Just got a call from some Arizona Young Democrats who are at the Tucson Bush Social Security "Forum" today. Turns out one of their crowd, Steven Gerner a 19 year old Sophomore at the University of Arizona, wasn't allowed into the taxpayer funded event.
His crime? WEARING A YOUNG DEMOCRATS T-SHIRT.
Update [2005-3-21 15:9:6 by Mister T in AZ]: 2: Turns out this shirt isn't the one Steven was wearing. Instead the shirt was blue, front was blank, and on the back it said "Be a Smart (then a democratic donkey)" Below that was "UofA Young Dems". Everyone is getting back from the event now - so I'm expecting pictures soon.
Update [2005-3-21 15:9:6 by Mister T in AZ]: 3: You'll love this. "Saint" McCain took the stage at the event and said something like "The door is open for the Democrats to talk to us about Social Security ... but they won't!".
Update [2005-3-21 17:45:45 by Mister T in AZ]: Just posted a draft release in another diary. Gonna give it a little bit (25 minutes) and then I'm sending it. Please, go doctor it up.
Now let me be clear. Steven wasn't wearing some anti-bush, anti-war, anti-Christian, anti-ANYTHING t-shirt. Instead his shirt simply said what is listed above, nothing more.
Below is an outline of what I have gathered from my conversation with Steven and a few other people who were standing near him:
- Steven got a ticket from Congressman Grijalva's office, he gave his full name when he received it and followed the proper procedure.
- When I asked him why he wanted to go to the event, Steven said he really wanted to get a chance to hear the Bush side of the Social Security debate. Plus, he had never seen a President speak and even if he is a dedicated Democrat - was excited to see the leader of his country speak.
- Steven and a handful of other Young Democrats arrived early to ensure that they could get in. Afraid that anything might get them kicked out, everyone decided to wait quietly in line. Nobody wanted to disrupt the event - they just wanted to go and see the President.
- About 20 minutes before doors opened for the event, a staff person came and noticed the t-shirt.
- This staffer asked to see Steven's ticket, asked for a better look of his t-shirt, and then grabbed the ticket and crumpled it up in his hand.
- Twenty minutes later the staffer came back and said that Steven's name had been "recorded" and that no matter what he tried he would be denied access to the event.
- People around Steven were really shocked initially, mainly because he wasn't creating any sort of a disturbance and the "altercation" from their perspective seemed to have come from nowhere.
- After being told he would be denied entry, Steven wasn't about to give up. He attempted to contact security, nothing came of it. Then he contacted another staffer, nothing came of it.
- When Steven realized there was no way he was getting in, he left his friends and walked directly to the nearest reporter. Several have interviewed him already.
I think this is absolutely disgusting. The YDs are putting together a press release now on these events to help spread the story to local media ... do you have any suggestions with where we should go with it?