http://pww.org/article/articleview/9971/1/343Angry steelworkers drive Bush brother into subway closet
PITTSBURGH — Laughter, cheers and applause filled the Steelworkers union headquarters here, Oct. 7, when Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea introduced steelworkers who had forced Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to flee into a subway closet the day before. Bush had ventured into this steel town to try to boost the campaign of Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, whose voting record is 90 percent anti-labor.
“Steelworkers aren’t kidding when they say ‘Pittsburgh is a Santorum-free zone,’” said Shea.
More than 150 local union volunteers savored the story as they finished their coffee, reviewed their suburban maps and assembled their two-person teams to hit the streets, ready to deliver literature and talk to union voters.
The big turnout on a picture-perfect fall day usually filled with football, soccer, errands and harvest festivals said it all: Union members who drive buses, wire buildings, make steel, clean downtown buildings, provide health care and raise families were ready to sacrifice and act to dump the Republicans in November.
A day earlier, steelworkers joined a protest rally outside a Santorum fundraiser at the exclusive Duquesne Club, where Jeb Bush was a speaker. On the sidewalk, Bush inadvertently ran into about 30 steelworkers carrying signs reading, “Honk if you’re sick of Rick” and “Pittsburgh is a Santorum-free zone.” According to local press accounts, Bush threw a kiss at the steelworkers, who chanted, “We don’t want you here.”
Another group of about 75 steelworkers recognized Bush and joined in the chanting, Jon Vandenburgh, a researcher for the union, told the Post Gazette.
Bush slipped onto an escalator going down into a nearby subway station. Steelworkers took the steps and followed. Once inside the station, Bush was trapped. Port Authority police arrived with a canine unit. They “protected” the brother of President Bush by putting him into a utility closet and closing the door. Bush stayed there until the steelworkers and others left. Port Authority Police used tasers on two people but no one was hospitalized.
Pittsburgh police monitored the protest, didn’t intervene and said it was peaceful. No arrests or citations were issued.
FULL story at link above.