There was chanting, drum beating, yelling through megaphones and plenty of political posters on the campus of Oakland University on Wednesday night.
The demonstrators, from all over Metro Detroit, converged on the campus for the GOP presidential debate.
At about 5 p.m., dozens of protesters had gathered along the entrance of Oakland University, as passers-by honked their horns and yelled out car windows.
"Republicans: rich and rude, we don't like their attitude," a large group of the protesters yelled.
Amy Murawka, of the North Oakland Democratic Club, was protesting Mitt Romney's campaign for president with the slogan "No Mitt in the Mitten."
"He's not going to support the middle class," Murawka said. "We gotta stay with (President Barack) Obama."
Many protesters had specific issues with Republicans, including claims they take money from the poor and middle-class Americans.
Randy Block, of the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network, said he wasn't happy with the Medicare cuts and Gov. Rick Snyder's decision to cut welfare from families.
"We think the budget is a moral issue," Block said. "We're here to send the message that America has got to be strong and stop stepping on the weak."
Democrats Larry and Marcia Banish were among the protesters standing at the entrance of the university Wednesday evening. "We're for workers' rights ... and health care rights," Larry Banish said, adding he was against budget cuts for public schools. Earlier this year, Snyder proposed cuts to the amount of funding Michigan public schools receive.
At about 5:45 p.m. the protesters moved to the "Freedom of Speech Area" on campus where the chanting continued.
UAW members from Romulus lead a "Where are the jobs?" chant.
"The Republican party is nothing but a road block," said John Zimmick, president of the UAW West Side Local 174. "They are restricting the president from providing health care and jobs."
Zimmick's group touted red and blue signs that read "Keep Jobs in America."
Members of the organization Protect Your Care were also on campus Wednesday evening. The group strives to protect the Affordable Care Act, which increases health care access for Americans.
Lonnie Scott, a spokesman for Protect Your Care, said the group was protesting to remind the public that Republican candidate Mitt Romney once supported this act and to also thank him.
"He likes to pretend like he has nothing to do with it now," Scott said.
Not all the protesters were against Republican policies. A group in support of Republican candidate Ron Paul was vocal in the "Freedom of Speech" area on campus.
Pauline Holeton, of Shelby Township, said she believes Paul will return Americans' constitutional rights and end foreign wars.
Democrats "are dwindling away our rights ... our privacy rights and our gun rights," Holeton said. "I think if people would open their eyes to what's going on, (Paul) would have a good chance."
Some protesters said they simply wanted an opportunity to attend the debate.
Oakland University senior Gordon Krupski said it's unfair that he pays tuition and still couldn't get a ticket to the debate on campus. He held a sign that read: "$20,000 a year and all I got were these crappy lawn seats."
Krupski said he was not informed of the limited tickets the university gave to students in a lottery.
"I would like to be able to go inside," Krupski said.
> Complete coverage of the GOP debate at Oakland University
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment