WASHINGTON – George W. Bush’s promise to be a uniter not a divider may come true, but in a way he may not have anticipated.
A loose alliance of liberal activist groups, unions and unaffiliated individuals from Maryland with little in common has been united by its disdain for Bush and spurred to join the protests Saturday against his inauguration.
They represent all ages, races and backgrounds. They range from anarchists and socialists to Democrats and independents. They have dozens of messages, but said they are all going to the inauguration to make one statement– “President- select George W. Bush — we’re watching you.”
“We’re back, we’re organized, and we’re not going to be pushed back,” said Jeff Bigelow, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 92, which has endorsed the protests.
Bigelow said the left has been energized by the results of the election and advises: “Enjoy your four years, George, because you won’t get a second term.”
Protesters are expected to come from all over Maryland, with the biggest contingents likely from Baltimore City and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, where Bush’s support was the lowest. Statewide, Bush won only 40 percent of the vote in November.
The All People’s Congress, which was founded to fight President Reagan’s economic plan, plans to send at least three busloads of protesters from Baltimore.
“We usually deal with local issues, but there has been such an outcry due to this election that we decided to get involved,” said member Steven Ceci.
In addition to members of the largely black organization, the buses are expected to carry union members, members of community groups and individuals from all over the area.
“I was always politically aware, but not active,” said Maria Allwine, of Baltimore.
“Bush is not my president. He never will be,” said Allwine, a Gore supporter who believes he stole the election.
Other protest supporters from Maryland include the state chapter of the National Organization For Women, the Southern Maryland Activists Coalition and the Coalition Against Global Exploitation.
The Maryland Green Party expects to send a number of people who will meet at Stanton Park in the District to take part in the Rev. Al Sharpton’s “Shadow Inauguration.”
“None of us like Bush,” said Gary Auerbach, chairman of the Maryland Greens. “We realize that if even a small portion of the Nader supporters had voted for Gore, he would have won the election.”
The Greens may have protested even if it was Gore being sworn in, said Auerbach, because they want systematic changes such as proportional representation and an end to what they see as the disenfranchisement of millions of voters.
But the coordinator of the Howard County Greens is not encouraging members to attend — Chairman Scott Tippetts said the protests would have little effect and are a waste of time.
Groups were reluctant to estimate how many members will attend the demonstrations. Some cited the weather and concerns of possible police brutality as factors.
“A number of people I know, especially African-Americans, are reluctant to go because of a certain amount of apprehension about escalating use of force to quell civil protests,” said Kenneth Eidel, co-chair of the Frederick County Greens.
Gary Abraham, an African-American from Timonium who voted for Nader, said he will attend the protests to oppose Bush’s “theft of the election” and to support voting rights for the disenfranchised. He expects the protests to go off without incident, but he does not fear police force.
“If something is worth standing up for, it’s worth falling down for,” Abraham said.