Union protesters turned away from McCain-Palin event by Sheriff's office on instructions of Secret Service.
RawStory reports
When John McCain and Sarah Palin spoke before an audience of 7,000 in the economically depressed city of Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday, slightly over a dozen protesters stood across the street with signs saying "The fundamentals of my economy are not strong" and "Country club first."
Leaders of the protest, which had been arranged and publicized by local unions and the Ohio Democratic Party, said that as many as several hundred people had been expected to attend, but police were not letting them through roadblocks surrounding the area.
"I had about a dozen folks call me trying to get out here, but they have the roads closed and I guess they just don't want the folks out here demonstrating peacefully for Obama," said one union representative.
Trumbull County Sheriff Tom Altiere said that his deputies were just following orders from the Secret Service to only allow through those with tickets for the McCain event.
According to a story which ran in the local paper prior to the abortive protest, "The Ohio Democratic Party, the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union and local Democratic officials will carry signs in opposition to McCain and Palin as well as speak out against the pair's policies. ... Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and labor leaders will 'discuss the devastating impact that four more years of Bush-McCain-Palin policies would have on the Mahoning Valley.'"
RawStory reports
When John McCain and Sarah Palin spoke before an audience of 7,000 in the economically depressed city of Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday, slightly over a dozen protesters stood across the street with signs saying "The fundamentals of my economy are not strong" and "Country club first."
Leaders of the protest, which had been arranged and publicized by local unions and the Ohio Democratic Party, said that as many as several hundred people had been expected to attend, but police were not letting them through roadblocks surrounding the area.
"I had about a dozen folks call me trying to get out here, but they have the roads closed and I guess they just don't want the folks out here demonstrating peacefully for Obama," said one union representative.
Trumbull County Sheriff Tom Altiere said that his deputies were just following orders from the Secret Service to only allow through those with tickets for the McCain event.
According to a story which ran in the local paper prior to the abortive protest, "The Ohio Democratic Party, the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union and local Democratic officials will carry signs in opposition to McCain and Palin as well as speak out against the pair's policies. ... Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and labor leaders will 'discuss the devastating impact that four more years of Bush-McCain-Palin policies would have on the Mahoning Valley.'"
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