Cheney arrives in Utah as demonstrators line sidewalks near BYU

Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:08 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Vice President Dick Cheney arrived at Salt Lake International Airport at 1:56 p.m., nearly two hours after various groups lined Provo sidewalks to both decry and support the vice president, who is in Utah to speak at Brigham Young University's commencement rites.

Cheney, who is scheduled to speak at 4 p.m., was greeted at the airport by about half-dozen state Republican leaders, including Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and Utah Republican Party Chairwoman Enid Greene.

The vice president was accompanied on the flight on Air Force Two by Utah Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah.

Cheney left the airport in an 11-car motorcade without speaking to reporters.

He was immediately shuttled to the Salt Lake headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to meet the church's First Presidency.

Cheney left the Church Office Building shortly before 3 p.m. Some 100 people gathered near the LDS Church's Conference Center in an effort to catch a glimpse of the vice president as his motorcade left for its Provo destination.

One man said he saw a hand waving at the crowd from one of the vehicles.

Story continues below

Cannon said topics during the flight to Utah ranged from education to the war in Iraq. As for the protests against Cheney, Cannon said he thought they were "highly irrelevant." Cheney's remarks will be important, Cannon said.

"This is a great honor for Utah," the congressman said.

On a campus where dissent is unusual, a few dozen people protested quietly ahead of Cheney's arrival, holding signs reading: "Mormon for peace" and "Make soup, not war."

A handful of veterans holding a peace banner stood on a street corner off campus.

"We can actually speak against this ridiculous and imperial war," said Aaron Davis, a Vietnam veteran with two sons who have served in Iraq.

However, at a nearby city library, College Republicans and others passed out U.S. flags and held up welcome signs.

"We are just here to show there's a lot of support for the vice president in Provo," said BYU student Colby Green, 22, of Orem. "We wanted people to know that the vocal minority is not the majority."

By 2 p.m. the line of family and friends waiting to enter the highly guarded Marriott Center stretched around the building. The doors opened at 1 p.m.

Yet the thousands waiting to watch their loved ones march across the stage were in good spirits, calling the event "an honor" and "historical."

Some 20,000 people are expected to attend today's commencement.

"I'm excited to see Dick Cheney," said freshman Stefanie Tanner, from Seattle, Wash. "I think it's added a little excitement, more attention to commencement."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Laura Seitz, Deseret Morning News

Katie Spencer, a BYU alumna, participates in a peace rally at BYU in Provo.

previousnext

Latest comments

No conservatives writing about missile "Kumbaya?" Tell us how weak Obama is...

Endorse bill to audit Fed

The number of cosponsors is up to 250. Sorry for the mistake.

Endorse bill to audit Fed

Enlighten us, what else does this bill do? Whether or not these...

it happened from 1pm - 3pm

Unholy alliance

An ancient proverb states: he that giveth to the rich shall surely come to...

Not politically correct and also pretty ignorant, but I've come to expect...

Endorse bill to audit Fed

9:23 a.m Paul Krugman disagrees with you. When he advocated for the creation...

More greed for more entitlements! Who will pay for this greed? Our...

Thomas is great shot blocker. I love his intensity and determination in every...

American Legion has some great talent, dont take anything away from them...

Advertisements