send them to war, hoping that if they survive we will help them go to college? I'll bet it would be cheaper, too.
Does any sane person still think Iraq is not in a state of civil war?
Four great signs and four hot, virtuous women exercising their right to freedom of speech!