Views clash over prison sale: Opinions from near, far outside hearing at high school
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STERLING – While hundreds of protesters and supporters lined up around Sterling High School on Tuesday afternoon, a small crowd of detractors stood in the cold to speak against the use of the Thomson Correctional Center as a holding center for Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The 45-minute protest preceded a 7-hour public hearing on the proposed sale of the prison to the federal government. Down-staters, in-staters and out-of-staters stepped out of the line, said a few words or listened to a few, before getting back into line for the indoor hearing.
Police blocked off roads around the school in anticipation of surging crowds. The revolving crowd peaked at about 50 people, many of whom were police, politicians or members of the media.
Sheryl Noble, 60, of Rock Falls, said the economic benefits of the prison sale are overstated, compared with the risks.
“I think it’s wrong to bring terrorists here,” she said, “especially when we don’t know if their ‘little friends’ will be coming, too.”
‘’If there is any way to change it – that would be awesome,” said Jill Weber, 48, of Sterling. “But I think they’ve made up their minds.”
Some protesters came from out of state to make sure their voices were heard.
Dave Munson, from Standish, Mich., told the crowd to “protest often and loud to stop this process from going right straight to the governor.”
“It’s not a dictatorship,” Munson said. “We need to take back our country, and stopping this is step one.”
Linda Ploch drove the 2 hours from Vernon Hills, north of Chicago, to watch the protest and the hearing. She carried a sign that read, “Enemies don’t belong on U.S. soil!”
“I just really don’t believe we’re doing the right thing, to bring any terrorists on our soil,” Ploch said. “This is where I live; this is where I raise my kids. [Terrorist] recruitment could start in Chicago.”
Rockford iron workers Mark Richeson and David Whitmore thought those sentiments were unfounded.
“I just don’t understand where that idea comes from – that just doesn’t make sense to me,” Richeson said. “There have been no escapes from federal prison.”
“The terrorists that aren’t in the prison are the ones that scare me,” Whitmore added. “And, I think they’ve pretty much determined they’re coming here regardless. We just sure think that people in northern Illinois could use a boost in the economy.”
Frank Pikul came from his job at CGH Medical Center, across the street.
“I don’t have an opinion,” Pikul said. “I just came over on my lunch break to see what the public opinion was. We’re hoping no one gets hurt or maced today and ends up at CGH.”
McClatchy News Service contributed to this report.
