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For complete archives and new posts, visit the new Washington Photo Journal.
The United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War : Photo Album
Please visit PhotoShelter for an album of photos from The United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Daisy Merkowitz and her mother Molly Savitz from Washington, D.C., hold a sign with a war "piggy" prior to the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
A view from beside the stage at the rally prior to the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Jane Fonda speaks to what she said was her first anti-war rally for the first time in 34 years prior to the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
The effigy of Jane Fonda, hung by counter-protesters from Free Republic at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War. The sign reads "Jane Fonda American Traitor Bitch."
Kristinn Taylor of Free Republic counter-protests behind a barrier fence at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
The United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War is led by a front row of people that included Sean Penn, Jesse Jackson, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins
Jim Nichols and his husband Victor Peters, both of Washington, D.C., display peace symbols at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Musicians march at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Protesters march along Independence Avenue at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
A view from beside the stage at the rally prior to the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Jane Fonda speaks to what she said was her first anti-war rally for the first time in 34 years prior to the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
The effigy of Jane Fonda, hung by counter-protesters from Free Republic at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War. The sign reads "Jane Fonda American Traitor Bitch."
Kristinn Taylor of Free Republic counter-protests behind a barrier fence at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
The United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War is led by a front row of people that included Sean Penn, Jesse Jackson, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins
Jim Nichols and his husband Victor Peters, both of Washington, D.C., display peace symbols at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Musicians march at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Protesters march along Independence Avenue at the United for Peace and Justice March on Washington to End the Iraq War.
Labels: iraq, LGBT in the News, news, photo album, Protests
posted by Joe on Sunday, January 28, 2007 (updated url) :
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Jeff Gannon at Rally for Families, Becomes Liberal Gannon Fodder
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When I saw Jeff Gannon at first on Sunday, I did a double take. Oh sure I've seen him around town before, specifically outside of the Tom DeLay support dinner I covered back in May, but this time he was literally standing right next to me when I glanced to my right, and he caught me off guard. "Oh, It's Jeff Gannon," I thought, "Big deal." It was only later in the day when he began calling out to protesters across the street that I felt his presence at the rally was photo-newsworthy.
Well apparently my fellow liberal bloggers are so fascinated by this simple photo of Gannon that they can't help but make Gannon-fodder out of him. "He's fat." "He must be cruising." "He loves war." All our Base Are Belong to Him. I suppose this is the political discourse in the age of the Internet, much like Revolutionary politics consisted of slandering opponents over a pint of ale. Personally, I'm kinda sick of it.
I try to approach everything I do fairly and with an open mind. Let me tell you what I observed. Gannon was apparently alone. He didn't appear to know the young man holding the sign. I never saw him cruising. He stood quietly at the front barrier of the rally, applauded at the speakers, and shook hands of the handful of people who came up to greet him.
After the rally ended, he walked behind the stage to the sidewalk across the street from the 30 or so anti-war protesters, and began taking pot-shots from the gallery of protesters, many of whom were dressed like anarchists (as opposed to the rally on Saturday which brought out every corner of the mainstream). Gannon smiled, waved, and shouted, "Thank you all for coming!" several times. Sure he was a smartass when he said it, but he was saying it to people who were just screaming the nastiest things to him that I'd prefer not to print on this journal.
I just don't get why people care about Gannon. Really, I mean here's a guy who was an accidental tourist to the White House and he got caught asking lame questions. I'm not convinced that he was sleeping with anyone inside, nor that anyone in the White House even knew of his alleged past. Gannon surely isn't the first questioner to suck-up in his queries to the White House. And he's certainly not the first amateur journalist trying to do something in the age of new media. He may be a symptom of media manipulation by this administration, but he's not worth getting all worked up over, is he?
I suppose the photo was an easy target to ridicule Gannon and the 400 or so people who attended the "Rally to Honor the Families of the Military." It sure is easy to grab a photo and paste it next to a sentence or two of insults toward military widows and call it a blog. Bloggers who make a decent commentary or good satire I can appreciate. But sometimes comments from visitors are unworthy of the decent people we are supposed to be.
When I arrived at the rally, the stage was filled with families who had lost a loved one in this war: someone's father, identical twin brother, son, daughter... Many attendees have a family member at war right now. The rally was filled with genuine and kind people. There was a lot of pain in their eyes. These families of dead service members hurt as much as Cindy Sheehan, and may need something stronger than themselves to cling to. Some parents may have only a triangularly folded flag to cry into. Some of these parents worry about their children every moment of the day, and in their nightmares. You may not agree with their positions, but these are your fellow countrymen in a time of war. They have given their flesh and blood to our country, and they deserve our respect.
LCpl Bryan Patrick Kelly died in Iraq. I shook the hand of his father, Mr. Patrick Kelly, after he told me his son's name for my notes. And I said thank you and that I was sorry for his loss. Mr. Kelly loves his son and he loves his country, and I can see how he and others who support our actions in Iraq may have genuine anger at many in the left, like the anarchists who reportedly burned an American flag at their counter-protest across the street, or the Left's extreme speakers who honor communists and anti-Americans.
Why didn't progressives come out in droves to an event called "Rally to Honor the Families of the Military?" I survived. Truly, progressives would have felt uncomfortable with the speakers and the message of "stay the course." Some speakers were very angry with Cindy Sheehan especially.
But what if 500 progressives had come out to support the troops, but refused to applaud at a "stay the course" or anti-Sheehan message. What if 500 for-the-troops-but-against-the-war people had come to the rally and started quiet personal conversations with the people there, asking them why they support the war? No preaching. No name calling. No "Bush sucks" T-shirts. No trying to change minds on the spot. Just quiet personal real conversations. Or even to show up and say "Hon, I am so sorry you are worried about your son every day. I have such a tough time supporting the administration, but I want to let you know I want your son's mission to be successful and for him to come home safely."
One thing I did notice is that the rally for the families was very white, middle aged, military type people. The anti-war rally was all ages, every race but mostly white like the make-up of America, with a lot of different religious representation. And yes, the reports are true. There was no unity in message. But what the march lacked in unity, it made up in size. Surely most of these people were on the same track, and will likely bring that message back home.
So Gannon sightings are like the "Runaway Bride" of the blogosphere. There you go. There's two new pictures of Gannon. Do we all feel more satisfied or are we tired of it yet? There was so much pain on display in Washington this weekend. When will we get away from this shit-for-discourse and begin having real conversations with people?
Forget the paparrazzi photos. Visit my photos of the rallies. I virtually surfed a wave of protesters this weekend to get some cool stuff. If you haven't seen the pictures, visit:
Friday: Camp Casey DC
Saturday: Huge Anti-war March
Sunday: Honor Military Families
Sunday night: Prayer Revival
Monday: Prayer and Disobedience
When I saw Jeff Gannon at first on Sunday, I did a double take. Oh sure I've seen him around town before, specifically outside of the Tom DeLay support dinner I covered back in May, but this time he was literally standing right next to me when I glanced to my right, and he caught me off guard. "Oh, It's Jeff Gannon," I thought, "Big deal." It was only later in the day when he began calling out to protesters across the street that I felt his presence at the rally was photo-newsworthy.
Well apparently my fellow liberal bloggers are so fascinated by this simple photo of Gannon that they can't help but make Gannon-fodder out of him. "He's fat." "He must be cruising." "He loves war." All our Base Are Belong to Him. I suppose this is the political discourse in the age of the Internet, much like Revolutionary politics consisted of slandering opponents over a pint of ale. Personally, I'm kinda sick of it.I try to approach everything I do fairly and with an open mind. Let me tell you what I observed. Gannon was apparently alone. He didn't appear to know the young man holding the sign. I never saw him cruising. He stood quietly at the front barrier of the rally, applauded at the speakers, and shook hands of the handful of people who came up to greet him.
After the rally ended, he walked behind the stage to the sidewalk across the street from the 30 or so anti-war protesters, and began taking pot-shots from the gallery of protesters, many of whom were dressed like anarchists (as opposed to the rally on Saturday which brought out every corner of the mainstream). Gannon smiled, waved, and shouted, "Thank you all for coming!" several times. Sure he was a smartass when he said it, but he was saying it to people who were just screaming the nastiest things to him that I'd prefer not to print on this journal.I just don't get why people care about Gannon. Really, I mean here's a guy who was an accidental tourist to the White House and he got caught asking lame questions. I'm not convinced that he was sleeping with anyone inside, nor that anyone in the White House even knew of his alleged past. Gannon surely isn't the first questioner to suck-up in his queries to the White House. And he's certainly not the first amateur journalist trying to do something in the age of new media. He may be a symptom of media manipulation by this administration, but he's not worth getting all worked up over, is he?
I suppose the photo was an easy target to ridicule Gannon and the 400 or so people who attended the "Rally to Honor the Families of the Military." It sure is easy to grab a photo and paste it next to a sentence or two of insults toward military widows and call it a blog. Bloggers who make a decent commentary or good satire I can appreciate. But sometimes comments from visitors are unworthy of the decent people we are supposed to be.
When I arrived at the rally, the stage was filled with families who had lost a loved one in this war: someone's father, identical twin brother, son, daughter... Many attendees have a family member at war right now. The rally was filled with genuine and kind people. There was a lot of pain in their eyes. These families of dead service members hurt as much as Cindy Sheehan, and may need something stronger than themselves to cling to. Some parents may have only a triangularly folded flag to cry into. Some of these parents worry about their children every moment of the day, and in their nightmares. You may not agree with their positions, but these are your fellow countrymen in a time of war. They have given their flesh and blood to our country, and they deserve our respect.LCpl Bryan Patrick Kelly died in Iraq. I shook the hand of his father, Mr. Patrick Kelly, after he told me his son's name for my notes. And I said thank you and that I was sorry for his loss. Mr. Kelly loves his son and he loves his country, and I can see how he and others who support our actions in Iraq may have genuine anger at many in the left, like the anarchists who reportedly burned an American flag at their counter-protest across the street, or the Left's extreme speakers who honor communists and anti-Americans.
Why didn't progressives come out in droves to an event called "Rally to Honor the Families of the Military?" I survived. Truly, progressives would have felt uncomfortable with the speakers and the message of "stay the course." Some speakers were very angry with Cindy Sheehan especially.
But what if 500 progressives had come out to support the troops, but refused to applaud at a "stay the course" or anti-Sheehan message. What if 500 for-the-troops-but-against-the-war people had come to the rally and started quiet personal conversations with the people there, asking them why they support the war? No preaching. No name calling. No "Bush sucks" T-shirts. No trying to change minds on the spot. Just quiet personal real conversations. Or even to show up and say "Hon, I am so sorry you are worried about your son every day. I have such a tough time supporting the administration, but I want to let you know I want your son's mission to be successful and for him to come home safely."
One thing I did notice is that the rally for the families was very white, middle aged, military type people. The anti-war rally was all ages, every race but mostly white like the make-up of America, with a lot of different religious representation. And yes, the reports are true. There was no unity in message. But what the march lacked in unity, it made up in size. Surely most of these people were on the same track, and will likely bring that message back home.So Gannon sightings are like the "Runaway Bride" of the blogosphere. There you go. There's two new pictures of Gannon. Do we all feel more satisfied or are we tired of it yet? There was so much pain on display in Washington this weekend. When will we get away from this shit-for-discourse and begin having real conversations with people?
Forget the paparrazzi photos. Visit my photos of the rallies. I virtually surfed a wave of protesters this weekend to get some cool stuff. If you haven't seen the pictures, visit:
Friday: Camp Casey DC
Saturday: Huge Anti-war March
Sunday: Honor Military Families
Sunday night: Prayer Revival
Monday: Prayer and Disobedience
Labels: iraq, LGBT in the News, news, Politics, Protests
White House Sidewalk Protest Leads to Arrest of About 370
Link to Washington Post story: White House Sidewalk Protest Leads to Arrest of About 370
My photos are below. Click on the first photo for a larger version.
Crowd Photo
Breaking News Photo: Cindy Sheehan was one of about 340 protesters courting arrest at a civil disobedience demonstration at the White House today, Monday September 26, 2005. Several hundred or more protesters lined Pennsylvania Avenue to protest the administration and the war in Iraq. Hundreds of people sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House, and police warned them three times before making arrests. Pictured above, with a photo of her late son Army Specialist Casey Sheehan draped around her neck, Sheehan was the first to be removed from the sidewalk and escorted to one of several waiting police vehicles.
More photos HERE.
A prayer is held Sunday night at the Interfaith Peace and Justice Revival, part of the anti-war actions scheduled for this weekend. The leader of the prayer, holding the microphone, asked all families of those who have had a family member die in the Iraq war join him in front of the congregation. To the right of him stands Cindy Sheehan.
My photos are below. Click on the first photo for a larger version.
Crowd Photo
Cindy Sheehan Arrested
Breaking News Photo: Cindy Sheehan was one of about 340 protesters courting arrest at a civil disobedience demonstration at the White House today, Monday September 26, 2005. Several hundred or more protesters lined Pennsylvania Avenue to protest the administration and the war in Iraq. Hundreds of people sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House, and police warned them three times before making arrests. Pictured above, with a photo of her late son Army Specialist Casey Sheehan draped around her neck, Sheehan was the first to be removed from the sidewalk and escorted to one of several waiting police vehicles.
More photos HERE.
Interfaith Peace and Justice Revival
A prayer is held Sunday night at the Interfaith Peace and Justice Revival, part of the anti-war actions scheduled for this weekend. The leader of the prayer, holding the microphone, asked all families of those who have had a family member die in the Iraq war join him in front of the congregation. To the right of him stands Cindy Sheehan.
Rally to Honor Military Families
Hundreds of people gathered on the mall today, September 25, 2005 to honor military families and to support our troops.
Patrick Kelly speaks to the rally about his son, Marine LCpl. Bryan Patrick Kelly, who died in Iraq.
Kathy Mongold of Darnestown, MD, attended the rally. Her son is serving in Iraq.
Army Major Chuck Larson of Operation Iraqi Hope, speaks to the rally in front of families with servicemembers who have died in Iraq. Operation Iraqi hope brings packages donated by Americans to Iraqi citizens, in hopes of rebuilding the battered country.
Some rally attendees stained their index fingers blue to honor Iraqis who voted January 30 this year.
G. Gordon Liddy speaks to the rally. Liddy said, "Cindy Sheehan is whoring the memory of her son who gave his life." Liddy was reintroduced after he spoke by William Greene from Rightmarch.com, who called Liddy "a real American hero."
Shortly before the conclusion of the event Marine One, the president's helicopter, flew low and slowly over the National Mall at the site of the rally. President Bush was returning from a briefing at Randolph Air Force Base regarding hurricane Rita.
The Right Brothers, a duo who play "Issue based conservative music" perform "Bush Was Right" to end the rally.
Roughly 50 war protesters countered the rally from across the street. Police kept the rally participants and protesters well away from each other throughout the day. Tensions mounted in the protest area as the rally came to a close, spurred by police response after a handful of protesters walked into the rally area.
About eight police on motorcycles responded to the scene. When asked by me why police presence was called for, Washington Metropolitan Police Lt. N. Galucci, the lead officer on the scene, said the extra police presence was called for by those "higher up" than him. When asked by me why those higher up would increase police presence after only a handful of officers were utilized for most of the peaceful day, he refused to answer.
One man was arrested after his identification was checked and he was found to have an active arrest warrant. Police checked his ID when he offered himself as a witness to an assault, according to Park Police Lt. P.J. Beck. Rose Lopez of Pheonix Arizona said she was standing with the protesters when a few rally participants walked through the protest area, and one spat on her.
Army Major Chuck Larson of Operation Iraqi Hope, speaks to the rally in front of families with servicemembers who have died in Iraq. Operation Iraqi hope brings packages donated by Americans to Iraqi citizens, in hopes of rebuilding the battered country.
Some rally attendees stained their index fingers blue to honor Iraqis who voted January 30 this year.
G. Gordon Liddy speaks to the rally. Liddy said, "Cindy Sheehan is whoring the memory of her son who gave his life." Liddy was reintroduced after he spoke by William Greene from Rightmarch.com, who called Liddy "a real American hero."
Shortly before the conclusion of the event Marine One, the president's helicopter, flew low and slowly over the National Mall at the site of the rally. President Bush was returning from a briefing at Randolph Air Force Base regarding hurricane Rita.
The Right Brothers, a duo who play "Issue based conservative music" perform "Bush Was Right" to end the rally.
Roughly 50 war protesters countered the rally from across the street. Police kept the rally participants and protesters well away from each other throughout the day. Tensions mounted in the protest area as the rally came to a close, spurred by police response after a handful of protesters walked into the rally area.
About eight police on motorcycles responded to the scene. When asked by me why police presence was called for, Washington Metropolitan Police Lt. N. Galucci, the lead officer on the scene, said the extra police presence was called for by those "higher up" than him. When asked by me why those higher up would increase police presence after only a handful of officers were utilized for most of the peaceful day, he refused to answer.
One man was arrested after his identification was checked and he was found to have an active arrest warrant. Police checked his ID when he offered himself as a witness to an assault, according to Park Police Lt. P.J. Beck. Rose Lopez of Pheonix Arizona said she was standing with the protesters when a few rally participants walked through the protest area, and one spat on her.
United for Peace & Justice Anti War March
United for Peace & Justice Anti-War March
September 24, 2005
Washington, D.C.
Randy Bastian, 20, from Freeport, Illinois, marches with Veterans Against the Iraq War. Himself not a veteran, he marched with his sister's boyfriend, a U.S. Marine Corps vet who served from 1985-1991.
Tiffany Burns, from Los Angeles, leads the "Code Pink" contingent in a chant saying, "This is what Democracy looks like."
Ryan Moore, 20, from Des Plains, IL, protests with permanent marker.
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Gold Star Families for Peace
Streetside debate that goes nowhere: Approximately 200 counter-protesters lined one block of Pennsylvania Avenue, separated from the march by metal barriers and a line of police standing with about a five-foot gap between each of them. Here, a war protestor, right, argues briefly with a counter-protester.
Poet Rick Burnley
Cindy Sheehan, mother of humvee mechanic Army Specialist Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq, arrives at Camp Casey for a reunion.
Sheehan, who camped for a month outside President Bush's Crawford residence to demand answers about the war, greets supporters at "Camp Casey DC." Supporters of the original camp packed the camp and traveled the country to spread their message, winding up their bus trips in DC, where the camp was recreated.
On her birthday this year, June 10, Sheehan received this tattoo to commemorate her late son.
On his birthday last year, Carlos Arredondo was waiting with his phone in his yard for a celebratory phone call from his son, Alex, who was serving in Iraq. Instead of a phone call, Carlos watched a government van with three marines pull up to his house. Distraught with the news that Alex was killed in Iraq earlier that day, Carlos set fire to the government van, attempting to kill himself. Carlos said about his son, "He was my American Dream."
Camp Casey DC at dusk
If you liked these pictures, please point your friends to joetresh.com. You can use the e-mail link below to send a link to a friend.
District of Columbia residents Pete Perry, left, and Annie Campbell help construct "Camp Casey" on the National Mall at 14th & Constitution Avenue. The camp is named for humvee mechanic Army Specialist Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq. Sheehan's mother Cindy originated the camp in Crawford, Texas last month during President Bush's month-long August vacation.
The camp is part of a weekend-long series of protests, including a march on Saturday around the White House, which is expected to draw thousands of people.
Gale Goodwin, above, was visiting Washington from Greenville, SC. She and a friend from high school attended the vigil at the White House. The two protested together against the Vietnam war three decades earlier. In recent years she has taken up protest against the war in Iraq. "I've been trying to stop this," she said.
Several families were part of the crowd at the vigil. MoveOn.org volunteers said the vigil drew over 400 people, more than eight times what they originally expected. The vigil took place with four days of planning and promotion.
Nat Parry lights his candle from Vicky Bram (names via Reuters).
Right, Charles Stanford of Washington for three months has been attending two vigils each week at the White House, he said. He updates the number of US deaths in the Iraqi war on his protest sign. Today the count reads "01858."
Spc. Kevin Pannell spoke to people in a counter-protest area where I counted about a dozen protesters representing Free Republic.com. The Associated Press reports Mr. Pannell's views on the vigil.
Vicky Bram
A board chronologically lists the names of service members who have died in the Iraq war, with an overlaying question, "How many more of our children must die?"
Erica Madris from Houston, TX, continued about fifteen minutes after the larger protest ended, making her own direct protest. She moved to Washington recently to "get closer to somewhere I can agitate."
September 24, 2005
Washington, D.C.
Randy Bastian, 20, from Freeport, Illinois, marches with Veterans Against the Iraq War. Himself not a veteran, he marched with his sister's boyfriend, a U.S. Marine Corps vet who served from 1985-1991.
Tiffany Burns, from Los Angeles, leads the "Code Pink" contingent in a chant saying, "This is what Democracy looks like."
Ryan Moore, 20, from Des Plains, IL, protests with permanent marker.
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Gold Star Families for Peace
Streetside debate that goes nowhere: Approximately 200 counter-protesters lined one block of Pennsylvania Avenue, separated from the march by metal barriers and a line of police standing with about a five-foot gap between each of them. Here, a war protestor, right, argues briefly with a counter-protester.
Poet Rick Burnley
I'm a patriot, as you can see,
Got the 'Merican flag on my SUV,
And everything I need to know,
I get from the Limbaugh and O'Reilly show.
I don't waste time readin' the papers,
That's what liberals do.
I get my news predigested,
I don't even have to chew...
Cindy Sheehan, mother of humvee mechanic Army Specialist Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq, arrives at Camp Casey for a reunion.
Sheehan, who camped for a month outside President Bush's Crawford residence to demand answers about the war, greets supporters at "Camp Casey DC." Supporters of the original camp packed the camp and traveled the country to spread their message, winding up their bus trips in DC, where the camp was recreated.
On her birthday this year, June 10, Sheehan received this tattoo to commemorate her late son.
On his birthday last year, Carlos Arredondo was waiting with his phone in his yard for a celebratory phone call from his son, Alex, who was serving in Iraq. Instead of a phone call, Carlos watched a government van with three marines pull up to his house. Distraught with the news that Alex was killed in Iraq earlier that day, Carlos set fire to the government van, attempting to kill himself. Carlos said about his son, "He was my American Dream."
Camp Casey DC at dusk
If you liked these pictures, please point your friends to joetresh.com. You can use the e-mail link below to send a link to a friend.
Camp Casey DC
The camp is part of a weekend-long series of protests, including a march on Saturday around the White House, which is expected to draw thousands of people.
America Stands with Cindy, Vigil at the White House
Gale Goodwin, above, was visiting Washington from Greenville, SC. She and a friend from high school attended the vigil at the White House. The two protested together against the Vietnam war three decades earlier. In recent years she has taken up protest against the war in Iraq. "I've been trying to stop this," she said.
Several families were part of the crowd at the vigil. MoveOn.org volunteers said the vigil drew over 400 people, more than eight times what they originally expected. The vigil took place with four days of planning and promotion.
Nat Parry lights his candle from Vicky Bram (names via Reuters).
Right, Charles Stanford of Washington for three months has been attending two vigils each week at the White House, he said. He updates the number of US deaths in the Iraqi war on his protest sign. Today the count reads "01858."
Spc. Kevin Pannell spoke to people in a counter-protest area where I counted about a dozen protesters representing Free Republic.com. The Associated Press reports Mr. Pannell's views on the vigil.
"If they don't want to support it, they don't have to support it," said Iraq war veteran Kevin Pannell, who had both legs amputated after a grenade attack last year in Baghdad. "That's the reason I lost my legs."
Vicky Bram
A board chronologically lists the names of service members who have died in the Iraq war, with an overlaying question, "How many more of our children must die?"
Erica Madris from Houston, TX, continued about fifteen minutes after the larger protest ended, making her own direct protest. She moved to Washington recently to "get closer to somewhere I can agitate."
Exclusive: Another Mother Speaks: "Fed up with Painful and Insulting Lies"
In a speach directed as much to "half the population" as it was to President Bush, a military mother drew strong reaction from hundreds of people at the conclusion of a candlelight vigil held at the White House this evening to support Cindy Sheehan's vigil near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, TX.
The mother's printed notes containing the entire text of the speech was obtained by me and is being reported exclusively and simultaneously by joetresh.com and PageOneQ.com [additional report].
The mother, Gilda, who declined to give her last name for publication, said her son was injured by shrapnel from an improvised explosive device (IED) in the assault on Falluja in Iraq. She said he was treated for minor injuries and returned to "the front lines" of Fallujah within days. She is a member of Military Families Speak Out. She said she wrote the speech in the two hours before the vigil began.
The end of the speach drew the strongest reaction when Gilda referred President Bush when he said "But I think it's also important for me to go on with my life" instead of meeting with Cindy Sheehan.
Photos coming soon.
Several members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Representative John Conyers, deliver a letter with over 550,000 signatures to the White House demanding answers to questions surrounding a memo from British intelligence that in 2002 said, "Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."
The letter asks five questions:
1) Do you or anyone in your administration dispute the accuracy of the leaked document?
2) Were arrangements being made, including the recruitment of allies, before you sought Congressional authorization to go to war? Did you or anyone in your Administration obtain Britain's commitment to invade prior to this time?
3) Was there an effort to create an ultimatum about weapons inspectors in order to help with the justification for the war as the minutes indicate?
4) At what point in time did you and Prime Minister Blair first agree it was necessary to invade Iraq?
5) Was there a coordinated effort with the U.S. intelligence community and/or British officials to "fix" the intelligence and facts around the policy as the leaked document states?
Cindy Sheehan, mother of humvee mechanic Army Specialist Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq, speaks to the hundreds of people who attended a rally at the White House demanding a response to the letter and an end to the war.
Several speakers declared "This is the beginning of the end" saying today to be a "tipping point," citing more press coverage and an "Out of Iraq" congressional caucus which formed in the US house today.
Archives:
The mother's printed notes containing the entire text of the speech was obtained by me and is being reported exclusively and simultaneously by joetresh.com and PageOneQ.com [additional report].
The mother, Gilda, who declined to give her last name for publication, said her son was injured by shrapnel from an improvised explosive device (IED) in the assault on Falluja in Iraq. She said he was treated for minor injuries and returned to "the front lines" of Fallujah within days. She is a member of Military Families Speak Out. She said she wrote the speech in the two hours before the vigil began.
The end of the speach drew the strongest reaction when Gilda referred President Bush when he said "But I think it's also important for me to go on with my life" instead of meeting with Cindy Sheehan.
My name is Gilda. I am a member of MFSO, and I have a son who is an active duty Marine. He was deployed to Iraq during the bloody assault on Fallujah in November. One-hundred thirty-seven of our sons and daughters and countless Iraqis died in that assault.
We are gathered here to support Cindy Sheehan in her quest for truthful answers from President Bush about Iraq. This is a call to conscience! This is about supporting our troops who have served honorably and bravely under impossible conditions. They went under orders of their Commander-in-Chief to a war of choice unprepared and under equipped. President Bush, you owe us an explanation! The only noble thing in this rotten war has been our noble sons and daughters who answered the call to serve their country, something you could not have understood or valued.
President Bush, we are not radical political extremists as the right-wing media would like to portray us. We are citizens - ordinary mothers and fathers who are fed up with painful and insulting lies. We have carried the weight of your disastrous policy on our shoulders while half of the population has been intentionally or unintentionally ignorant of our plight. For many, it has been convenient to believe they are supporting the troops with their yellow magnets.
President Bush, meet with Cindy. Tell that mother in that pathetic ditch by your house just exactly why her son died. Tell her how the war is going and what your plan is. Explain to her that 'taking the fight to them' was really a brilliant way to get the naive and ignorant to fall unquestioningly behind you. Tell her how through your incompetence and at great expense in resources and human life, we destroyed Iraq, giving the Iraqis an infinitely worse hell than anyone could have ever imagined.
'We would send the wrong signal if we pulled out,' you say, Mr. Bush. What signal do you think we've sent the world since we invaded Iraq? You've destroyed our credibility and our good standing in the world. Most of all, Mr. Bush, what's unforgivable is that you betrayed our idealistic American sons and daughters who trustingly placed their lives in your hands. We, their mothers, will not let you 'move on with your life,' Mr. Bush. We hold you accountable for their deaths and injuries. And we call now for an immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Now. Not next year. Not in ten years!
Sheehan Vigil at the White House
Photos coming soon.
'Downing Street Memo' Letter Draws 550,000 Signatures, White House Protest
Several members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Representative John Conyers, deliver a letter with over 550,000 signatures to the White House demanding answers to questions surrounding a memo from British intelligence that in 2002 said, "Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."
The letter asks five questions:
1) Do you or anyone in your administration dispute the accuracy of the leaked document?
2) Were arrangements being made, including the recruitment of allies, before you sought Congressional authorization to go to war? Did you or anyone in your Administration obtain Britain's commitment to invade prior to this time?
3) Was there an effort to create an ultimatum about weapons inspectors in order to help with the justification for the war as the minutes indicate?
4) At what point in time did you and Prime Minister Blair first agree it was necessary to invade Iraq?
5) Was there a coordinated effort with the U.S. intelligence community and/or British officials to "fix" the intelligence and facts around the policy as the leaked document states?
Cindy Sheehan, mother of humvee mechanic Army Specialist Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq, speaks to the hundreds of people who attended a rally at the White House demanding a response to the letter and an end to the war.
Several speakers declared "This is the beginning of the end" saying today to be a "tipping point," citing more press coverage and an "Out of Iraq" congressional caucus which formed in the US house today.
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