Peace Vigil August 17, 2005

Peace Vigil August 17, 2005 was held in cities and towns across the United States and in faraway cities such as Paris in response to Cindy Sheehan's request that neighborhoods hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, August 17, 2005, at 7:30 PM "to support her and call for an end to the war." In a show of solidarity, MoveOn teamed up with TrueMajority and Democracy for America to host vigils. Information about the vigil was posted on the MoveOn.org and Democracy for America websites.

According to New York Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller on August 16, 2005, "Ms. Sheehan's supporters said they had planned nearly 1,000 anti-war vigils across the country on Wednesday night, which they said were in part sponsored by MoveOn.org Political Action, a prominent anti-Bush group." [1]

Pre-Vigil News

• O'Ryan Johnson, "Hub protesters stand with Sheehan," Boston Herald, August 14, 2005.
• Jim Downing, "Capital rally backs Sheehan's Texas vigil," Sacramento Bee, August 14, 2005.
• Susan Jones, "Liberals Organize 'Vigils for Cindy Sheehan'," Crosswalk (Cybercast News Service), August 17, 2005.
• "The Crosses Behind Cindy," blogforamerica, August 17, 2005.

Vigil Reports

August 17, 2005

• "Lake St Bridge in Minneapolis St Paul, one of more than 20 Cindy Support Rallys in the Twin Cities!" Democratic Underground, August 17, 2005. Photographs.
• "Some photos from a NYC vigil. This was on the Upper West Side...about 350 or so people there....It was just one of many in the city...," Democratic Underground, August 17, 2005. Photographs.
• "We Don't Have to Hide Anymore," Hoffmania!, August 17, 2005. Commentary and photographs from Hermosa Beach, California.
• "Vigil for Casey and Cindy" (Tucson, AZ), Radmisto Blogspot, August 17, 2005.
• "Houston Sheehan Solidarity Vigil pics," Houston Indymedia, August 17, 2005: "Hundreds of Houstonians came out in support of Cindy Sheehan as part of a nationwide solidarity vigil."

August 18, 2005

• "Did You Go to a Vigil?" afterdowningstreet.org, August 18, 2005. Links to videos and photographs from peace vigils around the country.
• "Sheehan Coverage Turns Local as Vigils Spread," Editor & Publisher, August 18, 2005: "The Associated Press estimated there were 1,600 such events and a Google News search produced hundreds of separate stories. Some vigils, such as one in Minneapolis, drew over 1,000 protestors." Provides synopsis of vigil reports around the country.
• Dana Milbank, "Deploying Cindy's Antiwar Army," Washington Post, August 18, 2005: "It was to have been a silent vigil outside the White House last night in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan, the Gold Star Mother-turned-antiwar activist. But the 500 demonstrators were not the sort to be silenced."
• "Opposing war by candlelight. Nationwide vigils under way to protest war in Iraq," Associated Press (MSNBC Online), August 18, 2005.
• Angela K. Brown, "Nationwide Vigils Call for End of Iraq War," Associated Press (Yahoo! News), August 18, 2005: "More than 1,600 vigils were planned Wednesday from coast to coast ..."
• Angela K. Brown, "Vigils Calling for End to Iraq War Begin," Associated Press (Yahoo! News), August 18, 2005.
• Elisabeth Bumiller, "Turning Out to Support a Mother's Protest," New York Times, August 18, 2005.
• "Iraq War Protest Vigils Dot U.S.," Associated Press (CBS News), August 18, 2005.
• "Here is what some people are saying about the vigils," MoveOn.org, August 18, 2005.
• Cassondra Kirby, "Anti-war protest in Lexington," Lexington Herald-Leader, August 18, 2005: "In Lexington, about 250 people joined in on the protest, their message simple: 'Support our troops. Bring them home now.'"
• Ralph Ranalli, "Vigils across state, nation back mother of dead soldier. Thousands support woman at Bush ranch," Boston Globe, August 18, 2005.
• "Supporters of peace-activist mom gather across Hawai'i," Honolulu Adviser, August 18, 2005.

Related SourceWatch Resources

• peace movement
• Peace Vigil in Crawford, Texas

Related External Links

• Norman Solomon, "Blaming the Antiwar Messengers," Common Dreams, August 17, 2005.
• Bill Straub, "Handwriting on the Wall," Capitol Hill Blue, August 18, 2005: "Suddenly, organized opposition to the war is galvanizing."
• Joe Garofoli, "She reopened debate about war, and, boy, is she hearing about it," San Francisco Chronicle, August 18, 2005.