Jeb Bush hides from protesters in supply closet!
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in town for a fund-raiser
for Sen. Rick Santorum, had a close encounter with a large group of
anti-Republican protesters as he was making his way to the Duquesne Club,
Downtown.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in town for a fund-raiser for Sen. Rick Santorum, had a close encounter with a large group of anti-Republican protesters as he was making his way to the Duquesne Club, Downtown.
It was about 4:15 yesterday when Mr. Bush met up with the protesters near the corner of Liberty and Sixth avenues. The protesters were marching to join other pickets already gathered in front of the exclusive club, a little more than a block away at 325 Sixth Ave.
Protesters said Gov. Bush blew them a kiss, acknowledging the crowd of about 30 chanting pickets that was made up of United Steelworkers and members of Uprise Counter Recruitment, a tour traveling through 22 cities to support anti-war efforts.
Mr. Bush, accompanied by a security guard and a female aide, made a slow retreat toward the T-station at Wood Street.
“He was quickly getting out of the way and not wanting to engage us,” said Jon Vandenburgh, one of the protesters, who also is a researcher for the United Steelworkers.
Once in the subway station, Mr. Bush scurried to the escalators and descended to the mezzanine level, Mr. Vandenburgh said.
By now, Mr. Bush was cornered. He was surrounded by signs that said “Pittsburgh is a Santorum Free Zone,” “Honk if you’re sick of Rick,” and a crowd growing increasingly louder, according to Mr. Vandenburgh.
Mr. Grove said a Port Authority canine unit was called in to help with crowd control. Two officers used their tasers to stun two protesters who “were asked to leave, but did not go,” Mr. Grove said.
“It was a very tense situation. They were very close to the governor and shouting on top of him.”
As a precaution, the governor was ushered into a T-station supply closet and stayed there until the crowd left.
No arrests were made and no citations were issued, Mr. Grove said. Mr. Bush was not injured.
I guess he didn’t have enough room to cut and run!
Posted: Sun - October 8, 2006 at 11:49 AM