Three hundred Tucsonans support Cindy Sheehan at local vigil

Hundreds of Tucsonans supported Cindy Sheehan at a candle light vigil at El tiradito Shrine. Raging Grannies dedicated a new song, “Hey Mr. President” to Sheehan. At least five vigils were held in Phoenix and one was held in Flagstaff. More than 1,500 vigils occurred around the country August 17.

TUCSON – More than three hundred people gathered at El Tiradito Shine downtown Wednesday night to show solidarity for Cindy Sheehan, the mother who lost her military son in Iraq and who has been camping out in Crawford, Texas demanding to ask President Bush why he sent her son to die.

The local Tucson vigil was part of the approximately 1,500 vigils that occurred simultaneously last night in support of Sheehan and ending the war on Iraq.

The Tucson Raging Grannies, a local collection of women working to promote global peace, justice, and social and economic equality by raising public awareness through the medium of song and humor, dedicated a new song for Sheehan.

“Hey Mr. President, come and talk to me,” rang the chorus in the warm Tucson air. The song, sang to the melody of Bob Dylan’s “Hey Mr. Tambourine Man,” tells the story of Sheehan and how thousands of Americans feel about the war. The group recorded the song last night to send to Sheehan. (Video is available of the song at the link below.)

Five members of the Tucson Raging Grannies, along with an Arizona Indymedia reporter, were arrested on July 13 for criminal tresspassing when they tried to enlist in the U.S. Army. All the charges were dropped.

Gripping candles and signs supporting the growing anti-war camp in Crawford, a moment of silence was dedicated to Sheehan, all the mothers of military personal, and the innocent people of Iraq.

David Ray, a local poet who has published the only book of anti-war poems against the Iraq war, read the poem, “Lonesome Mom", that he had written for Sheehan ten days ago.

“…you are the Rosa Parks who has boarded/ the bus that George Bush is driving./ You demand to be heard and respected face to face…When he showed up for a closed-door/ session with a few families like yours/ he did not know your son Casey’s name,/ although he called you ‘Mom’ as if he could for few minutes replace him…”

For entire story and short videos from the vigil: click here