Iraq War Protest Vigils Dot U.S.
'Peace Mom' Protest At Bush Ranch Seen As Catalyst
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Play CBS Video Video Iraq War Vigils There was a national night of demonstrations to for and against the war, which was sparked by one woman's efforts to see President Bush. CBS News' Bill Plante reports.
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Video Mom Now Anti-War Lightning Rod Some of Cindy Sheehan's rhetoric has made her a target for some conservatives. Bill Plante reports that liberal groups are trying to revive her anti-war message with candlelight vigils.
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Cindy Sheehan (left, wearing a peace symbol T-shirt) and Benjamin Hart (right), an Iraq war veteran from Austin, Texas, lead a candlelight vigil Wednesday night near the Bush ranch. (AP)
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Vietnam war veteran Tom Tennet holds his dog during a vigil in Tacoma, Washington, in support of Cindy Sheehan. Tennet plans to drive to Crawford, Texas, to join the protesters there. (AP)
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Sheehan sympathizers in Flagstaff, Arizona, made their stand on the lawn in front of City Hall, with a flag to emphasize their patriotism. (AP)
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Interactive Moms On Anti-Warpath Sue Niederer and Cindy Sheehan, mothers of a slain American soldiers, turn their grief into activism.
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Interactive Bush Presidency The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
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Interactive Battle For Iraq The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
Before the Crawford vigil began, Gary Qualls, of Temple, walked to the protesters' memorial to fallen U.S. soldiers and removed a wooden cross bearing his son's name. Qualls said he supports the war effort even though his 20-year-old son Louis was killed in Fallujah last fall serving with the Marine Reserves.
"I don't believe in some of the things happening here," he said. "I find it disrespectful."
Those backing Sheehan, though, voiced their support across the country.
In Minnesota, about 1,000 war protesters stood on a bridge linking Minneapolis and St. Paul. "This war has been disgraceful, with trumped-up reasons," Sue Ann Martinson said. "There were no weapons of mass destruction and the Iraqis didn't have anything to do with 9-11."
Nearly 200 people gathered on the courthouse steps in Hackensack, N.J., with many saying they were angry about the war but were supporting U.S. troops.
"I'm a 46-year-old woman who, in my lifetime, has never seen the country so split," said Lil Corcoran. "My heart is broken."
In Charleston, W.Va., a banner bearing the name, age, rank, hometown and date of death of all Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan was unrolled - stretching the length of a city block.
Kenny Jones brought his 6-year-old daughter, Scouten, to a vigil in Portland, Ore.
"I was raised to believe that war is no solution," Jones said. "Her mother and I are raising her that way, too. This war is illogical."
Meanwhile, a group called FreeRepublic.com held a pro-Bush rally in the same Washington, D.C., park where 300 people had gathered for a candlelight vigil. At one point, members of the two sides had a heated exchange over who was more patriotic.
"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."
By Angela K. Brown ©MMV The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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