Protester gets support

Rita Preckshot is used to standing alone every Wednesday afternoon at the corner of Broadway and Providence Road. As a group Columbia residents gather there every week to oppose the war in Iraq, Preckshot stands just south of the intersection holding an American flag to show her support for the troops.

On Wednesday, Preckshot was not alone, as she was joined by 15 new supporters, who came not only to support her position, but also her presence as well.

They came to join her after Preckshot reported being assaulted last month.

“I only know three of them,” Preckshot said, smiling and looking around at her supporters.

The new faces came in response to allegations that Preckshot was assaulted by Paul Allaire, 41, of Arcadia, last month near a peace demonstration at the intersection.

Preckshot said Allaire hit her in the face on March 16. Allaire is charged with third-degree assault and is scheduled for a court appearance on May 13, according to court records.

The assemblage of new supporters was dubbed “Rally for Rita” by local radio host Fred Parry.

Parry said he was outraged last month when he heard about the incident and talked about it on his radio show, KFRU/1400 AM’s Morning Meeting with Fred Parry and Simon Rose.

“I agree with what this woman is saying,” Parry said. “I feel guilty that she’s been standing here every Wednesday night while I’m at home eating dinner with my family, getting abused by ‘peaceful’ people.”

Jack Bozarth, a retired Air Force officer, said he heard about the rally on the radio show and came to keep that kind of violence from happening again.

“We’re here because we’re hoping (Allaire) might come and talk to us today,” he said. “And so he can find somebody else to hit besides a middle-aged woman.”

Ellen Hayes, a new resident of Columbia, said she heard about the rally on the radio and talked to Preckshot for the first time Wednesday.

“I thought it was unusual that one person stands by herself,” she said. “I heard about the altercation. I thought there would be strength in numbers.”

Allaire said the incident was simply a “gut reaction.” He said he was trying to hand Preckshot a flier advocating an end to the war when she slapped his hand away. He returned the slap before he had time to think about it, he said.

“I was not expecting to be slapped, and I guess anytime somebody slaps me, my first reaction is going to be to defend myself,” he said.

Allaire said he realizes now his actions were not right.

“I wish it never would have happened,” he said.

Mark Haim, director of Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, said his group — which is the main group involved in the rallies each Wednesday — is non-violent and does not condone any acts of violence. Haim said he has talked with both Preckshot and Allaire and that the situation is “a classic case of he said, she said.”

“Paul isn’t the sort of person that engages in unprovoked assault,” he said. “There are two sides to every story.”

Haim said Allaire is not a member of Peaceworks or a regular demonstrator with the group on Wednesdays.

Abe Haim, a friend of Allaire who has worked with him since last fall, said he was a witness to the altercation and that if the gender roles had been reversed, the story would not have been so sensational.

“Nobody would have seen Paul as the aggressor,” he said, adding that whenever there is this type of altercation, there is a tendency for people to view the male as a perpetrator and the female as a victim.

Preckshot said the incident has not influenced her dedication to making her political statement each Wednesday.

“I’m not leaving,” she said. “I’m coming back next week and every week after that.”