"President" George W. Bush will be in Kalamazoo MI on Monday, May 3 at 4pm at Wings Stadium. The folks at KNOW (Kalamazoo Non-violent Opponents to War) have made the following plans:
KNOW PLANS FOR BUSH PROTEST IN KALAMAZOO on Monday, May 3
We plan to have two major protest sites here in Kalamazoo:
Site 1: KNOW will meet at the The UAW Local 488 office located at 3731 Covington. Parking at the UAW lot, in front of and behind the building. It is just around the corner from Wings Stadium (about 300 ft). The UAW site can be reached from Sprinkle Road by heading west on Covington (there is a Wendy's on the corner of Sprinkle and Covington for pit stops).
If you are coming from the east on I-94 and are worried that the Sprinkle Rd. exit might be blocked off (we don't know) the UAW can also be reached via 35th St exit from I-94: go south to light at MN Ave., turn right and continue west, jog left on a 90 degree turn then turn right (west again) on N Ave. Continue on N. Ave until you intersect Sprinkle Rd. Turn right on Sprinkle, left on Covington to UAW. Sprinkle can be reached from the west by taking Kilgore Rd. exit on I-94 and going east on Kilgore to intersect Sprinkle, then left to Covington and left on Covington to UAW.
Also, if you are approaching from downtown Kalamazoo, Route 8-Egleston bus travels to Covington, to Sprinkle and back downtown again. It may not run if they block Sprinkle at I-94. On Monday, call 337-8222 to find out if it will be running.
KNOW's theme at Wings is to be the Iraq war and the deaths that have occurred there. We will have a flag draped coffin, Code Pink's Peace Mama, Veterans for Peace, and Women in Black. Signs stating our opposition to the war and the fact that the war is making all of us less safe, here and abroad, are appropriate. "Stop the Lies" might be an appropriate rubric to cover all issues, from militarism to the economy to the environment.
Everyone needs to be well dressed (we want to avoid the media picturing us as hippies, so shed that hippie stuff for a few hours and wear your "Sunday best").
Tickets say "doors open at 1:30, please arrive no later than 3:30". Bush is scheduled to speak at 4:20. Road and overpass closures could begin early and increase by 3:30.
Some protesters will be arriving as early as noon, and we strongly suggest that you plan to arrive no later than 1:30. Bush has been confirmed as arriving at 4 pm. and Bush organizers want all people inside Wings by 3:30 pm. You might want to bring a snack and some water.
If you find yourself blocked from entry to the protest site, gather together with others as close to Wings Stadium as you can manage; but do not trespass on private property. Stay on public property or right of way (such as sidewalks and roadsides).
Many organizations will be participating in this rally, including the Democratic Party, the Green Party, Women in Black, Veterans for Peace, the Sierra Club, Code Pink, Students for a Sustainable Earth, and many other peace and justice organizations.
Site 2: Our second site is located at 2600 Vincent Drive. Take the Oakland Dr. exit off I-94, then Oakland north to Vincent (only a few hundred feet--you'll see a park-and-drive lot on your left at the intersection. West (left) on Vincent to the Episcopal Cathedral Christ the King (you'll see it directly in front of you). From central Kalamazoo, take Oakland Dr. south to Vincent and turn right. People should be there by 2:30. The focus of the demonstration will be the billboard-sized KNOW sign, very visible from I-94, IRAQ- HOW MANY DEATHS, and dozens of silhouettes of people, set up to symbolize and commemorate all deaths from the war. Parking at the Cathedral Christ the King.
If you plan on going from the Grand Rapids area and would like to carpool, people will be meeting at the parking lot of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center, 711 Bridge St. at 1:30 - 2:00.
