State’s delegates avoid protesters

Suzanne Struglinski

Monday, Aug. 30, 2004 | 9:47 a.m.

NEW YORK -- As Nevada's delegates arrived in New York for the Republican National Convention Sunday, thousands of protesters gathered 20 blocks from their hotel criticizing the war in Iraq, the Bush administration and government in general.

But Nevada's delegates either did not see the mass of people or were in other parts of the city while it was taking place. They are prepared for seeing protesters throughout the week as the convention continues.

"They're just noisy," said Alfred Valdez, a convention delegate from Henderson. "It didn't bother us as long as one was trying to make any moves against us physically."

The delegates watched the Broadway play "Aida" Sunday afternoon as part of their welcoming party offered by the city's host committee, which was close to their hotel but not the protest.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris addressed the audience before the play welcoming the delegations. Protesters gathered in Times Square outside the Palace Theater and other theaters where other delegations saw plays yelling at the delegates.

"I think it's all part of democracy," said Alternate Delegate Richard Moore of Carson City. "I just responded back with 'Four more years!' "

He said there were more police than protesters there.

The delegation started the convention today with breakfast at 6 a.m. Delegates trickled in to get their passes and go through the day's agenda. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and state Treasurer Brian Krolicki were there and spoke with some fellow delegates.

Participants compared patriotic garb and elephant accessories such as Nevada Republican Party Treasurer Steve Martin's red, white and blue tie with an illustration of the World Trade Center on it.

Some members of the delegation will have the opportunity to take a trip to ground zero on Wednesday coordinated through Corbin Miller, the city host committee's ambassador to the delegation. Miller is also trying to put together a tour of the Opera House for the delegates.

When they are not sightseeing, the delegates have been told to take the official convention buses to and from Madison Square Garden because cabs will not be allowed close to the arena.

Security was extremely noticeable around the convention's main site, Madison Square Garden, and the surrounding hotels housing delegates and other people in town for the convention. New York police officers surrounded the building, some with large machine guns, and others waited in nearby subway stations with helmets and clubs.

Convention organizers have advised the delegates to allow extra time to get into the arena before attending the convention's official business because of large number of people that will need to be searched to get inside.

Nevada's delegates sit 13 rows back on the right side of the arena facing the stage. They sit behind New Hampshire, Iowa and Arkansas and next to Arizona.