Cindy Vigil Open Thread

(From the diaries -- Plutonium Page. Post here instead of a whole new diary. Share your experiences in one place... it's more meaningful that way.)

Please use this as an open thread dedicated to your experience at your local vigil in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan.  

•  I am heading out in 30 minutes.

  Taking my bike and my America stands with Cindy sign.

  Wearing black, of course.
  

  by coigue on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:45:19 PM PDT

  •  IMPORTANT: "STAR" THE STORY ON YAHOO!

    Coverage of the vigils is getting troll-rated on Yahoo. Go give it five stars to keep it on their front page!

    http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050818/ts_nm/bush_protester_dc

    by Lilibeth on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:11:21 PM PDT

    •  Only 2 & 1/2 stars

      Catch up with this page if you have time, freepers are really downrating it....

      by douginnz on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 01:21:35 AM PDT

•  Canton, Ohio

  50 registered, and we had 71 people show up.  Add that to one counter-protester (who tried to tell us that we were against the troops).

  We held it in the Veterans Memorial in Canton.  VERY respectful.  I started by paying tribute to Casey and Cindy and asking the same question.  I asked that we keep it peaceful and if anybody wanted to speak, they were free to do so.

  Everything was very well-organized and we all shared our thoughts.  It was an amazing dialogue we had going, covering all the aspects of how we felt about the war and the way Cindy has been treated.

  The counter-protestor tried very hard to harass us, but we allowed her to speak her mind and then managed to counter every point she made.  At the end of the demonstration, we raised our candles in a toast to Cindy and Casey.  She did not move a muscle.  She then tried to toast "the troops", and was actually outraged when all of us said "Amen" and agreed with her.

  We were proud to stand with you tonight, Cindy.  If things go well, I might be down there with you next week.  Fingers crossed.

  by Jeff Seemann on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:47:51 PM PDT

•  200 people in Montpelier, VT

  201 was the final count in Montpelier, Vermont.

  by donna and paul on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:49:07 PM PDT

•  Milford, NH

  I'm a big wuss so I didn't go but I drove past on the way to and from the library.  This is a small town--11,000 or so and there was an impressively large number of people already at 7:31.  Probably 30 or so.  I'm sure an actual Milfordian can tell more about it, but I was actually kind of shocked at how many there were.

  by RequestedUsername on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:50:09 PM PDT

  •  Don't be a wuss!

    In the fight against fascism eveyone has a roll to play.

    Y is W still President?

    by hoplite9 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:15:50 PM PDT

•  Sarasota

  I estimated 80-100 at the Sarasota vigil.  Wildly disproportionate support from drivers (only a handful of vocal Bushies, very few middle fingers, a ton of honks and thumbs-up).

  Sarasota is standing with Cindy!

  by JR on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:50:31 PM PDT

•  Cincinnati, Ohio

  400+ showed to line the edge of Fountain Square in the center of the City, lots of honking from passing cars, big crowd for this conservative town. Red state's are turning too.

  by calebfaux on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:52:04 PM PDT

  •  I was There Too

    Lots of signs.  "Stop the War", "Moms for Peace", "See Cindy", "Support the Troops: Bring them Home Safely", "Stop Killing our Children".  

    There were military moms proudly carrying pictures of their children in uniform.  

    There were two little girls with dogs and carring signs that read, "Before another dog loses his master in Iraq".  Heart wrenching.

    We had a moment of silence where we held our unlit candles in the air before moving toward the street to get the attention of passing motorists.  The crowd then moved toward the Great American Ballpark to get the attention of the crowd as they left the Reds game.

    This was the first time in a long time that I was proud of Cincinnati.

    by Mean Green on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:44:36 PM PDT

  •  well over 400

    We had well over 400 assembled by 7:30 pm. I know of at least two mothers with sons in Iraq who attended. There were four television news crews and local print media. The event organizier said the Associated Press conducted interviews also. Members of Move-on, Democracy for America and local peace organizations were in attendance. I also ran into some old friends who have no affliations with any organization, they were there in support of Cindy or simply against the violent war. Everyone I was able to speak with was well informed on the issues of the war and all agreeded in one form or another that the US had been misled into an unjust war.
      Shortly after assembling at 7:30 we lined the street along the fountain as cars passed by with thier occupants honking thier support. We then proceeded on a procession of about ten blocks to a park along the Ohio river where a party was in progress. We were met with some slight resistance and some high fives and thumbs up.
     Overall this was a good showing for Cincinnati where everything happens ten years later than the rest of the nation.

    by roastedcoyote on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:57:18 PM PDT

  •  I was also there. Very spirited rally and march.

    The first email I received about this demo was on Monday. This type of gathering on such short notice is amazing. MoveOn reports over 50,000 folks signed up for vigils across the country. Viva la internet.

    by timmay on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:24:19 PM PDT

•  Newark Ohio

  small town almost 80 people
  pics here.

  by Pounder on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:53:26 PM PDT

  •  wonderful, thank you for the pics

    I didn't get the email till 7:20 (the time I got home from work) so I couldn't attend the one here in Silver Spring MD. Pictures and images are important. I especially love to see our seniors -- those with wisdom enough to know when someone is trying to pull the wool over their eyes. It's heartening.

    by donailin on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:01:53 PM PDT

    •  Thanks !

      I took a bunch and then dashed home to get them up. Figured folks would like to see pics, they speak a thousands words.

      by Pounder on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:11:59 PM PDT

  •  PS

    Feel free to leave a comment too for support...

    And we are also a PAC, so if you want to make a tiny donation ($10) via actblue (or snail mail) so we can support candidates like Irene and Cary (and whomever runs against Bob Ney, Pat tiberi, OH Gov and OH senate) that would be awesome.

    by Pounder on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:13:50 PM PDT

•  Reston Virginia

  Diary here with many pictures.

  350-400 people.

  by RenaRF on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:54:15 PM PDT

•  Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, New York

  Went to one (of many) held in Brooklyn.  About 20 of us stood in front of the host's house with candles and signs provided by our host.  People stopped to ask what the protest was about, and nodded their heads in support.  We just talked among ourselves about our grief for the soldiers and for our country.  A cathartic experience.

  by Passing Shot on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:54:38 PM PDT

•  Lowell, MA - 50-60 people

  Repeat from other thread

  I'm not good at crowd guestimates, but it looked like 50-60 people, including two elderly ladies with a very large banner. All of us were situated in the center of a major intersection in front of the Town Hall.

  I think most people wondered what was going on, and it felt nice to introduce them slightly to the topic at hand.

  Thanks, Cindy!

  P.S. Kudos to Lynne1 for helping keep things organized. She seems to have done a lot of hard work, all I did was show up!
  

  by mrCurmudgeon on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:54:45 PM PDT

  •  Awwww thanks!

    Moveon makes it easy! (Sorry I didn't see your post earlier)

    So glad to see Lowellians on Kos. :D

    Photos are at the blog now...you can see them here.

    by lynne1 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:17:06 PM PDT

  •  Oh, and I did count

    It was exactly 70 people. Great turn out on such short notice!

    by lynne1 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:33:45 PM PDT

•  Estimated 500 in Princeton, NJ

  A preview from Princeton's Drinking Liberally blog (more pics on the blog):

  The night began with an 8 minute preview screening of "Before You Enlist" - a film about the realities of military recruiting - in a packed room at the library. Mothers who had and currently have sons and daughters in Iraq expressed their support for the film and agreed that it was an accurate portrayal of how recruiters work and what the reality of life as a vet are. They also spoke of the need to get out of Iraq before any more of our sons and daughters are killed. Also, Sue Niederer, co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace, spoke as well. Sue's son was killed in Iraq, and she was arrested for speaking out during a Laura Bush rally in Hamilton NJ when she displayed a shirt that read "President Bush You Killed My Son". NJ Assemblyman Bill Baroni at the time said that Sue should "find something better to do with her time".

  After the film and speakers, we walked up Witherspoon St with our candles and signs and then down Nassau St to Palmer Square. At first we lined both sides of Nassau St, but the police asked us all to move to the one side where we had the permit, inside the square. According to one estimate, 500 people turned out. Over 300 had signed up to attend through MoveOn's website.
  
  
  
  
  

  For more pictures, check out Princeton's Drinking Liberally blog

  by jmelli on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:56:22 PM PDT

  •  I was there, too ...

    Extremely moving to have people lining both sides of the street; they just kept coming. I saw no real need for the police to herd everyone back into the Square, but it was still an amazing turnout, and people will still carrying candles around town until well after 9.

    by Lilibeth on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:25:05 PM PDT

    •  yeah

      Next time they should try to get a permit to be on both sides of the street. It would have been impossible to predict that this many people would come out though. I've never seen a turnout like this here before.

      by jmelli on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:34:47 PM PDT

  •  Hold on a minute!

    What kind of rally is that? Where are all the hippie-love-child-peacenik-wierdos that normally make up these kind of movements? All I see are regular looking Americans dressed in regular clothes with collars on the shirts, legs crossed, hands folded and NO tattoos!, No long hair on the men! No psychedelic tie-dye shirts anywhere! Wait, do you mean to tell me that MIDDLE AMERICANS are actually mobilizing too???? Fucking Finally!

    by donailin on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:34:11 PM PDT

    •  that's what the hippies look like in Princeton

      but there were lots of people there - that's for sure. I had a woman approach me and said "I feel stupid asking this, but who is Cindy Sheehan?" Obviously, non-blog-addicted people were coming out. But it was surprising that she hadn't heard of her since she's been in the news so much.

      by jmelli on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:41:57 PM PDT

    •  Not hip, and not hippie

      Everyone was committed and aware, but, as jmelli said, this is Princeton. Not exactly a hotbed of radicalism; in fact, according to this week's New Yorker, Princeton Theological Seminary was the birthplace of Christian Fundamentalism ... ick. So, a lot of folks brought the kids, and we spent a lot of time trying to keep them from setting each other on fire, and then adjourned for expensive artisanal ice cream. But we were seen and heard, and hopefully we helped Cinday, so that's what counts, right?

      by Lilibeth on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:51:49 PM PDT

  •  I was also there.

    And 500 was my personal estimate.  There were around 80 people in the park before the group from the library started arriving.  Then the library group started arriving, the park filled up, and at one point before the police moved everyone into the park I counted 200 people on the other side of the street.  It's a small park, but when there had been 80 people there, the crowd looked decidely sparse, and even before the other side of the street was cleared, it was full in the park.

    I left early, because it seemed to me that the organizers had no clear exit strategy (a necessity in protest as in war) and I hate sitting around while people try to figure out what to do in situations like that.  

    Another sign that these were relative amateurs at work was in the number of people who had no kind of wax shield on their candles and were dropping the candles and swearing as they were burned by hot wax.  A paper cup with the candle poking through a hole in the bottom is all you need, people!  It's not that hard and in addition to shielding your hand, it can shield the flame if the wind picks up.  But almost no one had this most practical and easy arrangement, leading me to conclude that indeed they were candle-vigil novices.

    A couple other notes:  Not only did most people look "normal" and non-hippie, I saw at least 3 middle-aged women with seriously coiffed hair (one I think had had a nose job and face lift), serious jewelry, and very expensive dresses and heeled shoes.

    And while the Princeton Theological Seminary may have a claim to being one of the birthplaces of fundamentalism, and it remains a fairly conservative seminary by mainline standards, it is worth noting that a number of its faculty were among those who took out an ad in the New York Times calling for an end to the war like a year ago, and that many many of the students there are deeply opposed to war.

    by MissLaura on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:13:29 PM PDT

•  From Wilmington, DE/Chadds Ford, PA

  I attended vigil held on Rt. 202 in PA - a very busy highway.  We had about 30 people. 3 ladies showed up around 8 - said they drove by, saw us, came back with signs and candles!!!

  We had lots of supportive horns honking, thumbs up, etc.  Only one "finger".  A few "go Bush" - I said hey, they want him to go too!  Overwhelmingly supportive vs. negative.

  by Blu Gal in DE on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:56:41 PM PDT

•  Newton, MA: 403+ candlepower

  I counted 403 people with candles around the Newton Center green this evening.  A sombre but also social event.  Very moving -- particularly the WWII veteran I spoke with and also one woman who stood silently holding a photo of the cousin she lost in Iraq last November.

  by sagamore on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:56:47 PM PDT

•  From Howell, MI

  Vigil in support of Cindy here in this part of MI!

  Sorry, didn't catch this open thread before I posted.

  (Hey, I know the back roads!)

  by Street Kid on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:58:51 PM PDT

  •  hey!

    I was born in Howell and lived there until I was 14!  Amazing!

    -

    by Anonymous on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:02:08 PM PDT

    •  It's a cool town!

      I  attended a vigil in support of Cindy Sheehan.  There were approximately 50-60 people in attendance to support Cindy and the others who are with her in Texas.

      One young man had a sign attached to his shirt, asking, "Is it my turn?"  Other signs stated, "Bring our youth home."  Also, the names of the dead from MI were read at the closing.
      The media was present, the local paper and a news station.  (I believe from Flint, but I may be mistaken.)

      What else I noticed is that there were others who admitted voting for bush in attendance at the vigil for Cindy!  Some of these former bush supporters expressed their regret at the number of lives lost.

      from link in my post upthread

      MI is a blue state--my congresscritter is Mike Rogers.  Some in attendance expressed anger at Rogers and Tom Delay.  Also, there were quite a few people who had a high opinion of Wes Clark; one person said that if Kerry had chosed Clark as a running mate, he would have won!

      (I'm one of those people who talks to everyone!)

      by Street Kid on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:29:47 PM PDT

•  120 in downtown South Bend, Indiana

  from young to old, we stood by the highway with candles and signs, lots of honking and waving from cars going by.

  by indybend on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:58:56 PM PDT

•  aoeu

  Pity you can't merge threads, check out the recommended diary list.

  by TealVeal on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 06:59:22 PM PDT

  •  Yup, I know

    But, as I posted on that diary, when one thread gets enough comments to load too slowly for those on dialup, the other will work better (hopefully).

    Heh, maybe I'm wrong.

    by Plutonium Page on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:06:01 PM PDT

    •  aoeu

      Dialup??  Is that when you use tin cans and string? :p

      by TealVeal on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:15:08 PM PDT

•  22 people in Marshalltown, Iowa.

  We held it on the lawn in front of the Marshall County Courthouse. Marshalltown has a population of about 25,000. We only decided to host yesterday, so we think we did pretty good. We're going to meet again next Wednesday. People here want to do this weekly to support Cindy.

  by Jesterfox on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:00:52 PM PDT

•  Raleigh, NC

  Community United Church of Christ, 143.  Two thirds were women.  It was a very moving experience.  I was surprised how it affected me.  I took my 8 year old son.

  -

  by Anonymous on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:01:07 PM PDT

•  "It's starting."

  That's what my mother's friend from Palm Beach called me to say today.  I usually never hear from her.  But she had to call to tell me how she participated in a vigil.

  "There were 20 vigils going on within 20 miles of me.  I felt so helpless before to speak out about this war, but now I feel like there's something I can do.  It's finally starting."

  This is definitely a partisan Democrat, but not exactly a plugged-in activist, or blog reader.  It's an average American who finally sees a ray of hope in this period of time.  She was literally excited to participate in democracy.

  I was going to make this conversation its own diary, but this seemed like a good place for it.

  I'm going to my vigil on the West Coast in about a half-hour.

  by dday on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:02:28 PM PDT

  •  It IS starting isn't it.

    Well said.  My thoughts exactly as I stood in Decatur (Atlanta).  I can really feel it.

    I only wish I had the courage to do this back in early 2003.

    by bpierce on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:11:12 PM PDT

    •  Definitely starting.

      People are getting frightened for their kids who aren't old enough to enlist and are very concerned there will be a draft.  

      by Street Kid on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:30:16 PM PDT

      •  Maybe they remember

        the thirty-year war -- that many sons born in 1945, when the first American died in Vietnam, were long dead by 1975 when that war ended. . . .

        by Cream City on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:39:36 PM PDT

  •  RE: "It's starting"

    Ok, Vietnam-era folks, I have a question.  How does this buildup of opposition to the war compare with that in the Vietnam era?  It seems to me that this has happened quickly, quietly, and in a very dignified manner.  My impression of the Vietnam era was that there was more indignation and anger; this seems more somber and ... older.  I didn't live through the Vietnam era.

    So, how does it compare?  Has the Internet made a significant difference, both in organization and in getting the word out, as far as the ultimate tone of the opposition goes?

    One more thing: I'm not a "bring them home now" guy, mainly because of the destabilization issue.  But you folks inspire the hell out of me.

    by socratic on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:15:49 PM PDT

    •  Interesting question. It may be

      that the anger was more vocal--but it was often interactional, in that people would be protesting peacefully, police would get very confrontational, and that would then escalate the situation (e.g. Democratic convention in Chicago, Kent State).   The public overall was slow to grasp the full import of various of the issues leading up to withdrawing from Vietnam, Watergate, etc.  The pace of where the public is in general seems similar to me...but I could be wrong about that--because I'm thinking, based on my "feel" of what's currently going down, it's going to take a couple more years for full implosion of Bushco.

      by bibble on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:33:46 PM PDT

    •  First of all, there is no smell of grass

      All the people were not smoking grass then. But it was the time and you would know it when you got the whiff. There were a lot of young people protesting. A lot more than older ones. And those pictures of the Tied Dyed T-Shirts with the Peace sign on them, very real. But the young ones were the ones being drafted and they had a big stake in this war. I do not even think that people were worried about how many VN people were killed because according to our government, all the VC people were communist and could not be trusted and deserved to die.  But now we see the innocent people of Iraq dying just because they support us.  And I was a kid and bought it all and could not understand why people were protesting. Each night they would have the body count and you were always happy to see more of them than us. And then the protests got bigger and the body count higher and people you knew were dying and suddenly as you learned more, you got the message. A stupid war that we could not win.

      Looking at these pictures, you can see there is a different crowd out there tonight. Well dressed, clean cut, all ages and none of them look as if they are stoned. Maybe there are even some protesters from the VN era making a return. With a little less hair but knowing that if we all stick together on this, it will snowball and we can make a difference. Especially in 2006. It IS starting.

      Bring our soldiers home!!!!

      by BarnBabe on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:00:12 PM PDT

      •  This is what I'm talking about

        Looking at these pictures, you can see there is a different crowd out there tonight. Well dressed, clean cut, all ages and none of them look as if they are stoned.

        Sure, there are some wild-eyed protest addicts as well, but this is coming across as the Mom's Protest.  "Thou Shalt Not Kill My Son or Daughter for a Lie."

        Thanks for all the responses.

        by socratic on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:37:25 PM PDT

    •  it's the same feeling

      both in 1968 and now, it's the people who AREN'T making lots of noise that are the real swing voters. back then i was really frustrated because it didn't seem to me that things were moving very fast (ah, impetuous youth...) so it snuck upon me. this time i'm watching the quiet ones and i see that disapproval rate go up 2, 3 or 4 points every month and i know. remember, a lot of those people are quiet because they have a mouthful of crow, but there's a huge reservoir of common sense out there that's getting people to spit out the kool-aid and think it through.

      i recently found out that my father voted for mccarthy in the '68 primary. gee, back then i thought i was the only intelligent one in the family.

      i think the internet and the intensive tracking public opinion polls are going to accelerate the process as people are more aware now of the sea change than they were back in '68. and remember, people want to be on the winning side. it's easier to change your mind when you suddenly realize you're on the short side of a 60-40 split, headed for 67-33. sure, that's not a principled moral position, but, like the army, we'll take anyone who will sign the papers at this point :)

      by campskunk on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:04:12 PM PDT

    •  The DRAFT!

      The frustration and anger was HUGE in comparison because sons were being TAKEN .... and taken into a war with no end in sight.  People were being ripped into, divided by a strong desire to "defend America" and show honor and respect for leaders and a growing distrust of our leaders with an increasing awareness that more and more boys were dying and there was no f...ing end in sight.  No hills were being taken and then there was that damn DMZ ... fight to this line and stop, nothing like WWII when boys would fight and die for territory and then by God it was ours.

      I was a young woman, unsure about what position to take, not liking the disobedience of long-haired "hippie" types and damn sure not liking hearing the KIA numbers every day.  And it was a damn blip on the end of a hour-long newscast saying how many troops were killed that day.  And then my fiance went to Vietnam and everything was different.  I was totally focused on the geographics of the region, the tactics, the realization that thousands upon thousands of boys were gone and thousands more were wounded physically and emotionally for a piece of land  surrounded by Communist countries and water.  I wondered just how many more boys wwere going to die in Vietnam.  I became convinced there no "winning" this thing after all those deaths and we were still at square one.  

      So yeah, it was different and violent and scarey, much more than the Cindy vigils.  But it may get there again .....

      by Southern Mouth on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:06:10 PM PDT

      •  The draft ...

        ... was one major, major difference. You didn't have a choice; you either got a deferment (which, if I remember right, became almost impossible after a while), or you volunteered into a "safe" place like CG or NG or something, or you waited for the draft letter. And don't forget the draft lottery; you had a number, and as the toll went up you knew they were getting closer to taking you.

        And, let's not forget one other thing: the numbers. Go to here and look at the stats for 1965 to 1968. You'll see right there why Johnson pulled out of the election in 1968, and why the anti-war movement grew. If we see numbers like that in Iraq, you'll see the protests go from hundreds to thousands pretty quickly.

        by bmaples on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:22:20 PM PDT

    •  I was maybe 2...

      at the time of the Vietnam war protests, so I may be tooting out my watoot here, but I'm going to indulge in some tin-pot analysis...

      It seems there is much less of a theme of "The police officer is part of the problem" than there was in the vietnam era. It's almost like the police are being viewed as just another professional, doing their job.

      Without Communism to blame the protests on, those in power can't sell the argument that "clamping down on the demonstrations is necessary to keep social order." To the general public, there is nothing scary about a candlelight vigil; vigils don't end with shop windows broken or cars overturned.

      Vietnam protests may have skewed younger because of the draft. It's possible the protests were angrier because the kids were fighting for their own lives as well as for peace. If kids today were being randomly picked for the opportunity to be shot, many would darned well protest immediately, loudly or even violently. Terror can lead to panic.

      Instead, this is a war of creeping horror. People came to the theater for Red Dawn, but they got Platoon.

      by HeyThereItsEric on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:26:44 PM PDT

    •  This is happening faster. We have the internet now

      Before the internet it took a lot longer to coordinate.

      by Chain on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:33:03 PM PDT

      •  And people remember

        the history. They remember Vietnam. They say, as we are here, it's happening again. And they are beginning to move to stop it.

        by Mnemosyne on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:26:06 PM PDT

    •  This is happening faster. We have the internet now

      it makes coordination a lot easier.

      by Chain on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:36:44 PM PDT

    •  compare to vietnam era

      
      The biggest difference, from my perspective is that there was a draft during the Vietnam era --- definitely a motivating factor. I participated (tear-gassed in Madison, WI), rang doorbells for Gene McCarthy, took to the streets, etc., etc. & there was a LOT of anger, but I think the uncertainty of the draft was a big contributing factor.

      by mlsinco on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:04:45 PM PDT

      •  My 2 cents

        I think progressives today want to show they are as patriotic as anyone. They want to use arguments that other Americans can understand. (No wearing of chairman Mao hats.) Plusses and minuses for not being as radical. We could sure use another Jimi Hendrix though.

        Y is W still President? (F W)

        by hoplite9 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:45:18 PM PDT

    •  It's The Same, But Different

      How The Same:

      Those with "skin in the game" underwent a sea change, stepping up and out to put their bodies where their minds were:

      1965 on - long term pacifists, church people, labor, democratic socialists and other left groups, Vietnam Veterans Against The War, those of draft age.

      2005 - long term pacifists, church people, what little is left of labor, (any Michael Harrington democratic socialists left?), left groups, Iraq Veterans Against The War, families of the wounded and the dead.

      How Different:

      1. The speed of that sea change, facilitated certainly by the internet.

      2. The realization after Johnson and Nixon that Presidents lie and Administrations are corrupt.

      Mostly I am struck by the change in how personal fear of "aloneness" is countered and the building of critical mass can be facilitated. In the '60's, individuals and small groups only learned they were making a dent through the exponential growth of massive street demos. That is what built community then and provided reinforcement that we were not, as argued, "that fringe minority."

      Today, welcome to the 24/7 cyber street demo that is Kos and other blogs. Those at the candlelights or those who attend meet-ups are less alone, less isolated and far better informed than their counterparts in the 1960's.  

      Nonetheless it takes time. Always more time to change your and others minds than you would ever expect. In 1965, I argued that we could win the war by dumping millions of gallons of fuel oil on their rice fields. In 1969, I was a member of the Resistance, refused induction and was classified as a 1-AO, conscientious objector.
       

      by The Plough and The Stars on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 03:23:33 AM PDT

  •  As Kosh would say

    "And so it begins."

    by sam3am on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:46:37 PM PDT

    •  aoeu

      Go Babylon 5!!!

      by TealVeal on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:53:33 PM PDT

      •  Loved that show

        Kosh had a great voice and the way he said that was very affecting.

        by SisTwo on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:08:21 PM PDT

  •  Its called People Power.

    And its finally happening here.  And the Karl Rove's of the world cannot stop us.

    by ztaurus on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:32:31 PM PDT

•  I went to one in Marlboro, MA

  and posted some impressions in a brief and relatively vitriol-free blog entry.

  JP
  http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

  by jurassicpork on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:02:55 PM PDT

•  Durham, NC

  I stopped counting around 250 people.  More than 330 RSVP'd and I wouldn't be surprised if that was close to accurate.  The vigil was on a busy streetcorner downtown, and passing traffic was largely either bewildered or supportive.

  by libdevil on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:03:50 PM PDT

  •  Durham, NC

    I would say the crowd was definitely around 350-400 based on extrapolation. I counted 2 of the 8 sides and there were 50 each side which would put it at roughly 400.

    I was very pleasantly surprised by the turnout.  If the other 2000 sites did half as well we would be looking at several hundred thousand total turnout.

    I'll post my crappy phone pics later.

    by Gryn on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:44:22 PM PDT

  •  quiet vigil and poem in Durham, NC

    Our vigil was at our usual "peace n protest corner" at Brightleaf Square near downtown, a busy intersection. We were surprised at the turnout.  We had four very full corners, and one activist counted (if I understand correctly) 121 people on my corner alone.

    This vigil in Durham was the largest I've seen since before the war started.  It was also the quietest one I've been to in a long, long while.  People were somber and thoughtful with many candles and an interesting variety of signs.  The most noise was from vehicles passing through the intersection, and one motorcyclist who seemed intent on blasting us with as much noise and exhaust as possible.  Occasional beeps of support. Mostly very respectful and curious.  I didn't notice any counter protest, but one motorist closed their rear window as they sat at the light. [What did he expect?  That grieving protesters would through themselves through the window?  There wasn't even much verbal dissent for him to protect himself from.]  Lots of news photogs and a couple talking heads making the scene. A few cops in the area, but no heliocopter this time. Very little conversation until afterwards.  Like I said, very quiet.

    The makeup of the crowd was definitely more mainstream than previous peace gatherings. I did seem some familiar faces from different circles of my life.  Quite a few parents with chidren.  One man wearing a United We Stand Tshirt and a somber face.  Several men who seemed to be foreign tourists, which was interesting--they were there but not necessarily participating.  My husband commented that Cindy Sheehan has made people comfortable with protest again.  It's become a mother's protest, the average person's demand for answers.

    Whoever organized the event did a nice job.  There was an opening poem-and-response read (which we missed, being late).  Then after 45 minutes of silence, we were lead in singing Where Have All the Flowers Gone?  My voice faded in and out with tears, but the woman leading us by megaphone was strong throughout.  

    Amazing, that even when the vigil was almost over, people STILL kept arriving.  More and more people.  It felt good to see those upper middle classers mixing it up with the rest of us. Not who you'd usually see at a rally.  I missed the  African-American faces, though. Only a few couples out of 30% + of Durham.

    We were reminded that peace vigils continue on that corner every Saturday, noon to 1.  Until the war comes to an end.  

    I quote from the sheet passed out:
    The poem is from Poets Against the War.  It is written by Rita Dove, U.S. Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995. ...

    UMOJA:EACH OF US COUNTS
    by Rita Dove

    One went the way of water,
    one crumpled under stone;
    one climbed the air but plunged through fire,
    one fought the fear alone.

    Remember us, though we are gone.

    A star flares on an epaulet,
    a ball rolls in harm's way;
    the glowing lone onscreen goes flat,
    an anonymous bullet strays---

    Remember us! Do not forget!

    One lays slathered in garlands,
    one left only a smear;
    one cracked a joke, smiled, then shrugged
    to show he didn't care.

    Do not forget that we were here.

    Do those who failed still miss the wind,
    that sweet breath from the sky?
    Do they still covet rock and moss
    or the swift, hard blink of the lizard's eye?

    We walk on water, we are written on air.

    Let us honor the lost, the snatched, the relinquished,
    those vanquished by glory, muted by shame.
    Stand up in the silence they've left and listen:
    those absent ones, unknown and unnamed--

            remember!

    their whispers fill the arena.

    by JOyODurham on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:55:40 PM PDT

•  Candlelight Vigils in Pittsburgh, PA

  My daughter and I attended two vigils in the eastern section of Pittsburgh, Pa.  The first had 569 registered participants as of early evening and I would say that there were probably that many there.  Some media showed up and we had a very brief speech from a Gold Star Families for Peace mom who lives here and is a friend of Cindy Sheehan.  As she spoke, someone was holding a picture of her son, who was killed in Iraq.  Very moving.  

  Then we went to a second vigil just about a mile away and there were 96 people registered for that. It was breaking up just about the time we got there.  

  At both places there were lots of folks honking their car horns in support.

  We were very glad that we went.

  by AyeOchMam on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:04:20 PM PDT

  •  I was there!

    The weather was beautiful.  It was an evening of peace - and you can't do much better than that these days.

    by dayvoe on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:03:16 PM PDT

•  Westborough, Mass.

  About 50-60 people in this smallish exurb of Boston. People of all ages...Social, but reverent group.

  In Massachusetts, this sort of vigil has the feeling of "preaching to the choir"...but I'm very glad to see so many people showing up in my hometown of Cincinnati.  Way to go, Red States!

  by beckperson on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:04:27 PM PDT

•  300+ people in Madison, Wisconsin

  And that is at only one location (Olin Park). There was another big one downtown, too. After the speeches in the park, people flooded up to line the main road with their candles. Many honks of support ensued.

  by marmoset on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:04:33 PM PDT

  •  More details

    Madison, Wisconsin (Olin Park)

    Close to 400 people at Olin Park 1-2 miles southeast of the State Capitol.

    There was another vigil at the State Capitol, likely with more than that.

    Several people spoke, incl some moms of troops. It was respectful and quiet, relaxed. Most had candles. Many had those 'AMERICA STANDS WITH CINDY' signs.

    An American flag backed the microphone. A woman came to the mike and led the crowd in 'America The Beautiful.'

    As it got darker, we went and stood along John Nolen Dr - one of the main drags into downtown, 6 lanes.

    We lined the median and the curb on the inbound side, with candles. Many, many honks, thumbs up and V/peace signs and raised fists. No negative gestures or comments that I saw.

    Now I continue to attempt to figure out how to download photos off my phone. . .

    Where's the report from the State Capitol in Madison ?

    by RobertInWisconsin on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:57:33 PM PDT

    •  About 200 at the Square

      ..but I'm a lousy estimator. Could have been more.

      Pretty subdued, certainly more a vigil than a protest. Lots of 'AMERICA STANDS WITH CINDY' signs, some singing (Art Paul Schlosser led a few with his guitar.)

      Things moved over to the Monona Terrace at the end of MLK boulevard after about 8 o'clock.

      by Mauricio Babilonia on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:34:48 PM PDT

      •  400, actually

        according to the State Journal (local paper)

        by Mauricio Babilonia on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 02:34:57 PM PDT

    •  Photos Madison WI

      I have photos of vigil at Olin Park in Madison at my blog: http://scoutprime.blogspot.com/

      by deer13 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:54:58 PM PDT

      •  THANK YOU!

        Great photos

        by RobertInWisconsin on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 07:46:39 AM PDT

•  Milwaukee Lakefront

  I just returned from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin lakefront vigil. There may have been as many as a thousand participants lining both sides of Lincoln Memorial Drive north of the Viet Nam War Memorial on our lakefront, a near full moon rising over the lake tonight. Hundreds of cars rolled past, many sounding their horns in support. News cameras from local CBS and ABC affilliates. My roomie, a Navy vet and another friend joined me to attend. One of the signs said that our killed now number 1,858. I was reminded of the late sixties when my older brothers were overseas in Viet Nam and how it frightened my mother. Participating in this was something, was better than nothing, but it doesn't feel like enough.

  by NealB on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:04:42 PM PDT

  •  Agreed

    it was great but . . . it must continue; it took years of protests to get us out of 'Nam -- and we can do so with faster communication via the 'Net now.  But we still have to get out in person!

    So upthread, it's suggested that there be such vigils every Wednesday night.  Next week, down by the war memorial where the lake bends around, ain'a?

    by Cream City on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:22:51 PM PDT

    •  Great idea!

      Every Wednesday - or at least monthly, the 3d Wed of every month ?

      We need to keep this going

      by RobertInWisconsin on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:41:42 PM PDT

      •  Get to moveon.org

        with this idea?  Monthly is probably a better idea -- although it may pick up even more once students are back on campuses (as I recall from the '60s).

        by Cream City on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 11:08:26 PM PDT

•  Nashville, Tennessee

  I estimate about 300 people in the rain.  We started off on the portico of the Parthenon, under cover.  A Parks employee came and told us that public gatherings were not allowed in that area.  One person in the crowd started to object.  A woman quickly stepped in and reminded everyone that it was a peaceful vigil and we needed to comply peacefully with the park's policy, so she led us out into the rain.  I don't know who she is, but she was terrific.  Thank you.

  by illinifan17 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:04:57 PM PDT

  •  It was wet, indeed

    Channel 17 news estimated about 350 participants, which, considering the amount of rain, is very impressive.

    by AnglRdr on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:46:35 PM PDT

•  Nashville, Tennessee

  I estimate about 300 people in the rain.  We started off on the portico of the Parthenon, under cover.  A Parks employee came and told us that public gatherings were not allowed in that area.  One person in the crowd started to object.  A woman quickly stepped in and reminded everyone that it was a peaceful vigil and we needed to comply peacefully with the park's policy, so she led us out into the rain.  I don't know who she is, but she was terrific.  Thank you.

  by illinifan17 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:07:47 PM PDT

•  About 15 in Portland to choose from

  I'm going across the street from my house to Berkeley Park.  When I last looked 48 were signed up; when I signed up there were 30.  Gotta go find some candles!

  by Molly M on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:09:35 PM PDT

  •  Which Portland?

    BiPM will tell you there's more than one!

    by drobnox on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:36:31 PM PDT

    •  Sorry, the left coast Portland

      We had about 80 show up and some who just parked or stopped while they were walking.  Only one big diesel truck with a young man - who should have been wtih his recruiter - shouting pro-bush stuff.  Lots and lots of honks, thumbs-up, waves, etc.  Felt pretty good out there.

      by Molly M on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:47:06 PM PDT

      •  I'd estimate 100-150 at SE 82nd in Portland, OR

        82nd is a major north-south artery on the east side of "Little Beirut", and owing to a nearby freeway being nearly halted due to an accident a LOT of people had bailed off and were driving by.  Many, many supportive whoops, honks, peace signs and waves.  I only saw one "finger of hostility".  :)

        Very diverse crowd.  Several people with young kids and dogs.  After about an hour of lining the block and waving to traffic, we moved to the nearby armed forces recruiting center (in the strip mall across the way).  We sang/hummed "All we are saying... is give peace a chance" a dozen-odd times, placed a few "Portland stands with Cindy" signs and candles in front of the center (I wasn't sure how I felt about that, as far as how it would be interpreted, and didn't directly participate), then a few of the organizers gave words of thanks.

        I would've liked to go back and stay by the busy road again for a while longer, but things pretty much dissolved after that.  I encountered another vigil on my way home, and honked long and approvingly.

        All in all, very positive, very peaceful, and felt great!

        by spurdy on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:23:13 PM PDT

  •  100-150 at 15th and NE Alberta...

    ...in front of the Alberta Co-op, which (fortunately) sold candles.

    Almost no Bushies, a LOT of support from drivers, including the crew of Portland FD Engine 24.

    by varro on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 02:57:06 AM PDT

•  600 or more in Austin!

  I don't know how many.  I'm lousy at crowd counts.  But it was an awesome scene.  

  Somebody better that me will fill you in and hopefully post some pics.

  It looked incredible.

  -s

  by sasmo on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:10:00 PM PDT

  •  Holy shit. n/t

    by socratic on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:18:05 PM PDT

  •  Neighborhood group in Austin

    45 or so people met on Cherrywood green for a neighborhood vigil.  It was good to see my neighbors-- a minister from Asbury Church was there, along with so many neighborhood activists who have devoted their lives to worthy causes.  Lots of kids and dogs, too.

    by pedant on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:20:05 PM PDT

  •  750 had signed up on MoveOn, was easily that many

    It was a beautiful, almost-full moon night on the pedestrian bridge over Town Lake. Could see the bats take flight in the distance around sunset. Right after the candles were lit, though, a big breeze came up and we struggled to keep them lit. I took comfort that Cindy has begun to change the wind of America on this war....

    by TxTiger on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:58:39 PM PDT

    •  Counter Protesters?

      I caught a little of the news "Live at 9" and one reporter reporting from there was practically drowned out by someone yelling "Go Home!"

      Was there much of a counter-protest from Bush-supporters or war-supporters or just Cindy-haters?
      

      by Spryboy on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 12:15:57 PM PDT

      •  No counter protesters that I saw

        Because this was a well-used pedestrian bridge, there were people passing through on their bikes or on foot who were not there for the vigil. A couple of guys on bikes who were having trouble getting through the crowd made loud remarks as they passed through (the group at that moment was more or less quietly gathered) about how they "didn't know this was going on, ex-cuuuse me." They were a little obnoxious, but if there were counter-protests, they were far, far away and very quiet.

        by TxTiger on Fri Aug 19, 2005 at 11:21:55 AM PDT

  •  There were a little over 100

    people (rough count) in Little Stacy Park.  We just heard about it late and were really surprised at the turnout.  It is so heartening to see other people with our sense of this unfolding national tragedy.  All ages, all kinds of people...... We are not alone in our assessment of events.

    by Geonomist on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:03:07 PM PDT

•  Ruskin, Florida-20 people

  There were a number of vigils set up in Tampa so a group of us decided to hold an event in the rural part of the county (Hillsborough). We stood on the Tamiami Trail in Ruskin. Nearly all traffic was supportive. Lots of positive honks. Several people stopped their cars and joined us.

  by kmccook on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:12:08 PM PDT

•  Daytona Beach reporting! Sir!

  What timing - I just got home from the Daytona Beach vigil and your open thread was right there waiting for me. :-) There were 66 registered for our location and the actual turnout was pretty close to that. The rally took place at a major intersection here, in front of a Steak-n-Shake (which played a small but crucial role towards the end of the event, as I will explain later). This was my first public rally of any sort. I was a bit nervous since I didn't know what to expect from the other participants as well as passersby, but it turned out to be a very positive experience. The rallyers were very enthusiastic and the vast majority of people driving by who acknowledged us were supportive. In fact, I counted only three negative comments out of a couple hundred. One guy called us idiots; honestly dude, is that the best you could do? Someone else shouted "Go, Bush!" to which a couple in our crowd responded, "Go AWAY, Bush!" A third drove by really slowly while holding a copy of a book which appeared to be titled "Islam and Terrorism" against his front windshield. We weren't sure what that was all about, but as a librarian I suppose I should at least be glad the guy reads books. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he only bought it to impress his friends. LOL. The best comment came from someone who thanked us for what we were doing, and said he wished he could be with us. We invited him on over, but to no avail. The local news (WESH 2, for those of you in the Central Florida area) was out, as was our great left-leaning newspaper, the Daytona Beach News-Journal. I took about a dozen pictures, which I'll send to MoveOn shortly since they requested anyone taking pics to share them. Afterwards, I and several others rewarded ourselves with delicious, frosty milkshakes from... why, where else but the Steak-n-Shake! A great event, in my opinion. And not just because of the milkshakes. :-)

  by pattyp on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:13:01 PM PDT

•  I should add the Town Lake Virgil!

  as there were at least eight other vigil sites in Austin.  And the Town Lake vigil competed with "Blues on the Green", a music event at Zilker Park.

  by sasmo on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:13:30 PM PDT

•  Columbus OH

  We had 200+ at 161 & High in Worthington, with alot of support from the passing traffic. There were some anti-peace folks, but most of them seemed to be more upset by the inconvenience of the crowd than anything else....probably not more than a dozen or so.

  There were 8-10 other sites listed in the Columbus area, but Worthington is one of the old, established Republican areas, so the response received was gratifying.

  by lpettit4662 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:15:03 PM PDT

•  250 in Portsmouth NH

  250 peacefully gathered in Market Square in the heart of Portsmouth, NH. It was great be there with so many friends in neighbors, all in support of Cindy.  Lots of positive support from folks passing by.   One lone Rebpug had the nerve to show up with a large sign saying something about "Clinton Lied...".  He met with plenty of heated debate. Fortunately, his sign was easily blocked by a very nice, large peace flag.

  CINDY, I kept thingking about you as I stood there with my candle. I kept thinking of all you have been through, and all that you have taught us. One Mother can be very powerful.  But LOTS of MOTHERS (and Fathers!) can be even more POWERFUL!

  Thank you for inspiring all of us.
  

  by kport on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:17:35 PM PDT

•  Bethlehem, PA

  Over 100 in attendance at a busy intersection in our relatively small city.  This was one of about ten vigils in the greater Lehigh Valley/Upper Bucks area.

  The cars that drove by were 99.9999% supportive.  We were amazed to get thumbs up and beeps and waves from young guys in baseball caps driving Jeeps, middle-aged guys in minivans, young female college students with ponytails, moms with kids in car seats, ambulance and truck drivers...it was amazing and very heartening.

  Got local television coverage, though it was disappointing to see that they interspliced the footage of the vigil and interviews with participants with an interview with the local Republican party chair.  He gave the usual tired spiel: "We didn't ask for this war, they attacked us, we gotta fight them there so we don't have to fight them here, etc. etc."  

  by hillaryk on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:19:02 PM PDT

•  Milwaukee WI Lakefront

  I just returned from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin lakefront vigil. There may have been as many as a thousand participants lining both sides of Lincoln Memorial Drive north of the Viet Nam War Memorial on our lakefront, a near full moon rising over the lake tonight. Hundreds of cars rolled past, many sounding their horns in support. News cameras from local CBS and ABC affilliates. My roomie, a Navy vet and another friend joined me to attend. One of the signs said that our killed now number 1,858. I was reminded of the late sixties when my older brothers were overseas in Viet Nam and how it frightened my mother. Participating in this was something, was better than nothing, but it doesn't feel like enough.

  by NealB on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:19:29 PM PDT

•  About 500 in New Haven Connecticut!

  Large but peaceful, very moving gathering around the fountain/flagpole on the center of the green. I'll send actual pictures to both the Crawford Peace House and to President Bush.

  Peace All!
  

  by slouisemay on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:19:44 PM PDT

  •  My attention has been elsewhere....

    so wasn't completely sure about attending. Boy, was I wrong.

    As I searched for a parking space, I was amazed by the steady stream of people heading down to the public square.

    Amazed to see 400-500 of us there. Kids and dogs, and all my old Dean friends.

    Wow!

    by DeanFan84 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:09:34 PM PDT

•  Plano, TX (north suburb of Dallas)

  A count of 346 in Plano, TX (I hope I got that right).  There were at least 5 vigils planned for the Dallas area, additional ones in Fort Worth.

  I was strongly encouraged about how many people said they had plans to go to Crawford this weekend, asking me what to bring/what to expect since they had heard that I had gone last weekend.

  Flyers were handed out about the march in DC and I heard a number of people comment that they plan on going.  

  Please let this be the beginning of the end of "sit down and shut up" era.

  by sele on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:19:57 PM PDT

  •  Plano, TX- Incredible

    I am a 16 year old high school student in Plano, Texas, and I attended this incredible event! I couldn't believe the amount of people- I didn't know there were this many people against the war in Texas, let alone Plano.

    by Lordsmert on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:36:01 PM PDT

•  Houston, Texas!

  Repeat from other thread

  Believe it or not, there was a great turnout here in the city of the Bush dynasty.  About 150+ protesters ringing all the way around a trio of fountains on a main roundabout near Rice University, so that there was maximum exposure to cars coming from all directions.  It is hot and humid here tonight, but people kept coming to join us as dusk started to fall - cars honked their horns in support with drivers giving us the thumbs-up and victory signs - some even going around the circle twice in order to honk again and wave at us.  There was only one man who flipped us off, which was funny because the other cars honked him out of the way.

  There were several other vigils in other parts of town.  Another one of about 100 people gathered on a street that creates a bridge overpass above Highway 59, one of the busiest highways in Houston.  On my way home, I drove down to the next bridge street overpass so that I could look across to the one where the protestors were, as if from the perspective of cars approaching from the highway below.  It was beautiful - a GIANT sign that clearly said CINDY and a sea of twinkling candles, all looking down on the commuters who were looking up to see the message: Bring our children home.

  by The New Politeness on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:20:02 PM PDT

  •  Yeah Houston!!!

    I was there too!  I got there just after 7 pm.  I forgot my signs (whoops, my first activist event, but I made up for it w/ extra candles and matches that I happily shared!), but was given one and offered others - ah if only I had more arms!  Great crowd gathered!  Various echelons of society - see, America CAN stand together even when different.  I left just before 9:30, but had a great time.  Being on the Mecom roundabout with the beautiful fountains (for once not sudsed) - great backdrop for the rising moon.  As said before, LOTS of positive honking of horns and waving of hands in the 'peace' symbol.  And the METRO bus drivers waved and smiled and honked every time they looped by!  I found it interesting that as darkness fell, the HPD presence was making itself very visible.  Not sure what they were expecting...  A very nice night - the humidity abated and the moon was just gorgeous.  Not to mention, the smiles and open minds with a common goal!  I kind of wish the vigils in Houston were staggered so that it could have been a 'progressive vigil'.  Also think it would be cool to have a candlelight peace walk for some distance on a balmy Houston night (if this happens, I am packing water!).  The overall response from the motorists was very positive.  I hope Cindy is able to breathe easier knowing we all have her back!
    Thanks to everyone!!!  Let's do it again!  

    by Elspeth R on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:26:00 PM PDT

•  Got a head ache, am tired from 10 days with

  grandkids, but then I think about what Cindy has been enduring, so I'm leaving right now!

  by CalDoc on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:20:39 PM PDT

•  If you have time freep this poll

  If you have time - freep this poll, it seems to me to be under a local wingnut attack. So, if you have time could you take this poll asking wether we support Cindy. It's local, so not a huge deal but still appreciated.

  http://www.newsnet5.com/news/4865593/detail.html

  by czawadzki on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:21:01 PM PDT

  •  done.

    what amazes me about that site is that it is supposedly local news, but looks completely generic.  after scrutinizing the whole page, i still can't tell what community it "serves."

    makes me wonder if the people who provide the content know themselves, or care.

    by zeke L on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 08:20:49 PM PDT

    •  Local news is no longer local

      It's owned by a larger conglomerate and streamlined for profit. Welcome to the future of news.

      by McJagger on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 10:35:39 PM PDT

      •  Word

        This is the key. to a lot of stuff, including the 06 elections.  I don't know much about alternative/local radio and thank God for the internet.  We need to get this word out.  thank God also for Air America.  I get it on the internet.  But the internet is not easy for some people to access.  We need better signals.  The one in Chicago is pathetic.  And I'd like to see Air America offer at least an hour to "local news."  

        by xanthe on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 04:41:38 AM PDT

  •  Done

    Maybe if they announce it on their 6 o clock news they can say something like, "And in our News 5 online poll 85% of you say you support the peace vigil." LOL That would be sweet. I think it's at something like 64% supporting Cindy and the peace vigils at present.

    by sendel42 on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:37:42 PM PDT

  •  done, now yes 51%, no 49%

    by juliesie on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 09:32:36 AM PDT

•  Islans Lake Illinois

  Our little town had over 50 show up. Everyone was so appreciative that this was happening in our own back yard. We all pleadged to keep our group together and growing. All wanted me to  orgainize another vigil and I will!
  I am enrgized.

  by Jean on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:21:33 PM PDT

  •  Go Island Lake!

    Amazing!  I used to live in GOP Heaven:  Barrington..Good for you guys in Island Lake!  Heard there was a good turnout in Palatine....

    by QuarterHorseDem on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:29:42 PM PDT

  •  Go Island Lake!

    Amazing!  I used to live in GOP Heaven:  Barrington..Good for you guys in Island Lake!  Heard there was a good turnout in Palatine....

    by QuarterHorseDem on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 09:33:28 PM PDT

•  600+ people in Pittsburgh

  There were about 10 different vigils in the Pittsburgh area.  I attended the largest; 569 people were registered, but my guess is that there were many more than that.  The others had from 226 on down for a total of over 1000 people registered.  It was a fantastic sight to see, and many, many people honked in support.  There were no counter-protesters that I saw; 1 man driving by did yell out that we were "clueless and that his 6 year old had more sense than we did", but that was it.  Cindy Sheehan has started a movement....let it never be said that 1 person can't make a difference!

  by LisaZ on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:21:40 PM PDT

  •  Were you at Blue Slide?

    I was amazed at how many people showed up so quickly. I left when it was getting dark because I had my son with me, but drove by Forbes & Braddock. There were lots of people there lining the street with their candles. Pretty fantastic!

    by Auntie Mame on Thu Aug 18, 2005 at 07:10:22 AM PDT

•  120 in Nashua, NH

  We met in front of City Hall and marched around the bust of JFK that marks the first stop in his 1960 NH primary campaign.

  I also got this letter into the Nashua Telegraph yesterday. I figured most people had already heard the antiwar angle, so I went for the populist angle:

  Three cheers for Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother camped out in front of President Bush's ranch. Maybe she can penetrate the bubble around our clueless leader.

  As we saw during his 2004 campaign rally in Nashua, real people can't get close enough to ask President Bush any hard questions. His public appearances are carefully managed so that only supporters get in. His staff screens all questions in advance.

  If she is allowed to talk to him, I hope Mrs. Sheehan will remind the president that he works for us.
  

  by Pericles on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:23:14 PM PDT

•  One more note from Princeton

  We sang a few songs, one of which felt particularly resonant... the lyrics were We are the ones we've been waiting for!.

  I never did get up the nerve to call back the reporter from the local am station yesterday (maybe next time, though, and thanks for the encouragement to those who offered it), but word of mouth, posters, and the internet coupled with people's growing sense of grief and outrage did the job.  My seven-year-old niece Taylor, visiting from Maryland with her mom and sister, said it was one of the best days of her life.  "I don't really understand it all with my head," she told me, "but I could really feel it in my heart.

  img src="

  Let's hope tonight is the turning of a tide...  {waves at Juan upthread}

  by Shelley on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:23:59 PM PDT

  •  oops, sorry, how DOES the img source tag go? n/t

     img src="

    Does that work any better?
    

    by Shelley on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:28:52 PM PDT

  •  howdy neighbor!

    you have to do it like this:
    < img src="http://whatever.com/yourimage.jpg" >
    but without the spaces after and before the < and >, respectively.

    by jmelli on Wed Aug 17, 2005 at 07:47:40 PM PDT

•  400 in Houston

  There were about 200 people at the fountain. Eighty people each on two bridges across the SW Freeway.

  There was a lot of support from passersby. Only two negative responses. One per