No incidents despite protests at Bush/Clinton appearance in Surrey

SURREY (NEWS1130) – There were no arrests as a loud but peaceful crowd protested outside a Surrey hotel this afternoon. They wanted to send a message to former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

The two appeared today at the Surrey Regional Economic Summit at the Sheraton Guildford. 500 people paid hundreds of dollars to see them.

Hundreds more gathered outside to protest George W. Bush’s presence, with many calling him a war criminal. Demonstrators included those from the Occupy Vancouver site, joining and Amnesty International rally outside the Sheraton.

“I’m here to protest the presence of George Bush, who confessed to war crimes in his own autobiography,” Malcolm tells us. “I protest that the Surrey government is paying money — $150,000 — for George Bush to be here when there are far more worthy causes in Surrey to spend that money on.”

But Pat says he’s there for another reason. “Our mayor, Dianne Watts, is going to take economic advice from American presidents when their own economy is failing… I think one of the things [they] are going to tell us is that we should be buying their 63 fighter jets.”

Officers lined the streets shoulder to shoulder; and one could be seen on the parkade roof not far from where the presidential motorcade arrived.

Bush and Clinton’s speeches were closed off to the media but people attending this afternoon’s event were impressed by the pair.

Rob travelled to Surrey all the way from Lake Tahoe, Nevada to hear the two former presidents speak. He calls it money well spent.

“I thought it was wonderful. It was a great event and it’s a great tribute to Surrey to be able to pull this thing off. It may be a once in a lifetime event to get these two together.”

Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore also took in the presidents’ afternoon talk and says Clinton and Bush told the crowd not to count the American economy out yet.

“But they also, both of them, believe that it’s going to be the global economy that’s important, both to the US and the world, to come out of this economic crisis. One country can’t do it by themselves.”

Moore says Clinton was analytical while Bush cracked jokes. Neither mentioned the protests outside or the death of Moammar Gadhafi when they spoke.

‘Lawyers Against the War’ explains what they want

The demonstrators are calling for Bush to be arrested for humans rights abuses, including torture. Lawyers Against the War co-founder Gail Davidson says Canada has two options:

“Either to prosecute him in Canada or to extradite him to a country that’s willing and able to do so. As there is no country that we know of that is wanting to extradite him, that would mean prosecution in Canada.”

With busloads of protesters greeting Bush, she admits things could get ugly. “None of us can guarantee that there won’t be other people trying to provoke violence there, but the people calling for proper arrest of George Bush, they’re not calling for violence, they’re calling for an end to violence.”

Police arrived early this morning; RCMP cruisers could be seen everywhere, as could officers on foot, checking corners and doorways. The RCMP has stated it expects the anti-Bush demonstrations to be peaceful, but they will be there to deal with anything threatening to get out of hand.

Davidson also called for the arrest of former Vice President Dick Cheney when he appeared in Vancouver last month. Tonight, she will be speaking at a World Federalist Meeting, delivering a talk on jurisdictional and treaty obligations regarding war crimes.

That takes place at the Unitarian Church’s Hewitt Centre (949 West 49th Avenue at Oak Street in Vancouver).