Protesters in Salem say they are "angry as hell" with the Clinton adm.
Protesters Greet Clinton at Salem State College
Local Taxpayers Pay for Heavy Security; Police Are Everywhere
By Ed Oliver March 27, 2001
At Salem State College last night, thousands of people waiting to hear Bill Clinton’s speech lined up around the perimeter of the jammed parking lot, slowly filing into the auditorium. Umbrellas were plentiful in the wet weather.
Two groups of anti-Clinton protesters made their presence known at the college.
Meanwhile, in town a mile or so away, a group of protesters waited on a street corner for the motorcade to pass.
“This is the grassy knoll,” shouted one street-corner protester to laughter. Police cruisers with lights flashing blocked the intersections along the route.
Mass News asked some of the street-corner protesters why they braved the cold, wet weather.
Stan Usevich from Salem answered, “I’m as angry as hell.”
Chris Nulty from Gloucester said, “This is the least I can do.”
Frank from Salem added, “I want to know if Senator Kerry and Mayor Menino are paying for this and who is paying for all the cops here.”
A Salem mother with her two teenage daughters said that because of Clinton, her girls grew up “without any concept of what a real president is.” Her daughter Vanessa said, “Go home, Clinton.”
Steve from Lynn said he was protesting because evil flourishes when good men do nothing. “ As a former U.S. Marine, I just can’t handle the way he treated the military. That’s just disgraceful.”
Peter Marrie from Salem told Mass News, “We fully respect the right of the former president to speak at Salem State as long as none of our taxpayer dollars are used, and I understand that’s being tightly controlled. But the man disgraced the office of the president. He’s fundamentally lacking in loyalty, character, integrity, courage and leadership. He was president during a very sedentary eight years, he could have done great things, he’s a very bright man. But it was all about ‘me.’ It was always all about ‘me.’ It’s still all about ‘me.’ The guy is a disgrace.”
Marrie positioned himself apart from the others, hoping Clinton would read his sign, which said, “If you get a standing ‘o’, know you are among fools.”
He was not disappointed. Clinton’s motorcade wound through town and passed the group on the corner. Clinton was not in a limo, but a smaller dark sedan sitting in the right rear seat. Marrie stood poised on the side of the road and Clinton looked out the window right at his sign.
Meanwhile, about a dozen pro-Clinton women, dressed up in witch costumes, called for an end to the “Clinton witch hunt."
Massachusetts Protesters blast Clinton visit - Sign urges Bill to tell them what 'is' means (ROFL!)
-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), March 28, 2001