PROVO — The multiplying rallies and protests surrounding the visit of Vice President Dick Cheney to Brigham Young University on April 26 are spreading to Salt Lake City.

Utah Rally for Peace president James Valerian said he will sponsor a Salt Lake demonstration from 5 to 7 p.m. that day to protest Cheney's appearance at BYU, where the vice president is to give the commencement speech.

Commencement exercises begin at 4 p.m.

Valerian said the Salt Lake rally will take place on the west side of Washington Square at 455 S. State.

"My big goal is to impeach Bush and Cheney to prevent them from invading Iran, which I think will lead to a world war," Valerian said.

He has reserved the park and applied for a free expression activity permit from Salt Lake City.

"They haven't given me the actual permit yet," he said. "They've given the OK, but they want to know details about speakers and if we'll have a sound system. I'm really hoping I can get someone with sound equipment to help out."

Valerian organized a march to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Veterans Day in 2005. He is searching for a high-profile speaker for April 26.

Meanwhile, a group of BYU students is organizing an unauthorized "alternative" commencement. They said former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader has agreed to speak at their event, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., if they can confirm a venue. So will Pete Ashdown, who ran as a Democrat against Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and human rights activist Jack Healey.

Nader's appearance would cost $15,000, and the group is seeking donations, organizer Ashley Sanders said.

The alternative commencement group is asking graduating seniors to attend the Cheney speech but afterward march from the Marriott Center to a still undetermined location off campus to hear Nader, Ashdown and Healey.

BYU does not condone the alternative commencement, but university administrators have approved a separate on-campus demonstration sponsored by the College Democrats student club. The protest will begin at noon on April 26 and end at 2 p.m.

Club president Diane Bailey said that rally will not be about Cheney. Instead, it will encourage graduates to be involved in creating solutions.

Yet another rally is being organized by Cheney supporters. The time and location have not been determined.

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E-mail: twalsh@desnews.com