Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2005 18:16:09 GMT -5
www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=3153391
(Update, Kalamazoo, April 1, 2005, 7:30 p.m.) An appearance by political commentator and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan at Western Michigan University turned ugly Thursday night.
Buchanan was speaking on Cesar Chavez Day. Chavez was a civil rights leader who for 30 years pushed for better working conditions for migrant farm workers, until his death 12 years ago.
During the question and answer session following Buchanan's speech, a man wanting to be known as "Sam" doused the speaker in the face with salad dressing, yelling viva la cause - long live the cause.
"I was startled, I didn't know if he had a gun, or know what he was gonna do," Don Iarussi, the man behind the footage, told 24 Hour News 8. "You could clearly see he (Buchanan) was shaken by it. And there was pandemonium for 15 seconds."
"It was a real slap in the face to have Pat Buchanan as a speaker on such a day," said Sam.
Chavez was on the other side of the spectrum that Buchanan is noted for when it comes to pushing for super tight immigration controls.
WMU officials say they are looking at changing policies during such events. "Well, I think we'll used this as a learning opportunity," said WMU spokesperson Matt Kurz. "We'll a take a look at the way we handle it when controversial speakers come to campus. We want to do our best to protect them."
One of the changes could involve putting a police officer near the podium.
"Nobody got hurt. There might be a dry cleaning bill," Sam, a 24 non-WMU student, said. "I thought about it for a bit and ended up coming up with Cesar dressing, just because I do kinda like bad puns."
"Listen, I want to thank you all for coming, but I'm gonna have to get my hair washed. Take it easy," Buchanan told the crowd as he wiped himself clean. "I don't even like Ranch dressing."
Buchanan chose not to press felony assault charges. Instead, Sam was charged with a misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace.
Buchanan was speaking on Cesar Chavez Day. Chavez was a civil rights leader who for 30 years pushed for better working conditions for migrant farm workers, until his death 12 years ago.
During the question and answer session following Buchanan's speech, a man wanting to be known as "Sam" doused the speaker in the face with salad dressing, yelling viva la cause - long live the cause.
"I was startled, I didn't know if he had a gun, or know what he was gonna do," Don Iarussi, the man behind the footage, told 24 Hour News 8. "You could clearly see he (Buchanan) was shaken by it. And there was pandemonium for 15 seconds."
"It was a real slap in the face to have Pat Buchanan as a speaker on such a day," said Sam.
Chavez was on the other side of the spectrum that Buchanan is noted for when it comes to pushing for super tight immigration controls.
WMU officials say they are looking at changing policies during such events. "Well, I think we'll used this as a learning opportunity," said WMU spokesperson Matt Kurz. "We'll a take a look at the way we handle it when controversial speakers come to campus. We want to do our best to protect them."
One of the changes could involve putting a police officer near the podium.
"Nobody got hurt. There might be a dry cleaning bill," Sam, a 24 non-WMU student, said. "I thought about it for a bit and ended up coming up with Cesar dressing, just because I do kinda like bad puns."
"Listen, I want to thank you all for coming, but I'm gonna have to get my hair washed. Take it easy," Buchanan told the crowd as he wiped himself clean. "I don't even like Ranch dressing."
Buchanan chose not to press felony assault charges. Instead, Sam was charged with a misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace.
That's cool! Down with Buchanan!
