2:30 p.m. Public Protest at Fort Boise

Attorney General Gonzales in Boise Tuesday

By Jill Kuraitis, 6-25-07

UPDATE:  Read the story of Gonzales’ visit to Boise and the protesters who never got a chance to confront him: “Gonzales, Dodging Protesters, Relocates Press Conference.”

Via the Idaho Statesman at 9:30 a.m. on June 25, this from Greg Hahn:

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will be in Boise on Tuesday.

Gonzales will join a meeting of the Treasure Valley Metro Anti-Gang Task Force, tour the Fort Boise Community Center, and hold private meetings with staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, heads of federal agencies, and federal judges.

Gonzales was sworn into office in 2005 after President Bush nominated him to replace John Ashcroft.

Since then, his role in the war on terror and in other Department of Justice issues has made him a controversial figure in the Bush administration.

Recently, Senate Democrats tried to hold a “no-confidence” vote in Gonzales, but the move was blocked by Republicans.

Jim Hansen of United Vision for Idaho, a network of progressive policy groups, says the announcement of Gonzales’ visit came at extremely short notice “so it would not generate public notice that a chief architect of the Bush administration’s torture policy, domestic spying and partisan use of the Justice Department is in Idaho.”

UVI is one of the organizations which have organized tomorrow’s protest. “Gonzales may assume that all Idahoans support Bush policies,” said Hansen.  Hansen also said it is rare for a Cabinet member to visit Idaho, “especially one with a no-confidence motion pending in the Senate.” Although the vote was blocked, it remains an open matter.

“Gonzales’ dismantling of basic civil rights and policies during the Iraq occupation, especially as they relate to the Guantanamo Bay prison and the use of torture against its prisoners violates all our rights,” said Hansen.  “He has turned the Justice Department into an extension of his political party.”

Hansen also noted that a visit with Idaho Governor Butch Otter isn’t on Gonzales’ agenda.  While a congressman, Otter actively opposed the Patriot Act, which the Bush administration claims is necessary to fight terrorism but many organizations oppose, saying it undermines long-protected civil rights.

The UVI website has details of the protest, which will be on the east side of the Boise Little Theatre at Fort Boise.  CORRECTION: The AG’s press conference is on the east side of Fort Boise Community Center (the side facing the Boise Little Theater). It is not on the east side of the theater.

No Republicans returned our calls to comment on Gonzales’ visit.

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