Protesters Boo Inauguration of Bush

 Jim Wolf / Reuters 20jan01

WASHINGTON - Thousands of demonstrators booed the inauguration of George W. Bush on Saturday, holding signs such as "Hail to the thief" to protest his swearing-in which took place amid the tightest security measures ever.

Columns of demonstrators, championing a broad range of causes from abortion to electoral rights, stood on the route Bush took to the Capitol for his swearing-in and jeered as his presidential limousine went past carrying him and outgoing President Clinton.

The closer they got to the Capitol, the more people were cheering for the incoming president and there were fewer protesters, who had said they planned peaceful demonstrations but were fearful of a heavy-handed police response.

In the biggest ever security operation for an inauguration, police in riot gear and on horseback kept an eye on the protesters, joined by thousands of uniformed Secret Service agents in charge of the security operation.

Bottlenecks developed around the 10 security checkpoints set up by security forces to search anyone entering the parade route, which angered some impatient demonstrators.

Police, some dressed in heavy riot gear, appealed to protesters to line up in an orderly fashion.

"We've conformed to every rule. We've gone to court. We have a permit. Let's take our right," said Brian Becker co-director of International Action Center which helped organize the protests.

TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES

A small group of protesters chanted "Hey, hey, ho, ho, that son of a Bush has got to go," referring to the incoming president's father who occupied the White House before being ousted by Bill Clinton in 1992.

More than a dozen law enforcement agencies, with the Secret Service at the helm, were out in the city's streets to ensure there would not be a repeat of violent demonstrations that marred the World Bank's April 2000 meetings in the capital.

Aside from the checkpoints, all mail boxes had been removed along the parade route and barricades set up to hold back spectators and protesters alike. Another security measure included the closure of two subway stations.

Some demonstrators wore masks and costumes bearing a likeness to the five Supreme Court justices who voted to stop the recount of votes in Florida which ultimately gave Bush his electoral victory over Democratic candidate Al Gore.

Rick Bromberg, a 51-year-old lawyer from Fairfax, Virginia, carried a placard that spelled out "Supreme Court" with derogatory comments added after each letter about the new president.

"The Supreme Court stole the election for Bush," he said.

Some protesters wore black and yellow stickers on their backsides with the slogan: "Equal Protection, My Ass" while others had yellow and black T-shirts with the words "Impeach Bush".

BLACK PROTESTERS STAGE MOCK CEREMONY

Boston law student Lauren Redmond said she liked the black and yellow T-shirts because they reminded her of a bumble bee. "If he ain't sweet we are going to sting him," she said.

Black civil rights groups, led by Rev. Al Sharpton, planned to stage a mock inauguration ceremony as Bush was being sworn in to protest what they believe was the disenfranchisement of the many in the black community during the election.

Police had prepared for the largest number of inaugural demonstrators since Richard Nixon's 1973 swearing-in when about 60,000 people turned out to protest the Vietnam War and some hurled fruit and pebbles at the presidential limousine.

A spokesman for the Justice Action Movement, one of the organizers, said on Saturday he anticipated the rain would reduce their numbers and that some buses bringing in demonstrators were delayed by bad weather.

Washington's deputy police chief, Terry Gainer, promised that police would be polite and respectful.

"There's plenty of room for everyone to both enjoy themselves and to protest," Gainer said.

Most of the Secret Service's 2,800 agents and 1,200 uniformed officers on duty as well as all of the city's 3,600 police officers and a further 1,400 were brought in from surrounding areas.

The Parks Service granted at least 16 permits for demonstrators. Other smaller groups -- of less than 25 -- were expected to mingle in the crowd of Bush supporters who were to line the route cheering for the 43rd U.S. president.

Demonstrators received a legal setback on Friday when a U.S. District judge said the tight security regulations could stay in place and that while the checkpoints were a "logistical nightmare," the protesters' rights were not violated by them.