corrente

Louise Chu of AP reports:

Kathy Nicholas had planned to pay quiet tribute Thursday at the tomb of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

So did President Bush. The combination was anything but quiet.

Nicholas was among about 700 people who booed, chanted and beat drums near the typically placid grave site, angry that Bush was there on what would have been the slain civil rights leader's 75th birthday.

"When I heard Bush was coming here I couldn't believe it. I was outraged and disgusted, and I just think it's a photo op. It's so transparent," said Nicholas, a flight attendant who brought a sign that read: "Mr. Bush, May Dr. King's spirit rise up n welcome you, touch you n speak to you."

The protesters pushed past Secret Service barricades. They pounded on the sides of three city buses parked on the street in front of King's tomb to block them from the president's motorcade.

As Bush arrived, the crowd booed and chanted "Bush go home!" He placed a wreath on King's grave before heading to a $2,000-a-plate fund-raiser in Atlanta.

FinallyI Bush actually has to hear and see a protester. Generally, the Secret Service keeps him in a bubble—and somehow only the people holding pro-Bush signs get to see the "President," while anyone else is relegated to a "free-speech" zone well away from the cameras.

Congratulations, Kathy, for making it clear that anywhere in America should be a free speech zone. And we hope to see you in Manhattan for the Republican National Convention.