Hoping to provide a stark contrast to the patriotic homogeny of the presidential Inauguration, Stop the War, a UW-Madison organization opposed to the Iraq conflict, organized 57 UW-Madison students and other protesters to attend the Inauguration in Washington and voice opposition to some of President Bush's more controversial policies.
\This inauguration is going to be a more extravagant type of event, celebrating the Bush mandate,"" said event organizer and UW-Madison senior Miguel Leon. ""We feel that we need to have a presence there saying that 'we aren't going to just let you do whatever you want.'""
After their departure by bus from Madison Jan. 19, the protesters planned to occupy bleachers on the inaugural parade route reserved by Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a national organization opposing President Bush and the war in Iraq. The acquisition of the bleachers by ANSWER is a historic inaugural first, according to Leon.
Inauguration Day, celebrated Jan. 20, will be dominated by thoughts of President Bush's victory over Democratic candidate John Kerry on Nov. 3 of last year. Unlike the 2000 elections, the 2004 elections ended with Bush victories in the Electoral College and in the popular vote, presenting a slight challenge for Democrats protesting the inauguration.
""There's only so much you can do saying 'I don't like George Bush as a president,'"" said UW-Madison freshman Katy Williams. ""This time, we had an election, and there was no real discrepancy or controversy [over the election results]. We're not going to say 'get out of office, you stole the crown' this time. We're going to say 'now that you have one, please listen to us.'""
Although security issues may prevent the protesters from using signs, they plan to be very vocal, according to Stop the War member and UW-Madison sophomore Sam Swenson.
""We're going to remind him that in the world, he has no mandate,"" Swenson said. ""We're going to be out there, making our noise, and being loud. Most of it's going to be by ear.""
Additionally, a D.C.-area protest with the theme of ""Turn Your Back on Bush"" is planned for the inaugural parade. Participants in the protest will literally turn around while Bush's motorcade passes and refuse to face him.
Despite a small counter-protest outside Memorial Union during the group's departure, those bound for Washington remained hopeful that their voices would be heard.
""It's a great opportunity that I'm not going to have again to express my views that I don't like what Bush has been doing with foreign policy and what we've been concentrating on. I think we have more pressing priorities here, rather than creating havoc in other countries,"" said UW-Madison sophomore Kate Engel.
""We're going to be vocal, we're going to oppose [Bush's] policies, and we're going to fight for what we believe in,"" Leon said.
