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Tuesday, July 29, 2003

By Michelle K. Massie, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

"Bush lied, people died," shouted some of the 200 protesters who gathered Downtown yesterday morning at Tenth Street and Penn Avenue to demonstrate against President Bush's appearance at the National Urban League Annual Conference.

	Robin Ponton, 13, of Perry Hilltop, and her mother, DeShauna Ponton, wait outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center yesterday with other protesters in hopes that President Bush will see her sign asking for the safe return of her father, Staff Sgt. Charles Pollard, from Iraq. (Martha Rial, Post-Gazette)

"We are not picketing against the Urban League," said Yvonne Brown, 57, of the Hill District. "We are protesting against George Bush because he is the cause of what is happening in Iraq. The moment he said the war was over, they started killing our soldiers one by one. This is still war."

The protesters, young and old alike, men and women representing a variety of races, shouted slogans, banged on drums and carried signs:

"We want an elected president." "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors' oil fields." "Thou shalt not bear false witness." "Stop supporting dictators in Africa."

"Bring my dad home," said 13-year-old Robin Ponton of Perry Hilltop.

Her father is Staff Sgt. Charles Pollard, 43, also of Perry Hilltop. Ponton said her father, who serves in the 307th Military Police Company, has been in Iraq for almost a year.

Robin's mother, Deshauna Ponton, said that every time the news announces another soldier has been killed in Iraq, Robin fears she will hear her father's name.

"It's sad whenever we are reading letters from [Charles] and they sound like they are the last letter he'll ever write. We want him to come home," Deshauna said.

The Pontons were not alone in their desire to see all the U.S. soldiers return home.

Cathy Troiani, of Zelienople, Butler County, wife of Army Staff Sgt. Phillip Troiani with the 44th Personnel Services Battalion currently in Kuwait, was holding a placard that read: "Bring home Gabriella's daddy."

"My husband wants to come home," she said. "I support my husband. I don't support the war. I don't support the president. It's dangerous. It's gotten more dangerous since the president declared victory."

Many conference attendees who made their way out of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center were unaware that a protest was taking place.

"I'm shocked," said Lillian Haydel, a convention delegate from New Orleans. "I didn't know it was going on. You can't tell from inside the convention. I think it's freedom of speech and everyone is entitled to it."

The protest was organized by the Thomas Merton Center and included other organizations. There were no arrests.

Across the street, a handful of counter-protesters supported Bush's appearance.