Gonzales Moves News Conference Due to Protesters
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been touring the country and earlier Tuesday afternoon he made his first trip to the Gem State. But his welcome, by some, wasn't so friendly.
One by one they showed up at the Fort Boise Community Center. About one hundred protesters stood outside waiting, while inside U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was getting a tour of the center.
He was suppose to come out and talk with community members and the media but his plans changed.
"The press conference is going to be relocated, 4:00pm in the U.S. Attorney's Office for credential media only," one of Gonzales' staff members said from the podium set up outside the Center.
It was news the protesters didn't want to hear, as they started chanting "Coward, coward, coward, shame on you Gonzales."
"I'm really, really disappointed. I would like this administration to face the people that they have such disrespect for," Protester Stacey St. Amand told CBS 2 Eyewitness after the announcement.
"We need a new Attorney General who can stand up to the administration who talks about torture, that talks about illegal wire taping, and who fires U.S. Attorney's for political reasons," former Congressional Candidate Larry Grant said as he addressed the group.
The protesters wanted their topics heard, but Gonzales says he was here to discuss Gang Violence. He closed the news conference to media only so protesters wouldn't detract from his message.
"I wanted to emphasize the work, the very important work, the very valuable work of the Community Center in providing alternatives to kids to discourage them from getting into trouble in the first place," U.S. Attorney General Gonzales said during his news conference.
Earlier in the day Gonzales met with the Treasure Valley Metro Anti-Gang Task Force. Within a half-hour, he says he had a better grasp of the community's fight against gangs and crime.
"There's a good level of cooperation that exists here, the federal government is working well with state and local officials and that's so very, very important," he said.
Gonzales says it's the governments job to provide hope for kids but these protesters weren't feeling so hopeful.
Gonzales wants to see stiffer federal penalties against gang members. He believes that could help deter kids from getting involved. He says he plans to go back to Washington and see what kind of additional resources are available at the federal level for fighting violent crime in the Treasure Valley.
One by one they showed up at the Fort Boise Community Center. About one hundred protesters stood outside waiting, while inside U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was getting a tour of the center.
He was suppose to come out and talk with community members and the media but his plans changed.
"The press conference is going to be relocated, 4:00pm in the U.S. Attorney's Office for credential media only," one of Gonzales' staff members said from the podium set up outside the Center.
It was news the protesters didn't want to hear, as they started chanting "Coward, coward, coward, shame on you Gonzales."
"I'm really, really disappointed. I would like this administration to face the people that they have such disrespect for," Protester Stacey St. Amand told CBS 2 Eyewitness after the announcement.
"We need a new Attorney General who can stand up to the administration who talks about torture, that talks about illegal wire taping, and who fires U.S. Attorney's for political reasons," former Congressional Candidate Larry Grant said as he addressed the group.
The protesters wanted their topics heard, but Gonzales says he was here to discuss Gang Violence. He closed the news conference to media only so protesters wouldn't detract from his message.
"I wanted to emphasize the work, the very important work, the very valuable work of the Community Center in providing alternatives to kids to discourage them from getting into trouble in the first place," U.S. Attorney General Gonzales said during his news conference.
Earlier in the day Gonzales met with the Treasure Valley Metro Anti-Gang Task Force. Within a half-hour, he says he had a better grasp of the community's fight against gangs and crime.
"There's a good level of cooperation that exists here, the federal government is working well with state and local officials and that's so very, very important," he said.
Gonzales says it's the governments job to provide hope for kids but these protesters weren't feeling so hopeful.
Gonzales wants to see stiffer federal penalties against gang members. He believes that could help deter kids from getting involved. He says he plans to go back to Washington and see what kind of additional resources are available at the federal level for fighting violent crime in the Treasure Valley.
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