Code Pink, Backbone Campaign, and dozens of supporters escorted protestors costumed as George W. Bush & Dick Cheney into the hands of the Dallas police who gladly arrested the duo. The arrests took place during a ceremony just a few hundred yards away where five living U.S. presidents and thousands of others participated in the dedication of the younger Bush's presidential library.
The protestors serving as stand-ins for Bush and Cheney were identified as Gary Egelston, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (Bush) and I was honored to play the role of Dick Cheney. Photojournalist Bill Perry was also arrested. All three of us were charged with misdemeanors and released after 13 hours in custody.
The protests were part of a week long series of events dubbed The People's Response (web) where Dallas protested, mourned, and bore witness to the crimes of the Bush administration.
The arrests on Tuesday took place just after a rally and march lead by The People's Response, We Will Not Be Silent, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Code Pink, and The Backbone Campaign.
Other protesters included ex-talk show host Phil Donahue, who was executive producer of the anti-war documentary Body of War.
Dozens of others wore signs listing the names of those who died in wars launched by the Bush administration.
"We refuse to allow the Bush Library to be a Bush Lie Bury. If anything, it is a monument to folly and should be filled with the biographies of the lives ended, ruined or injured, the principles abandoned, the resources wasted, and the time lost" says Bill Moyer, executive director of The Backbone Campaign.
Gary Egelston (arrested wearing George Bush costume) is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife and two children. He completed five years active duty in the Air Force with deployments in Pakistan and Iraq. Currently, he is a senior in the history program at Texas Wesleyan University.