Just days after our current president has left the county, his predecessor will be arriving in town. And with his arrival, so too, will come the protesters.
Various organizations, including Occupy groups, announced Tuesday they will protest former President George W. Bush's role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when he speaks at a local government gathering in Cabazon on Thursday.
Bush is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the Western Riverside Council of Governments' annual General Assembly at Morongo Casino, officials confirm to Patch.
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The organizations planning to protest Bush's appearance include Coachella Valley and Riverside Occupy groups, Veterans for Peace and the Los Angeles chapter of ANSWER -- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism.
The Western Riverside Council of Governments includes Riverside County, 17 cities and two water districts, though the city of Beaumont is notably absent from the group. The General Assembly receives corporate funding -- no public money will be used to pay to bring Bush to the gathering, according to the Press-Enterprise.
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According to Janis Leonard with WRCOG, tickets for the leadership address by Bush are sold out. The speech is closed to the public and the media alike.
–City News Service contributed to this report.
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