{news} Fw: Cindy Sheehan: "The Secret Service is Trying to Intimidate Us"

[Justine McCabe]

As you may know, Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan who was killed in 
combat on 4/4/04 in Sadr City five days after arriving in Iraq, is holding a 
vigil/protest at the vacation home of President George W. Bush in Crawford, 
Texas.  She refuses to leave until Bush speaks to her.

Justine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nancy Allen" <nallen at prexar.com>
To: <peace at gp-us.org>
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 7:39 PM
Subject: [GPUS-PAX] Cindy Sheehan: "The Secret Service is Trying to 
Intimidate Us"


This came to the Maine P&J list...you probably all have seen it...nancy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Ciarrocca" <mailjoec at gwi.net>
To: <mepeaceandjustice at javelina.psouth.net>

Cindy Sheehan: "The Secret Service is Trying to Intimidate Us"
Afterdowningstreet.org
Sunday 7th August 2005 (06h18)
Cindy Sheehan called After Downing Street moments ago at 10 p.m. ET to
report that the Secret Service is trying to intimidate her and members
of Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and
Veterans for Peace into leaving their protest near Bush's Crawford,
Texas ranch.

This morning Cindy led dozens of protesters as close as they could get
to the ranch; they were stopped by local police about five miles away.
Cindy and others plan to stay there throughout Bush's five-week August
vacation until he agrees to meet with her and other family members of
soldiers killed in Iraq and answer their questions about the war.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, however, the Secret Service has
been telling protesters that if they stay there they may be hit by
Secret Service vehicles. Cindy says, "They've told us this at least ten
times. There isn't much room between the side of the road and the fence,
and they go zooming by far over the speed limit." Cindy reports the
Secret Service already ran a mother and her six year-old off the road.
She believes the Secret Service's actions are a clear attempt to coerce
her and the other protesters into leaving.

Cindy and others are asking to meet with the Secret Service and local
police to ensure the safety of everyone involved. In the meantime, she
asks that anyone who can contact the media to alert them to the
situation.

If you are able to do this, media contact information can be found here.
Please politely let them know what's been happening with the Secret
Service, and encourage them to continue covering Cindy's efforts to meet
with President Bush.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/1208#comment

Update from Celeste Zappala, Co-Founder of Gold Star Families for Peace,
on Crawford

I have received the following email from Celeste Zappala, co-founder of
Gold Star Families for Peace. She asked that I post it on Dailykos and
to thank everyone for their support.

I have just spoken to Cindy Sheehan at 5:05 pm. Her message:

"Today is the begining of the end of the occupation of Iraq." She is
feeling strong, people have been bringing her food and water. The police
have been polite. She has decided to stay on the Prairie Chapel Road,
which is one mile from the Ranch, until George Bush meets with her and
tells the truth. She invites anyone who can to join her during the month
of August for as long as they can. She urges them to bring camping gear.
Also, there are two caravans coming in from Louisiana and from Dayton,
Ohio now.

Cindy says she knows from her travels that "people are fed up with this
war and want to do something to stop it."

Cindy asks that those who want to lend support to send donations to the
Crawford Peace House which has been generously offering hospitialtiy.

Code Pink is sending out a national call for its members to have a
hunger strike until George Bush has an honest meeting with Cindy.
Cindy's sister Dede has joined that hunger strike. Please keep Cindy and
all of our folks in prayer. This is a stand for the honor and memory of
our kids and the soul of our nation.

peace be with you, Celeste Zappala Co-founder, Gold Star Families for
Peace Mother of Sgt Sherwood Baker, KIA 4/26/04

Update [2005-8-6 18:47:46 by NYBri]:

More from Cindy via Celeste.

JUST NOW-6:13 p.m.

Cindy just called again.

TWO PEOPLE CAME OUT FROM THE RANCH TO TALK TO HER: JOE HAGEN, ASSISTANT
WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, AND STEVEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

They told Cindy, George Bush really believed there were weapons of mass
destruction, Saddam was a threat, the war in Iraq is making America
safer, we are fighting in Iraq so they we don't have to fight terrorists
here, and George Bush sincerely cares about the loss of the soldiers and
their families. They had a twenty-five minute discussion as Cindy
refuted these tired arguments, and reminded the men that she had met
Bush last June and she had felt disrespected and belittled. She said to
them "You are intelligent men, how can you believe what you are saying?"

Cindy will continue to wait for an honest discussion with George Bush.

For my part, I am proud that Cindy is standing up against these dreadful
lies and the Bush ideology that has blinded so many from reality and
logic. It's as if they keep saying these things it will become true. As
Cindy pointed out to the representatives, since our kids were killed,
the Downing Street memo and the 9/11 Commission report have been
released which refutes these false claims. Yet here we are on August 6,
2005 and the President's men are still trying to convince American
Mothers that their kids died for WMD and 9/11 links. It is not only
insulting, it is madness. I will keep you posted as I talk to Cindy.




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