2008 Woodie Awards
Magic bus on road from California to D.C.
Passengers want political change
Zack Cinek
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Community
- Page 1 of 1
Don Swall, a Eureka resident, is on a Magic Bus across the United States. From California inching eastward, he is on a trip for political change.
A liaison for the group and a Eureka peace activist, Jack Nounnan said The Magic Bus hit the road to Washington because of the continuation, occupation and funding of the war in Iraq.
The group is also concerned with unaccounted-for mercenary killings in Iraq and asking that Congress do its job.
Swall is the sole Humboldt local on the bus. Swall's history of protesting goes back to the '60s and '70s, including protesting the Vietnam War. Five other passengers come from Oregon and the Bay Area.
The double-decker school bus, painted with "IMPEACH BUSH-CHENEY NOW" and other political messages, embarked from California on Labor Day to join a Sept. 15 protest in Washington, D.C.
Capable of carrying about 20 people, the Magic Bus plans to gather more passengers along the way. Scotty Miller, Magic Bus Tripmaster and driver, was inspired at a Grateful Dead concert years ago to have such a vehicle. Miller spoke to The Lumberjack from the road, Friday.
"We're in Denver having a hell of a [good] time getting support like I never could have imagined," Miller said.
When the bus pulls up to a Starbucks, they hook up to the Wi-Fi Internet in the parking lot. "They come at us with money to put in our gas tank and support us," he said. "It's been phenomenal. Even Utah was like that."
A professor at Utah Valley State College invited the bus to stop at the school. Police escorted the bus to-and-from the campus, which is located in a conservative county. In the past it was not a good idea looking like a hippy in Utah, Swall said. In this case he described the favorable treatment of the bus as flabbergasting.
When in Salt Lake City, they notified the mayor of their arrival via e-mail. The mayor left a meeting and visited the bus for 30 minutes, Miller said.
The bus has encountered a range of reactions, from a massive amount of support to middle fingers. People have given $1,000 for gas money and truckers are honking, Miller said.
Leaving Vallejo, Calif., the Magic Bus took to Interstate Highway 80. The bus is scheduled to roll into Washington, D.C., Sept. 13. A pre-planned itinerary has seen the bus through stops in Reno, Nev., Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.
The bus contains a full kitchen, an area for sleeping and stockpiled food. Pamphlets supporting the bus' cause are also in supply. The bus travels about 200-250 miles per day and gets five miles per gallon of fuel, Swall said.
At a mall in Denver, Swall phoned from the parking lot. Mall security had just asked that the bus move on, but honks of support from drivers were audible in the background. At that time Miller was said to be sleeping in preparation for the night's drive from Denver to Lawrence, Kan.
While in Denver, a bumper sign reading "Honk to Impeach" was added, Miller said.
At days end in Lawrence, Kan., the Magic Bus was considering a vote on adding "Honk if Cheney is a dick."
Some members are concerned about adding the latter. It is agreed, Miller said, that the Magic Bus will be a democracy.
Zack Cinek can be contacted at zjc3@humboldt.edu
A liaison for the group and a Eureka peace activist, Jack Nounnan said The Magic Bus hit the road to Washington because of the continuation, occupation and funding of the war in Iraq.
The group is also concerned with unaccounted-for mercenary killings in Iraq and asking that Congress do its job.
Swall is the sole Humboldt local on the bus. Swall's history of protesting goes back to the '60s and '70s, including protesting the Vietnam War. Five other passengers come from Oregon and the Bay Area.
The double-decker school bus, painted with "IMPEACH BUSH-CHENEY NOW" and other political messages, embarked from California on Labor Day to join a Sept. 15 protest in Washington, D.C.
Capable of carrying about 20 people, the Magic Bus plans to gather more passengers along the way. Scotty Miller, Magic Bus Tripmaster and driver, was inspired at a Grateful Dead concert years ago to have such a vehicle. Miller spoke to The Lumberjack from the road, Friday.
"We're in Denver having a hell of a [good] time getting support like I never could have imagined," Miller said.
When the bus pulls up to a Starbucks, they hook up to the Wi-Fi Internet in the parking lot. "They come at us with money to put in our gas tank and support us," he said. "It's been phenomenal. Even Utah was like that."
A professor at Utah Valley State College invited the bus to stop at the school. Police escorted the bus to-and-from the campus, which is located in a conservative county. In the past it was not a good idea looking like a hippy in Utah, Swall said. In this case he described the favorable treatment of the bus as flabbergasting.
When in Salt Lake City, they notified the mayor of their arrival via e-mail. The mayor left a meeting and visited the bus for 30 minutes, Miller said.
The bus has encountered a range of reactions, from a massive amount of support to middle fingers. People have given $1,000 for gas money and truckers are honking, Miller said.
Leaving Vallejo, Calif., the Magic Bus took to Interstate Highway 80. The bus is scheduled to roll into Washington, D.C., Sept. 13. A pre-planned itinerary has seen the bus through stops in Reno, Nev., Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.
The bus contains a full kitchen, an area for sleeping and stockpiled food. Pamphlets supporting the bus' cause are also in supply. The bus travels about 200-250 miles per day and gets five miles per gallon of fuel, Swall said.
At a mall in Denver, Swall phoned from the parking lot. Mall security had just asked that the bus move on, but honks of support from drivers were audible in the background. At that time Miller was said to be sleeping in preparation for the night's drive from Denver to Lawrence, Kan.
While in Denver, a bumper sign reading "Honk to Impeach" was added, Miller said.
At days end in Lawrence, Kan., the Magic Bus was considering a vote on adding "Honk if Cheney is a dick."
Some members are concerned about adding the latter. It is agreed, Miller said, that the Magic Bus will be a democracy.
Zack Cinek can be contacted at zjc3@humboldt.edu
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