Protesters rally against President Bush at Linn Park

By STEPHEN SISK
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD

That was one of the cheers shouted by more than 100 participants at a rally Monday in favor of Alabama's environment and against President Bush.

Mark Weber/Post-Herald Debra Mauldin of Harpersville plays the Witch of Sarin in the play "Anniston House of Horrors" at a rally for Alabama's environment at Linn Park on Monday. Several hundred protesters came to the park in response to President Bush's trip to Birmingham.

At the rally in Linn Park at noon, a number of groups took advantage of Bush's short stay in the Birmingham to get some things off their collective chest — and many took the president to task in the process.

The protest took place several blocks away from the Sheraton Birmingham, where Bush spoke. Anti-Bush protesters were moved to free-speech zones and were not seen by the president. Secret Service agents make sure all protesters are moved to the specified zones.

The Linn Park rally, organized by the Alabama Sierra Club and featuring several speakers and a dramatic satire, covered a variety of subjects, but focused on the incineration of chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot.

"A project to burn nerve gas in Anniston, Ala., is one of the most outrageous examples of how this administration is risking the health and safety of important Alabama communities," said Larry Fahn, the national president of the Sierra Club. "We're here to spread the word. This is a public education campaign to let the folks here in the communities know that we don't want our communities at risk."

The issue of an alternative or contingency plan to the incinerator was brought up several times throughout the rally.

Brenda Lindell, an Anniston resident, spoke to the crowd about how a contingency plan was needed in case the incineration failed and the Army had to stop burning.

Lindell said she holds the Bush administration accountable for preventing possible disasters at the depot as well as making sure there is no threat to area residents.

"President Bush, our community deserves the safest method of disposal. President Bush, we call on you to demand that a contingency plan be developed for this chemical weapons incinerator, and that we use the best plan available. That is the only responsible and accountable thing to do," she said.

Rev. Henry Sterling, also of Anniston, appealed to the people in the crowd to join together to fight against the incinerator.

"I'm here from Anniston for the people of Anniston to ask you for help and to say to President Bush, 'Enough is enough is enough, nd that's too much.' They've promised us maximum protection and have given us no protection," Sterling said.

Gas masks have been passed out in the Anniston area, but there aren't enough yet to protect all residents, he said. At one point, the Army also suggested that residents use duct tape and plastic sheeting over their windows to protect from possible gas leaks, he said.

A play performed during the protest called attention to the situation. In the satire, the "Witch of Sarin" is burned and then goes and kills a little girl in a house who is unable to protect herself from the harmful gas using government-issued plastic sheeting, duct tape and a gas mask.

When it comes to eliminating the chemical weapons at the Anniston Depot, there are simply better ways, Fahr said.

Neutralization, a process that destroys the nerve agent in chemical weapons, is a safer alternative to the burning elimination method, environmentalists have said. The process does, however, create a hazardous waste that must be taken off site.

"We would like this administration to acknowledge that there is a better way and that we don't have to be placing our communities at risk of chemical contamination, of increased air pollution and increased water pollution. We have the technology out there that works that we could employ, not only to create jobs but to improve the health and safeties of the communities," he said.

In a simultaneous protest at the park, Larry Darby, president of Atheist Law Center Inc., was joined by fellow atheists Monday in protesting tax dollars going to religious groups and programs as part of the president's faith-based initiatives program.

Mark Weber/Post-Herald Jayme Hill, executive director of the Alabama Environmental Council, holds a Bush doll during the rally.

"Ever since Bush and Cheney took power in 2001, they've made it a point to favor religion at every turn. He promotes public piety and he has gone out of his way to give taxpayer money to religious organizations under his faith-based initiative scheme," Darby said.