Local activists are planning protests against a possible visit from Vice President Dick Cheney, who is scheduled to be the guest speaker Jan. 29, 2003 at the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin's luncheon at Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr.
Although Cheney's visit is not definite, the Madison Area Peace Coalition sees it as opportunity to protest the possible war with Iraq, according to Rae Vogeler, a spokesperson for the group.
\Primarily we'd protest [Cheney] because he is promoting a U.S. foreign policy which supports a war against Iraq,"" Vogeler said.
Local activist Ben Masel, said he hopes to obtain a permit allowing for protests to take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
""The role I'm looking to play is as an honest broker for people who want to protest,"" Masel said.
Cheney's visit could prompt a large police presence like that at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in June, which would cost the city additional money, according to Frank Peynter, another member of MAPC.
""That's one of the expenses of hosting controversial people,"" he said.
Madison Mayor Sue Bauman said she expects police to escort Cheney from the airport to the terrace, but does not plan on staffing a large number of police for accompanying protests.
""Any time you have a large gathering of people, particularly that's unorganized, you do want a number of police officers there, but I don't know that you need to have a great deal,"" Bauman said.
This event differs from the U.S. Conference of Mayors because the conference was longer and posed a greater number of outside threats, whereas this event is locally organized, she said.
Masel said the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was a workable location during this past summer's conference and ""strikes an appropriate balance between free expression rights and legitimate security concerns.""
MAPC members are concerned with what they see as a general increase in police and military presence throughout the country as a result of the PATRIOT Act, Vogeler said.
""It is our First Amendment right to protest Dick Cheney,"" Vogeler said. ""The military and police presence in our country is quite repressive against people who speak out.\
