"For each day you protest you help terrorists kill Iraqi children".
Posted on 08/18/2005 6:52:18 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Nearly two weeks since Cindy Sheehan started keeping vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, the grieving mother of a fallen soldier got vigils of her own.
About 400 people gathered on the steps of the (MAdison, WI) Capitol on Wednesday night holding signs with messages like "America Stands with Cindy" to support Sheehan's demand for a justification of, and end to, the Iraq conflict that killed her 24-year- old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan.
"We stand tonight suggesting that these brave soldiers do not have to make the ultimate sacrifice for a pack of lies," Tammy Markee of Madison told the crowd. "What noble cause have over 1,800 men and women lost their lives for?"
Markee organized the event through MoveOn.org to coincide with about 1,400 other vigils scheduled to take place at the same time around the country, including one in Olin Park and another in Mount Horeb.
Peace activists want the president to interrupt his five-week vacation in order to address Sheehan's concerns. Bush has refused to meet for a second time with Sheehan after he met with her family in June.
Sheehan's story has captured the attention of some people who have never been politically active, such as Julie Banks of Madison. Banks said she'd never attended an anti-war rally until Sheehan inspired her to get involved.
"Her strength to speak truth in the face of power is just amazing," she said.
Sheehan's experience has also resonated with many parents and educators.
"I identify so much with the mothers in Iraq," said Jane Rowe, a mother and retired school librarian from Madison who said she worries about her former students in the military. "Those are my kids over there, and it's a total, awful waste."
Some activists said although the anti-war movement was strong even before Sheehan's case provided a rallying point, they still see her as a role model.
"This just shows what one person can do," said Clarence Kailin, 90, a member of Veterans for Peace. "Her confronting Bush is so important. There are over a thousand rallies tonight - that's a lot."
Bob Bates of Madison said Sheehan's case was generating much interest.
"Hooray for Cindy for capturing the media spotlight," Bates said. "Let's hope this gets the American public aware and catches the part of them that says, 'Yes, she's right.' "
99 & 44/100% Bush bash by the Democrats.
Finding 400 liberals in Madison WI is like finding a needle... well... in a stack of needles.
Whew, the marxists along the Mendota are really trying to relive the 60's.
More far left opinion put out as news.
There were probably a few from my husband's family there. They are true-Blue 'progressives'. I can't imagine what they're doing living in Madison. /sarcasm
I did not see one blip of these vigils on the TV. Must have had very poor attendance.
So that you can do your best impression of the village idiot and not be hanged as a result.
This woman is turning out to be 100% pure moron bait.
Ya know, this really doesn't bother me at all. We all know that President Bush is not going to change his policy no matter if a million people protest and no matter what the breathless MSM says about it. So let these folks gather and vent their hostility. It's August and nobody is paying attention anyway.
School isnt in session yet...wait till the rich kids
get back...from their summer homes in Minocqua
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