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Activist Sheehan leads anti-war rally in Phoenix
Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 15, 2006 12:00 AM
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan rolled into Phoenix on Saturday to headline an anti-war rally that drew more than 200 activists, nearly all of them women in middle age or older.
Sheehan, who has dogged President Bush since losing her soldier son to the war in Iraq, carried on her nationwide campaign against those she calls "criminals" in Washington, who launched an "illegal war"' in Iraq. She also stumped for a new book, Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey through Heartache to Activism.
Sheehan called for street demonstrations and vowed to help lead a sit-in at the White House next month. She also blasted those Democrats too meek to challenge the Bush administration. advertisement
"Why do you let the criminals stifle your voices?" Sheehan said. "I'm going to scream as loud as I can about the lies of this administration."
Sheehan's address was part of an "End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq Forum" reminiscent of rallies against the war in Vietnam almost four decades ago, with placards, chants of "Power to the people," cartoon effigies of the president and Bob Dylan's ballad Blowin' in the Wind.
But old-time peaceniks were mostly young men. The lion's share of Saturday's crowd was female, with few of them younger than 40 or minorities.
Sherry Bohlen of Scottsdale, national field director for Progressive Democrats of America, a forum sponsor, said the lack of a military draft helps explain the disinterest of young Americans, but it remains a disappointment. "What it means is we have to do better," she added. "We have to reach out . . . We're just simply not making the right connections."
The forum was put on by a coalition of groups including Women in Black, Grandmothers for Peace and Code Pink.
The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, a minister and consultant to hip-hop activists, pointed out the lack of diversity at the event and urged anti-war activists to unite with others, such as Hispanic immigrants and Black victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel and former U.S. diplomat, said the war in Iraq "has brought this nation to its moral knees," and "We cannot sit on our duffs anymore. We've got to be ready to take the streets."
Sheehan, the main attraction, gained national attention by camping out next to the Bush ranch in Texas. She also became a target for critics who lampooned her as "Mama Moonbat" and a "Chardonnay-swilling surrender junkie."
After a standing ovation, she took aim at one of Arizona's leaders in Congress.
"The last time I came here," Sheehan said, "(Sen.) John McCain said, 'She'd better not show here face in Arizona because she won't get any support here.' John McCain is also in a state of denial."