Citing Cheney's support of torture and Koch's record of legal difficulties - Koch Industries is responsible for more than 300 oil spills in five states and was accused of fraudulent reporting by a 1989 U.S. Senate Committee on Investigations - an array of activists held a protest outside the fundraiser. Members of the Raging Grannies, CodePINK, Peace Action, the World Can't Wait and Movement for a Democratic Society were shunted by police to a location a block and a half away from the fundraiser but made the most of their opportunity to dissent.

Among those present at the protest was Fossella's congressional challenger, Democrat Steve Harrison. Harrison was "confronted" by street theatre group the "Filthy Rich for Fossella" who argued in favor of greed and torture. Harrison responded with a call to end the politics of oil and avarice - and a call to defend both the Constitution and the environment.

"Vito Fauxsella", aka John Lawrence of Peace Action, also made an appearance. Fauxsella told the crowd that "what makes America beautiful" is that "we can spend your money in wise ways" - to make "the absurd, the immoral, seem normal and acceptable."

Shortly after 10:30 A.M. the demonstrators jeered as Cheney's motorcade - a fleet of black SUVs - passed by. The "Filthy Rich" cheered Cheney and urged the crowd to "embrace Dick Cheney and his Big Oil money."