Cindy Sheehan has arrived at Crawford ranch; media coverage?

[WebeBlue]

Can't find much yet of media coverage, did find this one
Lone Star Iconclast online

12:40 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

When Cindy Sheehan got off her bus in Crawford around 11:40 a.m., she was greeted with applause and swarmed by reporters. Some of the meda covering the event, along with The Iconoclast, were ABC, CNN, CBS, and AFP (French form of AP).

One man carrying a sign, Allen Goodwin from South Florida, commented that he is for peace, "but Bush isn't." His sign reads "Somebody lied."

Currently, a bus provided by Veterans for Peace is taking about a dozen members, including Cindy Sheehan, to the checkpoint in front of President Bush's ranch. Sheriff's Department Captain Kenneth Vanek said prior to departing to lead the caravan, "As long as y'all work with us, we'll work with y'all."

Following the bus is a train of automobiles, numbering about 15.

Sheehan said she is prepared to go to jail if necesssary, but is expecting a peaceful confrontation.

The McLennan County Sheriff's Department is acting as the escort to the checkpoint.

With the arrival of Sheehan's bus, there were at least 50 people present, from Code Pink Austin, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Iraqi Veterans Against the War, and Gold Star Families for Peace, which is Sheehan's group.

Among those present, rumors of pro-war, anti-protest protestors perhaps arriving later were voiced.

In all, about a dozen law enforcement officers were on the scene near the Peace House. No Secret Service personnel had been identified. More later.

[Moochy]

1. Kick! Nothing on googlenews or the wires about it yet

CNN ... The silence is deafening...

[jean]

2. we're not down there with her but we can kick it up here for Cindy

:kick: I'm going to try to find the link to her petition... does anyone have it at their fingertips?

[WebeBlue]

9. Link to petition

http://elandslide.org/elandslide/petition.cfm?campaign=iraq1

[Jensen]

3. Good Luck Cindy!

Thank you for been such a brave lady as the aunt of two service man leaving for Iraq tomorrow I can only be humble by your lost and courage!
:kick:

[uppityperson]

4. Thank you Cindy and all you there.

Nothing on google checking news yet.

[marylanddem]

5. Thanks very much for the update

Our thoughts & prayers & determination for an end to this catastrophic bullshit war are focused on Crawford today

[Janice325]

6. Thank you, Cindy and all those with you.

Another kick!

[WebeBlue]

7. Dispatch from the VFP Conference re: going to Crawford today

http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=2829&PHPSESSID=f869ed709812005190786faa95d4daf3">Dining with the Crawford Posse

by Greg Moses - PeaceFile Saturday, Aug 6 2005, 9:47am
[e-mail]
texas / iraq / feature

A Brief Dispatch from the 20th Annual Veterans for Peace Convention

How one Vietnam vet from North Texas is looking forward to Saturday, when he will join Cindy Sheehan's protest visit to Crawford.

“That’s Cindy Sheehan,” points the Vietnam War veteran from his seat at the table. “She lost her son Casey in Iraq. And I’m going to follow her to Crawford. You coming?”

Looking up from my plate, I take the vet’s direction and turn to see Sheehan standing on the grass, stage left, mixing with three generations of veterans who have gathered this evening for peace and Bar-B-Que.

Twenty-four-year-old Casey Sheehan was killed at Sadr City on April 4, 2004 during the historic uprising (16 months ago to the day). Cindy blames the President for “creating that insurgency by his failed policies,” and on Saturday morning she is going to attempt to visit Bush at his vacation ranch in Crawford, a couple hours’ drive to the South.

The vet I’m sitting with was born and raised in California. His tan slim face looks perfectly fit for Hollywood, the place where he was born. After High School he joined the Army to see Japan and Hong Kong.

“If you’ve ever been in a war situation,” says the vet, “imagine what it must be like to find out while it’s still going on. That they lied. While you were into it.” He looks at me directly, shakes his head slowly, and digs at some food on his plate. He’s talking about the Downing Street memo, and he references AfterDowningStreet.Org.

“And as for Karl Rove,” says the vet, “in boot camp they used the word traitor. Loose lips sink ships. He’s just spitting in everyone’s face.” Rove, the so-called brain of the Bush regime, has been widely identified as the most likely source for the public ‘outing’ of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

“Saturday I’m going,” says the vet again, talking about Sheehan’s plan to confront the President at Crawford. “I’m going to follow her down there.” And you can tell by the slight grin on his face that he’s proud to have the opportunity. This is the 20th Annual convention of Veterans for Peace, and tonight this big, wide tent is a swirl of activists in motion.

[fooj]

8. We are with you in spirit, Cindy! Demand Accountability!

Peace.:patriot:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!

for Cindy Sheehan and everyone else out there today.

surfing through the cable news channels - nothing


PDX DU’rs! MeetUp TONIGHT at the Lucky Lab :party:
– thread here -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=174x2534

[WebeBlue]

11. Update at Lone Star Iconclast online 1:10 pm

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/News/2005/31-40/31news02.htm

1:10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

Diebenow reporting:

We've got about 50-something people walking on the side of the road, in a ditch, all the way up the mile to the Bush ranch. At the first checkpoint, the police ordered them to not walk on the roadway, but in the medium-tall grass along the right side of the road where it is about 10 ft. wide in places, three feet deep. They are kind of straddling the roadway.

There appears to be another checkpoint up ahead, with another car in the middle of the road.

Now two big white dogs are coming out to great them. I don't know what kind of dogs they are.

It's really hot, humid, with people sweating.

Wait. Call you back in a minute.

[phusion]

12. A kick and an update from Lone Star Iconoclast

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/News/2005/31-40/31news02.htm

1:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

Diebenow reporting:

We are at the second checkpoint and the sheriff's department has told the protestors to get off the road. They've been walking on the road, breaking their part of the bargain.

Some are now sitting, waiting for Bush to come out. Now more are sitting down.

One Veterans for Peace protestor asked police officers for water because it's a hundred degrees.

Now the protestors are reciting The Lord's Prayer in unison.

(moments later)

Now Cindy Sheehan is shouting that Bush's mother ought to be ashamed of him. She's proud of her child who died in Iraq.

I now see Secret Service out here.

Protestors are saying that one of their rationales for not getting off the road was that the media was on the road. A police officer said that the media was just following them, but the media is still on the road, with cameras, booms, microphones.

Some protestors are still sitting, but more are now standing.

They are now chanting "No Justice, No Peace." "George Bush is a war criminal." "Downing Street memos prove it." "Billion dollars a week for war."

Chanting again, people on left saying "Had enough," people on right saying "Stop the war," going back and forth.

Police now telling media to get on the other side of the road and to not disrupt traffic.

Chanting still going on (time 1:20).

More coming.

[WebeBlue]

13. Tx,phusion, just going to post the update, you already got it!

If anyone else finds media coverage, please post it here and tx.
We are military family, member of Military Families Speak Out, and I exchange emails with Cindy on personal and mutual collaborative basis. I'd like to give her report about the support for her at DU. Thank you.

[phusion]

14. She has my support...

I have friends in the military and in Iraq. Let Cindy know how much we all support her efforts!


:thumbsup: :hi:

[WebeBlue]

15. Two other DU threads on Cindy updates, collaborate, vote to front page?

How to collaborate on the already three DU threads on Cindy updates so the votes can get one of the threads to front page on DU? Help from more experienced DUers, please.

[Booster]

16. Kicking for Cindy. All I've seen on TV is Jesse Jackson's march,

but not one thing on Cindy and the others. Damn liberal media. I've seen that young jerk drinking himself to death at least 5 times this morning, but not a word from Crawford.

[katinmn]

17. Kick. I like reading she was "swarmed" by reporters

Now how will they present this to the public?

[WebeBlue]

18. To be on ABC World News tonight

the ABC DC news desk 212 456-777 (as suggested in one of the logs) and spoke with Steven. Explained I was calling to see if they were covering the story in Crawford TX on Cindy Sheehan, etc. Said he would check, and then returned to say they had someone on it now and it would be on their "World News" tonight.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/6/121145/1579

[rodeodance]

32. so--does anyone know if ABC covered this? another thread said CBS

did cover it.

[Rainscents]

19. I hope police are giving protesters water.

You go girl!!! I am with you!!! :kick:

[WebeBlue]

20. She got lots of helpful suggestions on her Daily Kos diary Thursday

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/4/94551/60876, Cindy Sheehan's diary at Daily Kos; We are going to Crawford to stop the killing
and there were many comments with helpful suggestions for water, quick energy foods, sunscreen, etc. etc.

[WebeBlue]

21. media links, tell media to cover this momentous event

for extensive list of email addys to contact mediascroll down about half page here http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/1204#comment

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

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[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], Kathleen&[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

[WebeBlue]

22. Google showing media coverage starting to happen now...

per another DU thread on Cindy updates in LBN
http://news.google.com/news?q=Cindy+Sheehan&hl=en&lr=&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d

Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
Gadsden Times (subscription), AL - 5 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
New York Newsday, NY - 5 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
Wilmington Morning Star, NC - 5 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
Newsday, NY - 5 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of slain soldier stages Bush protest
OregonLive.com, OR - 8 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mother of Slain US Soldier Stages Protest Near Bush's Ranch ...
The Conservative Voice - 9 minutes ago
Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of slain soldier stages Bush protest
News & Observer, NC - 11 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
Lexington Dispatch, NC - 11 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...
Mom of Slain Soldier Stages Bush Protest
Tuscaloosa News (subscription), AL - 10 minutes ago
... Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, "I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?". ...

[WebeBlue]

23. Never Mind, an older story; doesn't apply, my oops; Arrests in Crawford,

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2003/05/04/1052025091.00303.7022.4002.html

[phusion]

24. "They dress like bums"

Jeez, her son was in basic training...Does she realize these are VETERANS for peace and that one of main organizers had a son that DIED in Iraq? grrr...

------------
From the article:

Sheriff Larry Lynch said the three women and two men would be charged with demonstrating without a permit, and would be held at the jail until they paid a fine. Tidmore said the fine for the offense is $310.

Freddi Yasinkosky, who watched the spectacle from her front porch, said her son was in basic training in the Army and that colored her opinion of the protesters.

"I think they could find a better way to get their message across," she said. "They dress like bums, which undermines their cause. It defeats the purpose. A lot of them seemed to not be taking it very seriously, and if they are not going to take their message seriously, neither am I."

[Contrary1]

29. The protesters could be dressed in formal wear,

and this woman still wouldn't listen to their message, let alone take them seriously. *edit* I just viewed pictures of the protesters on another thread. Bums?

I sincerely hope that her son views this war in exactly the same way as his mother does. These are the very people that should be enlisting. I give this young man credit for his willingness to stand up for what he believes is right, even though I don't agree with him. A whole lot more courageous than the chicken shit weasels that started this war.

I hope he comes back home to his mother alive and well.

[WebeBlue]

25. Update from Iconclast 2:10 pm, Cindy plans to stay, setting up tent

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/News/2005/31-40/31news02.htm

2:10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

At the first checkpoint, Sheehan told the Officer Vanek: "We don't have the quarrel with you. The quarrel we have is with the President."

At the second checkpoint, she said, "I didn't come all the way from California to stand here in a ditch."

An officer offered to send Bush a letter or a statement from Cindy Sheehan, but she said she didn't want to do that.

Her reply was that they were making the mother of a veteran of the Iraq war walk in a ditch.

Protestors are carrying signs that read "No more blood for oil," "Support our troops, bring them home now," and "Frodo failed. Bush has the ring."

It is extremely hot. People are starting to get dehydrated.

Sheehan is moving toward the ranch at the second checkpoint and says, "In the name of 1,828 soldiers that should be alive, I'm going to go see the President. He killed my son."

An officer got in her face, stopping her.

The crowd starts chanting, "W. killed her son. W. killed her son."

Bush has not come out, none of those anti-protest protesters either.

Hadi Jawad, a board member of the Crawford Peace House, shouts to the media: "Do your job. Ask about the Downing Street Memo."

After sitting in the heat waiting to interview Cindy, most members of the press start to leave. Now protestors start to leave. One says, "I guess we ought to go." It appears that the initial protest is over.

Sheehan says she is going to stay at the checkpoint. Others are bringing water to her. The idea seems to be that she intends to camp out here, but I am unsure at this point whether the authorities will allow it. The others are going back to the Peace House to regroup.

Cindy Sheehan said after the media had left, "This is the beginning of the end of the occupation of Iraq." A wild round of applause followed.

Currently, the Secret Service and the police are just hanging around. The area is beginning to look deserted except for Cindy and her small group.

3:10 p.m.

The police are giving Cindy a hard time because they won't let her set up a tent by the side of the road.

This will probably be the last dispatch for awhile.

[WebeBlue]

26. Cindy determined to stay put as others try to persuade her to leave

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4275154

following this DU thread on Cindy, please read, help Cindy with her resolve to stay put as others try to persuade her to leave and base camp at VFP conference. Cindy maintains she will stay there by side of the road and refuses to leave.

[WebeBlue]

27. per Celeste Zappala, also GSFP

at DK http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/6/95956/25883#91

I am in touch with Celeste Zappala...

....a GSFP member who is in touch with the folks down there and has asked me to post this here:


I just spoke to Amy. They got up there and protested, as reported on the Texas Iconoclast site you gave us, Christine.

Link Here

The press was there, but after a while, left. Some protestors (including Amy) went to the cars to get water, lawn chairs, et cetera. It's a hundred degrees out there.

Cindy, Dede, and others did not go to the cars. Amy & others were to take the water back up to them, but the cops wouldn't let them. That's uppdated in the next paragraph.

So: as of now, Cindy & Dede, and other protestors, were out in the hot sun and cut off from water, but they are moving to an area with some shade trees, and water is being allowed in to them. Cindy has no plan to leave.

[WebeBlue]

28. Photos of Cindy and delegation at Crawford

at another DU thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4275288

[WebeBlue]

30. Update letter from Celeste Zappala, GSFP on Cindy Sheehan at Crawford

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/6/174227/7875

Letter from Celeste Zappala, GSFP re: Cindy Sheehan iat Crawford ranch
by NYBri Sat Aug 6th, 2005

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 can
send donations to the Crawford Peace House which has been generously offering hospitialtiy.

Crawford Peace House

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 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 (gsfp.org)
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

Cindy just called again.

TWO PEOPLE CAME OUT FROM THE RANCH TO TALK TO HER. JOE HAGIN, ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF STEVEN HABLEN. FROM NATIONAL SECURITY.

They told Cindy, George Bush really believed there were weapons of mass destruction,Sadam was a threat, that 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. Cindy had a twenty five minute discussion , as Cindy refuted these tired arguements, 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, and 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 Presidents 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.

blessings,

Celeste

[WebeBlue]

31. Cindy Sheehan: "The Secret Service is Trying to Intimidate Us"

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


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.