Update [2005-8-6 23:32:11 by Laura D]: Added some pictures.
Well, we started out from Austin later than planned and sort of got lost along the way but somehow my cousin and I managed to end up at the starting point of the protest right on time. Cindy and about 30-50 protesters were immediately surrounded by reporters and cameramen. Her initial speech was gut wrenching. She spoke eloquently of the tragedy that has hit over 1800 families in this country. She talked of her son and what his loss meant to her and his aunt and other family members. Demanding to speak with President Bush she vowed not to leave Crawford until her mission was accomplished. All of this is paraphrasing, but I and many others were moved by the heartbreak and determination and utter conviction that rang in her voice. There were many other speakers that I can't name, but by far the best among them was Cindy. And even though she nearly broke down talking about her son Casey, she quickly gathered her composure and made her demands.
After about 15 minutes we began walking to the ranch along Prairie Chapel Rd. Accompanying the group - which had swelled to about 75-100 people - were quite a few police officers - sheriff, county, city, state - you name it there was a person in uniform from every conceivable branch. For the most part they were very solicitous; however, after about ½ a mile they forced the group to stop saying that we could go no further as we could not stay on the grass and off the road. We were at least 1 mile from the road block set up on Prairie Chapel Rd right after Mattlage Rd. Cindy and the other leaders made their stand right there on the corner of the road in grass that contained chiggers, stickers and those lovely fire ants bred only in Texas.
As stragglers, myself included, caught up the sun was beating down pretty hard on the little group. Honestly, if anyone wants proof our President is insane here it is: He's vacationing in Texas in AUGUST! I live here year round and if there was one place I wouldn't want to be in the month of August, Texas ranks right up there with the Sahara Desert. Some gentleman made a water run and Cindy and others were speaking with the press. Meanwhile, the rest of us were vocal in our chants and rails against Bush: "Bush Lied, People Died" "Bring then Home Now" "Bush, What is He Good For? Absolutely Nothing!" and many others. At one point a man led the group in the Our Father - though I have no religious affiliation, I think it's good to show the world that republicans do not have a monopoly on prayer in this country. The press was lined up across from us on the other side of the road and the local stations as well as CNN were represented. After an hour or so Cindy gathered everyone together and made it very clear she was sticking it out until she spoke with Bush personally; however, she did not want anyone getting dehydrated or suffering from heatstroke waging her battles. She asked that we leave if we wanted and were more than welcome to come and go as we pleased, but to remember that she would be here as long as it took, the whole month of August if she had to.
Shortly thereafter, about half of us headed back to the cars and bus chanting "Money for Jobs and Education, Not for War and Occupation." I wish I knew the name of the gentleman leading the Veterans for Peace - he had a great presence to him and was one of the most vocal protesters. Unfortunatley, commitments here in Austin prohibited me staying longer, but apparently Steve Hadley and Joe Hagin spoke to Cindy for about 45 min. They gave the usual placating BS:
"They (the advisers) said we are in Iraq because they believed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, that the world's a better place with Saddam gone and that we're making the world a safer place with what we're doing over there," Sheehan said in a telephone interview after the meeting.
Standard talking points crap. But Cindy refused to back down one inch:
I told them Iraq was not a threat to the United States and that now people are dead for nothing. I told them I wouldn't leave until I talked to George Bush."
She deserves the Medal of Freedom for her courage and fortitude in all of this turmoil - She is an upfront, in-your-face, example of what activism can and should be. Despite, or maybe because of, her loss she stands up everyday for her beliefs no matter how painful. More articles on the protest in
the NYT,
here and
here. I've been told that they showed the protest on CNN and here in Austin locally. I hope Cindy and the rest of the stalwart men and women keep getting the coverage the so richly deserve.
On a personal note, I want to say that this protest was eye opening for me. My best friend is in Iraq right now and it scares the crap out of me everyday. Now, she's over there by choice feeling that her job is her job in peace and war and I fully respect that; however, if it weren't for Bush and his cronies, she would not have had to make that decision and I wouldn't have to worry every single damn day about her. We can do more in this country to change the political environment. In my mind the real message is this: No matter the cost, stand up for what is right. Don't sit on the sidelines and let other's do it for you.