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Protesters held a Palestinian flag and an anti-war poster on Tuesday outside the Santa Clara Convention Center. Hundreds of protesters greeted President George W. Bush's motorcade, bearing signs representing issues from labor to the environment. Andrea Sc [Click to enlarge]

Police ushered protesters, including communications major Muhammad Abu-Haneefa, right, onto the sidewalk across the street from the Santa Clara Convention Center to allow attendees to Tuesday's fundraiser for Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Simon [Click to enlarge]

In his first visit to the Bay Area since taking office, Bush spoke earlier in the day at the Tech Museum in downtown San Jose to members of the Commonwealth and Churchill clubs.

When the Presidential motorcade approached Tasman Drive in Santa Clara, hundreds of protesters representing a number of causes, raised their voices as the Chief Executive's limousine sped by on the other side of the street.

Most vocal of the protesters were those who support a free Palestine and want to end aid from the United States to Israel.

Speaking into a megaphone, San Jose State University student Muhammad Abu-Haneefa led chants of "Israel is a terrorist's state" and accused Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of genocide against the Palestinian people.

Echoing the words of Patrick Henry, a revolutionary war figure, Abu-Haneefa said he supports those willing to risk their lives for freedom.

"Anyone who says 'give me liberty or give me death' should be considered a hero," said Abu-Haneefa, a sophomore communications major.

The contingent of pro-Palestine protesters included members of the International Answer Coalition. Richard Beckel, a member of the group, said a similar protest that was held on April 20 in San Francisco drew 35,000 people.

Beckel said the audience of 1,200 inside the convention center, who paid $1,000 a plate to attend the event, represents the interests the president is truly serving.

"They're the rich," Beckel said. "That's the fundamental problem."

Also protesting were members of various building and construction trade unions, such as sheet metal workers, carpenters and Teamsters.

Ray Trujillo, regional director for Northern California of building and construction trade councils, said there were as many as 300 members from unions there.

"We had 200 signs made," Trujillo said. "There are a lot of people without signs."

Mark Van Den Heuvel, a member of a local sheet metal workers union, said organized labor is in danger of losing rights and benefits if Simon is elected governor.

Van Den Heuvel said Bush is against worker's rights laws, and that Simon would continue a line of Republican governors who have taken away rights such as pay roll protection, an eight-hour work day and the right to organize.

"They are not in favor of worker's rights," Van Den Heuvel said.

Dressed as Uncle Sam covered in oil and standing inside an oil barrel, Jess Burge of Santa Cruz protested the dependency of America on oil and the need for alternate non-petroleum based fuels.

"No more wars for oil," Burge said.

Gerry Gras of Sunnyvale said he was there to voice his concerns about the losses of civil liberties following the government's response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"They are not just going after immigrants," Gras said. "U.S. citizens are being arrested too."

As the Bush motorcade departed following the president's 30-minute speech, the protesters raised their voices louder than they had when he arrived, each shouting for his or her particular cause.

As the motorcade's string of vans, sport utility vehicles and motorcycle escort faded into the distance, the crowd began to dissipate.

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