By Ad Crable And Kristen Kridel
Lancaster New Era
Published: Jul 10, 2004 12:27 PM EST

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - The flag-waving, cheering throngs and banners for “Four More Years” were there. But the signs of discord and disapproval with President George W. Bush were also amply evident Friday afternoon outside Lapp’s Electrical Service in Smoketown, where the president spoke. They were there as well along the 18-mile motorcade route to York, with the president surprisingly visible in the front of the bullet-proof, tinted-glass presidential bus.

The president had to see the thumbs-down gestures and John Kerry banners, perhaps even the occasional obscene fingers thrust skyward as his bus passed by them.

Six young men from Lancaster City wearing only thong underwear were arrested along Old Philadelphia Pike when they attempted to recreate the infamous picture of Iraqi prisoners forced into a human pyramid at Abu Ghraib prison.

The protesters stripped down to their underwear and formed their improv in front of a greenhouse, near where the president was to speak, East Lampeter Township police said.

Cited for disorderly conduct at 2:27 p.m. were: Jonathan Kohler, 21, of 735 N. Marshall St; Tristan Egolf, 32, of 337 W. Lemon St.; Russell Willard, 18, of 1511 September Drive; Adam Willard, 21, of 15 S. Lime St.; Benjamin Keely, 22, of 337 W. Lemon St.; and David O’Bryant, 21, of 208 Ruby St.

A seventh member of the group, who evaded arrest and identified himself as Spook Larue, said, “We met twice this week to practice, but we forgot to set up a cue for when Bush arrived.”

The group, all friends, heard a cheer and swung into action about 20 minutes before the president arrived.

They were cited and released after the president’s campaign bus had left the Smoketown area. On his release, Egolf declared, “I’m not going to pay a dime. We didn’t break the law. How do you get arrested for expressing your feelings?”

Later, as the motorcade passed through Lancaster, Martin Andrews, 42, of 228 N. Reservoir St., made an obscene gesture and dropped his pants at the president’s convoy, Lancaster police said.

Police who had to leave their positions to deal with Andrews, arrested him for disorderly conduct. Police said Andrews ignored police commands while he was being arrested and officers had to spray him with a chemical agent. He was then additionally charged with resisting arrest.

Advocates and opponents of Bush gave one city corner the semblance of a chess game Friday afternoon.

About 300 people were strategically placed outside the Republican Committee of Lancaster County building, vying for the most dominant position to ensure the president’s attention as he zoomed past them in a bus moving about 40 mph.

Protesters and supporters were intermingled and each displayed bold signs and loud statements. The anti-Bush crowd was outnumbered about nine to one, but they were vocal.

Veteran Jake Caldwell, 42, of Lancaster, held up a sign that stated “Stop the war” as he loudly questioned the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

“I feel the American public’s been duped,” Caldwell said. “I think it’s pretty obvious. If you don’t see that, I think you’re in denial.”

Mary Schroeder, 31, held a sign that read “Shame on you” in one hand and her 1-year-old son, Ezra, in the other.

She said Bush should be ashamed of how he won the election in 2000, and of profiting from being president, sending troops to die for no reason and killing people from Iraq needlessly.

“Shame on him for everything,” she said. “I think the people need to take a look at how the Bush family is profiting from being the president.”

City resident Jon Voynar, 21, said he felt morally obligated to show his disagreement with Bush’s policies.

“We’re representing the other half just to show all of America doesn’t support what’s going on.”

Anti-Bush signs seen along the parade route: “Liar,” “Thief + Liar + Murder = Bush,” “Words of mass deception,” “More trees, less Bush,” “Impeach Bush,” “Outsource Bush,” “Words of Mass Deception,” “Stop Killing Children” and “Like father, like son — 1 term only.”

Some of the signs on the route, as well as one seen in Penn Square Friday afternoon, contained vulgarities.

(Staff writers John M. Hoober III, David O’Connor and Patricia Poist contributed to this report.)

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