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VVAW Members Bid Bush & Cheney Good Riddance!

By Ward Reilly

George W. Bush started and ended his presidency in the same way...having things thrown at him by citizens, in disgust.

On January 20, 2001, Bush's inauguration limousine was bombarded with rotten eggs and tomatoes, actually stopping the vehicle, and preventing Dubya from walking down Pennsylvania Avenue, a long time tradition for newly (s)elected presidents. An auspicious beginning to what would become his horrid tenure as the Commander In Chief.

His term ended in a similar way, when hundreds of citizens conducted an un-permitted demonstration and march on the White House on January 19, 2009, Bush's last day in office. Scores of shoes and boots were thrown at the front gate of the White House in utter contempt of his pathetic job as CIC. The action was in solidarity with the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, and also with Iraqi journalist Muthathar al Zaidi, who had thrown his shoes at Bush, a month earlier, in Iraq. "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog," Zaidi shouted... and this action on the 19th was our "goodbye kiss" to Bush and Cheney, from the anti-war veterans.

"Shoe Bush," as it was called, was a street action organized by Jamilla El-Shafei, of Boston. Myself, Bill Perry, Mike Hearington, and Bruce Berry of VVAW, joined 500 other activists for this wonderful action on a freezing cold day. We started at Dupont Circle with a rally that included a 15' high blow up doll of Bush wearing his "Mission Accomplished" flight uniform and sporting a very long Pinnochio nose. Hundreds of people that weren't even involved in the protest took the time to stop at the blow-up doll to throw a shoe or boot at the blow up dummy. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink, After Downing Street, and several other organizations were represented, and spoke at the rally. Ann Wright, Adam Kokesh, James Circello, Tina Richards, Medea Benjamin, and David Swanson were among the attendees.

About a dozen people spoke, including Mike Hearington, Ann Wright, Adam Kokesh, and Jamila El-Shafei. A water-boarding demonstration took place, and a 50 foot long copy of the Constitution was added to a petition demanding the arrest of Bush and Cheney for Constitutional crimes.

The action culminated in a march from Dupont Circle to the White House, which was under tight security for Obama's inauguration ceremony set for the following day. We were still able to snake our way through the maze of security tunnels, to the front gate of the White House, and to throw dozens and dozens of shoes and boots at the gate. Amazingly, no one was arrested, even though the shoes came within inches of hitting the Secret Service guards, who didn't really know what to think or do....not even a littering ticket was issued, as the White House undoubtedly didn't want the media attention that this action would focus on Bush on his last day in office.

I had carried a pair of Iraq War combat boots all the way from Baton Rouge to throw, and they were the first footwear launched. I signed them "To Bush From an Infantry Veteran," and "To Cheney From an Infantry Veteran." This action, more than most I have participated in, felt PERSONAL. And I can't think of a better way to bid Bush and Cheney "Good Riddance" than this, even though I would much prefer to see them being escorted to prison after their war crimes trials. We simply can not allow them to walk away into the sunset after what they have done in all of our names.

This was a great action, full of symbolic meaning, and it felt good in spite of the freezing weather in Washington that day.

Ward Reilly is the Southeast national contact for VVAW.

VVAW marching in D.C. on March 21, 2009