Police in riot gear fired pepper balls at protesters in Jacksonville Thursday after they refused to clear the street upon President Bush's arrival to spend the night. Two people were arrested for disorderly conduct during the confrontation at 8 p.m. between protesters and police on California Street not far from where Bush and wife Laura were staying. The skirmish followed peaceful protests earlier in the day both in Jacksonville and near the Jackson County Expo, where the Bushes held a rally at about 6 p.m. Rogue Valley residents David Qotsaisaw, 30, and Michael Steveros, 38, said they were each shot with some sort of irritant fired by police. Both said they were not protesting, but just trying to help a fallen member of the crowd. "Someone got pushed down and we tried to help him up," said Qotsaisaw. "He wasn't able to get to his feet. We tried to help and the (police officer) from behind the line started shooting." [more
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