A crowd turned out at 31st and Q as President Bush traveled from the Juan Diego Center to Metro Community College.
Bush left the Catholic Charities’ Juan Diego Center, 5211 S. 31st St., at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The tour of the Center was followed by a speech on immigration reform at Metro Community College.
A crowd of 30 to 40 people gathered along Q Street, west of the Juan Diego Center. Signs in the crowd indicated that most were Bush detractors. Signs ranged from “I (heart) you Mr. President, but you are wrong. Secure Our Borders!” to “Impeach Bush and Cheney” and “Drop Bush, Not Bombs.” Three people held a large sign that read “We (heart) W!” They were largely outnumbered by people in blue “Nebraskans for Peace” shirts. Other signs displayed messages meant not for the President, but for other demonstrators, such as “Protest today, deported tomorrow” and “Illegals go home.”
The crowd remained quiet, and there was not much interaction among the different groups. The crowd appeared mostly white with a wide rage of ages, but mostly middle-aged. Most of the signs were in English. The president’s motorcade turned east as it exited the Juan Diego Center – the crowd was a half block away from the cars. There were a few cheers and a few boos, and the crowd dispersed after the motorcade passed.
The Omaha media had a minimal presence. Channel 7 had a reporter with a camera. Police were present on foot, on horseback and in patrol cars. Demonstrators and passers-by were allowed access only on the sidewalk on Q street west of the Juan Diego Center. Q Street east of 31st Street was closed to pedestrian and auto traffic.
The immigration ‘debate’ will continue in Omaha at an anti-illegal immigration rally later this month.
