 "Photo: Buddy Burkhalter")
Protestors gathered at two gas stations at the intersection of William Cannon Drive and Brodie Lane Wednesday and rallied against Sen. John McCain's political ties to the oil industry.
Members and volunteers of MoveOn, the national political organization, handed out informational flyers and held up homemade posters to protest against the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.
Austin's rally was one of hundreds across the nation. The organization also protested in San Antonio, Waco, College Station and El Paso.
William Hamm, an organizer for the Austin branch of MoveOn, anticipated no counterprotests.
"We're drawing a parallel between Sen. McCain and some of his staff who are, or have been, associated with oil companies and the price of oil," Hamm said.
The organization hopes to spread information about the presidential candidate and other candidates they perceive as extreme.
"It's a slow education process," Hamm said. "We'll be handing out flyers to people who are interested."
Protesters ranged in age from 22 to 77 years old. Alice Adams, 62, missed her granddaughter's ballet practice to protest.
"I'm sure she'll understand, though," Adams said. "She's only 2 years old."
Adams and Anne McAfee, 77, have been members of MoveOn for a few years. They volunteer often and said their volunteering helps the organization's cause. Standing next to stopped traffic, they received a variety of both encouraging and hostile reactions.
"I think people who are following the Republican line are so chaotic about their candidate," Adams said of the negative hand gestures and expressions. "They're giving pretty base reactions."
Glenn Lewallen, 22, heard about MoveOn from a Barack Obama bumper sticker.
"I'm Republican, but I hate McCain," Lewallen said, adding that he wanted to volunteer though he was not an official member of the organization.
MoveOn member Jan Cleary said the group was well-organized. She first got involved half a year ago, after reading an e-mail sent to her from the organization.
The price of oil has risen more than $100 since the beginning of the war in Iraq, and politicians like those in McCain's campaign are to blame, Cleary said.
"Supply and demand has nothing to do with [high oil prices]," Cleary said. "People need it brought to their attention."
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