Who Really Protested Santorum And Jeb Bush?

The Post-Gazette performs a little non-disclosure in its story of protesters greeting Florida Governor Jeb Bush as he stumped for Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Naturally the WaPo picks it up.

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.

"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.

The story gives the impression that the two were greeted by a bunch of angry steel workers, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Jon Vandenburgh is a former Post Gazette Intern out of Yale, still a senior as recently as 2003 - now probably working as a flack for some far Left Union group and I doubt he's ever seen the inside of a Steel mill in his life.

Jon Vandenburgh wanted to save America by stumping for Wesley Clark. A walk through New Hampshire opened his eyes

(Jon Vandenburgh, a former Post-Gazette academic intern, is a senior at Yale University)

And the same goes for the rest of the protesters affiliated with Uprise Counter Recruitment, which seems to be a group of radical feminists still in school, gay activists and out of work, over-aged folk singers. Some steel workers, that lot. There are too many typos in their page to (sic) them all. Their stated goal is a zero man army ... yeah, that'll work.

Kristina Clark is a student at George Mason University majoring in Women's Studies. Whe offers a sharp, feminist perspective within the collective. In concert with Tariq, she co-publishes Rebel Stew, an anti-war newsletter with commentary, analysis and historical background information that challenges not only the current wars but the idea of war itself by attacking root causes of war.

Ryan Harvey is a political folk singer and founding member of the Riot Folk Collective. His sharp, political observations set to melody serve a dual purpose of inspiration and education. Additionally, Ryan is a seasoned a global justice activist who has organized and attended several major mass mobilizations including the Miami FTAA Protest and the DNC to RNC March. His energy as an activist and artist is unmatched. Ryan was one of the organizers for the DNC2RNC march, from which the Tour draws some of its inspiration.

Maureen Haver is an anti-globalization/environmental activist. Originally, from Houston she spent time in Oregon defending remaining old-growth forest from the logging industry. Upon her return to Houston she took up a campaign against war profiteer, Halliburton that has resulted in mobilizations, corporate counter-recruitment and arrests for civil disobedience. She works to expose the connection between global corporate expansion and the war machine.

Tariq Khan, a student at George Mason University, is a former member of the U.S. Air Force and it was during his service that his he became politicized. Now an outspoken critic of the U.S. Military, Tariq draws from his first hand experience to encourage others not follow the same path he did. His insight offers a valuable perspective to potential young people contemplating military service.  Tariq was assaulted and arrested for peacefully protesting military recruiters on his campus. A student-led activist defense campaign led to the charges against him being dropped.

Kate Flanagan is a feminist studies major at the University of California at Santa Cruz.  She has spent two years organizing on campus, focusing on counter recruitment on capus, the UC's management of the nuclear labs, the exploitation of low-wage workers and students, and trying to bring all these together into a complete analysis of the University as an undemocratic, profit driven entity.  Kate has been active in UCSC's Students Against War, one of the most active campus anti-war groups in the country.  The group has recieved national attention for its successful actions to kick military recruiters off the campus.

David Meieran is a Pittsburgh-based activist who has worked on AIDS, queer, antiwar, police violence and global justice issues. Harkening back to the founding of ACT UP!, David has been on the frontlines of the social justice movement for years participating in direct action and community education events. Currently he is an organizer with Pittsburgh Organizing Group, which has a vibrant, ongoing counter-recruitment campaign that has drawn national attention and intense scrutiny from the powers that be. David was also one of the organizers for the DNC2RNC march.

Comments

[G. Weightman]

Perhaps the Post-Gazette reporter heard the folk singers in the crowd belting out:

"An' John Henry was a steel-driver too--

Lawd, -- Lawd, --

John Henry was a steel-driver too."

[Sandy]

It's quite the coincidence that I'm reading this today. I actually ending up drinking beer with Uprise Counter Recruitment people on Friday, though I didn't catch the name then. I was horrified by their views, but it would be socially ackward to argue with them. Anyway, the people I meet--it may not have been the whole group--were young & attractive heterosexual kids. I do seem to remember there being one middle-aged man dressed in black there, but I didn't talk to him.

[Sandy]

I was doing laundry this morning and found a flyer in my pants pocket, which must have been from the kids I was drinking with. The flyer advertised two events for the "Iraq Veterns Against the War". The bottom line says "A Part of the Uprise Counter-Recruitment Tour". I'm assuming that this indicates the Iraq Veterns Against the War is at least a partial sponsor of the "Uprise Counter-Recruitment Tour".

They have an event tonight (Monday) at 7pm at the Friends Meeting House (4837 Ellsworth). Sadly, I'm busy at that time, but if you know anyone else in Pittsburgh who wants to investigate this group, it could be amusing. They seem friendly enough when they don't know you are a Republican, and I advise not letting them in on that fact.

There is also a website on the flyer:
www.uprisetour.org.