More than 100 demonstrators lined the grass in front of the Pan American Center on Saturday, while President George W. Bush addressed a cheering crowd inside.
An intense sun shone down on them as they stood outside. Some were chanting, "Stop war, we want peace," while others paced silently, some with signs. Most signs referred to the debate about whether the United States should invade Iraq. One sign said, "Drop Bush, not bombs." Other signs addressed health care issues and one urged impeachment of the president.
The demonstrators said they were expressing their freedom of speech and asserting their right to assemble. Law enforcement officers were nearby.
Sister Catherine Darcy of the Border Women's Group said she was impressed with the turnout of supporters on such short notice.
She said the group was there to express its deep concern about a possible war in Iraq.
"War is not the answer. We need to seek a nonviolent solution to overturn the culture of war," she said. "We need a new paradigm for the millennium, the old isn't going to work."
Many of the demonstrators took turns holding their signs, while others stood underneath trees or the blue tents set up for the groups.
Joanna Swanger, a professor at Earlham College's branch in El Paso, waived a fluorescent yellow sign high in the air as vehicles passed by. Her sign read, "More Powell, Less Rice" in reference to Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Swanger brought a group of eight students from the college to voice their concerns about violence. She said the students are part of the Border Studies Program.
"We're against the pre-emptive strikes in Iraq," she said. "The government has no case for supporting such strikes. Just because Condoleezza Rice says it's OK doesn't mean it's right."
Swanger said that Bush is taking over from what his father couldn't accomplish.
"Wars make more generations of terrorists," she said.
At one end of the demonstration line, Michael Pacheco stood under his umbrella. Pacheco was there with his family supporting Bush's visit to the city. He held a sign that read, "Pachecos say welcome."
He said the visit was a good opportunity for Las Crucens to see the president.
Pacheco's two sons, Andrew and Michael Jr., said that Bush's visit to southern New Mexico was pleasant surprise. "Who would want to come here?" they asked.
Doņa Ana County Sheriff's officers and Las Cruces Police kept the demonstration peaceful.
Some demonstrators were angered when campaign supporters of gubernatorial candidate Bill Richardson and 2nd Congressional District hopeful John Arthur Smith, both Democrats, were allowed to campaign along University Avenue, while the demonstrators were kept in their designated area, which was not near the heavy traffic.
Some demonstrators decided to leave the designated area and walk along University Avenue. Law enforcement officers directed them back to the demonstration area.
A spokesperson for the campaign group said they didn't want to be connected to the demonstrators.
Deirdre Wolf sat in the shade of a tree after nearly two hours on her feet. She was wearing a baseball cap, which had red, white and blue, resembling the American flag.
Wolf said the demonstration had been well received. She said people in passing cars often honked their horns and waved.
She said she is not pleased with Bush as president.
"He's making waves about corporate crimes," she said, "and he did it, too."
Swanger left the demonstration, saying she was grateful that the day was peaceful and that there were no problems.
"I was afraid of something happening (like) in Portland (Ore.)," she said. "Those people were arrested and pepper-sprayed."
Wolf said she's protested since the 1960s and has never seen law enforcement separate campaigners from protesters.
"It's sad that we can no longer publicly protest," she said, referring to the fact her group was confined to a small area away from the street. "I'm scared they're using the idea of terrorism to take away our liberties."

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