Oregon police use pepper spray on protesters at Bush events

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Riot police fired pepper spray at hundreds of protesters and struck some with batons Thursday after ordering them to move from an area near a hotel where President Bush attended a fund-raiser.

Protesters hammered on the hoods of police cars as pepper spray wafted through the air. Earlier in the day, several hundred demonstrators marched toward the Hilton Hotel after Bush's arrival there.

Protesting Bush's foreign policy, they chanted "Drop Bush, Not Bombs."

Demonstrators at one point began to disperse, but many returned.

Supporters of Bush in formal attire were jostled and taunted by protesters as they arrived for a fund-raiser for the re-election campaign of U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith. After elbowing through the demonstrators, the VIPs were checked by Secret Service agents before they were allowed inside the hotel.

Police ordered about 500 protesters to move from a barricaded area. Riot police wearing helmets then walked into the area, pushing activists with their batons. Some activists fell. Police then fired aerosol canisters of pepper spray at the protesters.

"We've have had a number of items thrown at our officers over the past few hours," police spokesman Brian Schmautz said.

Police also used pepper spray after about 150 demonstrators blocked vehicle access to Morrison Bridge.

Three protesters had been arrested through the afternoon, police spokesman Henry Groepper said.

One police officer injured her wrist when protesters pushed a barricade she was standing near, Groepper said. Two patrol cars were damaged.

Many of the protesters criticized a new forest initiative announced earlier in the day by Bush that would make it easier for timber companies to cut wood from fire-prone national forests.

"My concern is that he has absolutely no morals about protecting our environment," said Joanne Marron, a teacher with a master's degree in ecology.

"The new policy is classic doublespeak," said Kenneth Kreuschu, 24, also from Cascadia Forest Alliance. "It has been shown time and again that more cutting leads to more fire. The new policy is a hoax."

War worries

Some of the activists were worried about a possible war with Iraq.

"I don't think any American boys' lives are worth a barrel of oil," said Rob Moitoza, 57, who carried a sign that said: "Vets Against Bush."

Moitoza said he served two years in the Navy aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War and fears a much worse conflict if U.S. troops are sent to Iraq.

"If he (Bush) starts a war against Iraq, it will be to get re-elected. All he cares about is wealth and power," Moitoza said.