Tucson Region

About 100 outside D-M protest visit by president

Outside the gates of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, about 100 people demonstrated during President Bush's visit, protesting U.S. border policy, the war in Iraq and rallying in support of human rights and women's reproductive rights. The protesters lined the intersection of East Golf Links and South Swan roads, holding placards and banners, waving peace signs and - led by the Raging Grannies - singing. Passing cars regularly honked. The Raging Grannies' "New Battle Hymn of the Republicans," with its "Glory, glory how he'll screw ya" chorus, was representative of the protest, which targeted an array of Bush's policies. Holding a Planned Parenthood sign reading "Stop the war on choice," Diane Wilson said with controversial Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, reproductive freedoms could be at risk. "Women's rights and the freedom of choice segue over into human rights," she said. "It would be good if he got the message and made some changes in his policies." Bush's timing on his push for a border plan is suspect, said Joe Bernick, a leader of the Tucson Peace Action Coalition. "Bush is running scared. His popularity is way down and people are finally wise to him," Bernick said. Bush's plans won't bring reform to immigration without plans to respect workers' rights and end deaths along the border, said Freja Joslin of the Border Action Network. "Bush always talks about human-rights violations around the world, ignoring the human-rights abuse at home on the U.S.-Mexico border," she said.