Colin Powell's Visit to Salem Convention Center Draws Major Protest

(Salem) - Hundreds of war protestors occupied the sidewalks around the Salem Convention Center Friday night with an interesting collection of messages for a famous and now controversial American leader. While Colin Powell`s visit to Salem was an attractive event to many who attended, the real action was on the outside, where protestors held signs and police motorcycles buzzed by in endless patrols.

You could say that Colin Powell`s visit to Salem was well attended, inside and out.

Protestors like Larry Bills of Salem, whose sign depicted Powell with Pinocchio`s nose, says people are growing more serious and less patient with the war, `There are a lot of people here tonight, they`re braving the cold, and that shows the dedication to what they believe in." Bills says it is not the first war he protested, `People of my generation all suffered through Vietnam, and this is what we did then too."

Many people taking part in the protest hailed from local churches. Some looked like they easily could have walked right out of 1969, while others, most in fact, were well dressed. Children also took part in the demonstration. Most were accompanied by parents, but some high school age kids also brought their signs and messages urging an end to the war.

Salem Police Lieutenant Steve Bellshaw says the event remained peaceful and police officers did not have any negative interactions with group gathered around the convention center. Temperatures in the 30`s kept the event from continuing very late into the evening. Bellshaw says that by 8:00 PM, the area was mostly quiet.