Posted on 10/06/2005 7:40:26 AM PDT by SmithL
OAKLAND - Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan received an expected warm welcome at her first Bay Area appearance since returning from a tour of the country.
Sheehan, 48, gave a speech Wednesday night at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland as part of a welcome back party that brought out activists of all stripes -- all except pro-President Bush supporters. The event drew an audience of more than 300 people.
Green Party members held a banner outside, receiving honks for their effort, while a duo calling themselves the "Raging Grannies" sang an ode to Sheehan. The Revolutionary Communist Party newsletter was being distributed to passersby, while women's peace group CodePink urged attendees to lobby their representatives. All were there for the same reason -- to advocate an end to the war in Iraq.
Sheehan said she has had a similar reception across the country.
"We had crowds of anywhere from 100 people to a couple thousand," she said. "We went to red states ... I saw very little opposition."
Sheehan said she thinks her experience reflects the will of the American people.
"People know it was a mistake to get into this," she said, citing polls that show a majority of Americans oppose the war.
Sheehan said the biggest counterprotest she saw was home grown, when Bay Area radio personality Melanie Morgan led a caravan to protest Sheehan at her camp near the Bush ranch in Texas.
Sheehan, 48, became a public figure after camping out for 26 days in front of President Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch to protest the war in Iraq. Her 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed last year when his squad was ambushed in Sadr City.
Since then, she has been touring the country in an effort to convince members of Congress to stop the war in Iraq and bring the approximately 135,000 troops stationed there back home.
Last week, Sheehan was arrested along with hundreds of other protesters who had gathered in front of the White House to call for an end to the war.
Sheehan, who is originally from Vacaville but now lives in Berkeley, said she won't stop protesting until American troops are back home.
"If what I'm doing can shorten the war by one day or save one life, it will have been worth it," she said.
Sheehan said she has been inspired to see more and more supporters.
"People ask me what good is it, preaching to the choir," she said. "I tell them that not every member of the choir was singing. Now they are."
Karen Kirsch of Massachusetts, who was at the theater to catch a movie and was surprised to see the event going on, said she is part of that choir.
"I'm anti-war, I'm anti-Bush, I'm anti all of it," she said.
Now, THERE'S a tough job!/sarc
and Hitler was always well received in Berlin........
I only hope for the day when we can go a week here without a Sheehan post.
NOTE: No animals were harmed in the making of this rally.
In related news: "Stripper receives warm welcome at bachelor party."
300 people turn out in liberal Mecca?! Cindy is toast!
I wonder if that's a HEMP purse on her shoulder? What do you think the chance's are?
That would explain the stupid grin I often see on her face!
Too bad California did not live up to the prophesy of falling into the ocean while Mother Fraud was appearing.
If I were a mother, I would find it offensive that they constantly use the term "mom" in conjunction w/ Sheehan.
Actually, you would think Sheehan would be too at some point.
As a mother's son, I can tell you I find it offensive. Picture the image of a mom - you own mom - and then picture Sheehan. Its disgusting.
"I only hope for the day when we can go a week here without a Sheehan post."
You're right. I got tired of Cindy the Moonbat a long time ago. But she does serve a useful purpose. Every time she opens her mouth she illustrates just how nutty and "out there" the left really is.
I don't believe she's gaining any converts for the moonbat cause. In fact, the opposite may be true. Our task over the next three years or so is to hang Cindy the Albatross around the neck of every Democrat candidate for office.
Once again the photo is mostly of media members and the 'peace mom'.
In Oakland they should of thrown out a dime bag of crack. They'd have gotten thousands.
LOL! Cindy's not about to share her stash, though!
I agree with you. Cindy Sheehan is the face of today's Democrat "traitor/treason" Party.
A turnout of 300 in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Her 15 minutes are definitely up.
That old bag?
My heart goes out to the three other children abandoned by 'mom' sheehan.
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