Local News: Anti-War Activist Sheehan Returns to Waco

Three Years After Crawford Protests, Cindy Sheehan Returns to Speak in Waco
By Tim Woods (Tribune-Herald staff writer)

From the Waco Tribune-Herald

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan’s return to Central Texas drew about 55 people Tuesday night to hear her speak at Poppa Rollo’s Pizza.

The event was a stop on Sheehan’s book tour to promote Myth America, the latest of her four books.

Sheehan, whose son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004, garnered the attention of the nation in 2005 when she and other anti-war protesters gathered in Crawford outside the ranch of former President George W. Bush. The protesters demanded the president’s justification for the Iraq war and asked for the immediate withdrawal of all troops.

Tuesday night, Sheehan railed not only against Bush and his policies but also against President Barack Obama and other politicians who Sheehan says are perpetuating Bush’s war policies.

“It’s about challenging the policies and not the person,” Sheehan said after her talk, referring to her willingness to now protest Obama’s actions. “I’ve been in several protests of Obama, and there’s no coverage, but then I go protest George Bush in Dallas, and there’s an overwhelming amount of media coverage.”

The protester, who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize following her Crawford vigil, repeatedly referred to the two classes she sees in America, the “robbers” and the “robbed.”

A poignant moment at the event came during the question-and-answer session after Sheehan’s talk. A man asked Sheehan if she would be who she is and do what she does “if it weren’t for April 4,” the date her son was killed in Sadr City, Iraq.

After Sheehan said she could not answer that hypothetical question, the man, Timothy Priddy, told her that his platoon was there the day Casey was killed.

Following the event, Priddy said he agrees with some of Sheehan’s beliefs but wonders if she is tarnishing her son’s legacy.

“I agree, but at the same time I think she degrades what he stood for,” Priddy said. “I understand where she’s coming from, but my point is, if it wouldn’t have happened, would she be here today, or would she be living the life that she’s arguing against?”

Published on Wednesday, June 10, 2009