Monday at Camp Casey

UPDATES ON CINDY SHEEHAN VISIT TO CRAWFORD
Monday, Aug. 15, 2005
(Reverse Time Order — More Recent Entries Toward Top)

Camp Casey coordinator Ann Wright has issued an appeal. The van that has been used recently to accomodate media interviews is being called out of service and there is now an immediate need for a replacement. Anyone interested in loaning or providing such a van for use by Sheehan should call Wright at 808-741-1141. She explained that this need is somewhat urgent.

7:45 p.m.
Gene Ellis Reporting for the Iconoclast

Overall, the afternoon has been fairly quiet at the camp, with the usual interviews and plans being made for tomorrow. A camp meeting is slated for tonight.

I have conducted a few interviews with interesting people who have been here and will get those transcribed for posting tomorrow.

Here are some images from today's visit.

AT 10:30 MONDAY MORNING, Cindy Sheehan held a press conference. Other speakers included several members of Gold Star Families, all of whom had lost loved ones in Iraq.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

ACCORDING TO HIS FATHER, Juan Torres was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. His family had settled in the United States to live the American dream.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

MAY HASAN NAJI LAMOTTE, previously an Iraqi college professor, is grateful to the soldiers who freed her country and her people. She insists the deaths of the fallen were not in vain, and desperately hopes the U.S. will stay until Iraq is able to govern itself.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

KATHY EGLI and her daughter's dog Patrick came from Springfield, Mo. to support Cindy. Egli's daughter left the dog with her mom when she entered the service five years ago. She has been told she will be kept in the military longer than expected (stop/loss) and be sent to Iraq in December for an 11 month tour of duty.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

MANY SUPPLIES are donated daily to Camp Casey by generous well-wishers.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

3:15 p.m.
Gene Ellis Reporting for the Iconoclast

Cindy Sheehan is having her hair cut. The stylist came in from Austin on her day off, knowing that Cindy wanted to have her hair cut.

HAIRDRESSER and supporter Kim McIntosh of Austin heard that Cindy wanted a haircut. She drove back up to Crawford on her day off to do this little on-site job --- in front of national television cameras.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

Cindy mentioned that some recent comments in the media regarding the possibility that she would refuse to speak with President Bush are completely untrue. She still wants to speak with President Bush.

 

1:00 p.m..
Gene Ellis Reporting for the Iconoclast

We just had a brief but heavy Texas thunderstorm.

I spoke to a sheriff's deputy who said everything is pretty calm.

Cindy is holed up in her van talking to some who have come a long way to see her.

At the press conference earler, Gold Star families spoke first. Beatriz Salvivar whose nephew, Sgt.Daniel Torres, was killed in Iraq, spoke about the importance of supporting Cindy Sheehan. Juan Torres, whose son was killed in friendly fire in Afghanistan, said that those soldiers should be remembered, too. Cindy Sheehan held a Q&A and explained how the event has expanded beyond her original initiative. She saidthat if Bush would come and talk to her, she would go home.

I will now be conducting some interviews and report back later.

11:45 a.m.
Gene Ellis Reporting for the Iconoclast

Activity at Camp Casey is much as it has been for the past few days. Cindy Sheehan held a press conference about 10:30 to discuss the prayer meeting planned for Friday. The supporters at Camp Casey have invited all the local residents to this meeting and hope some will attend.

An unidentified man drove his pickup through the “forbidden” triangle when supporters did not vacate the roadway quickly enough for him to pass.