I was told that raising my sign might get me shot by a sniper... I was protesting at Bush's first campaign, he was speaking in OKC...I also crashed the republican natl convention in houston on the last night when bush was going for re-election...with a couple of republican friends... I got on the floor for bush's acceptance speech. I was right by the tennessee delegation... my friends were heavily guestioned as to what threat I posed and several security people were watching me the whole evening- the fact I was in all black and refused to take a pro-bush sign raised suspicions... I had 2 guys come up and take my picture for no reason...

I played along and just stood there the whole time with my arms crossed... occasionally turning to a random part of the crowd and giving a single, serious nod... I was there when the balloons dropped... so were the several guys with suits and earpieces watching me:)

At the OKC event a woman was roughed up- the campaign had hired college 'young republicans' to police the protesters... they got a little too enthusiastic and ended up with at least one lawsuit...

No one has a monopoly on intolerance, Tom... but one can make a good case that the right has a controlling interest