Sheehan calls for ‘Troops home now!’

“Millions of people around the world are counting on us” to stop the U.S. war on Iraq, declared Cindy Sheehan at a “Troops Home Now!” rally Nov. 4 in downtown Milwaukee. Hundreds attending the rally greeted Sheehan as the hero she is with rousing applause and cheers.

Sheehan began by announcing that, to date, over 600,000 Iraqis and 2,800 GIs from the U.S. have died with hundreds of thousands injured. She then spoke of what it had been like at “Camp Casey,” the encampment near George W. Bush’s ranch named after her son, who died in Iraq. Sheehan said “at least 15,000” people in 26 days visited the camp in 2005 and thousands of solidarity actions such as candlelight vigils and demonstrations took place internationally.

Hailing those such as Army First Lt. Ehren Watada who have refused to fight in Iraq, she said, “It takes so much more courage to stand up than to kill innocent children and to fight for corporate interests.” She called Watada and his parents, who attended and spoke at the rally, “heroes.”

Sheehan ended with a call for independence and for mass action in the streets to stop the war. “The Democrats and Republicans are different sides of the same coin. Our attitudes are not those of the corporate war machine. We don’t countenance liars and murderers.”

Many at the rally hoisted placards with “Troops Home Now: Yes!” slogans.

Rae Vogeler of Madison, Wis., a Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said, “We the people are opposed to endless wars of aggression. No to endless war against Iraq, Iran and North Korea.” Vogeler then asked the crowed if they agreed and wanted money for people’s needs as well and they roared back, “Yes.” She closed by saying, “Do not vote for pro-war candidates, either Democrat or Republican.” Sheehan endorsed Vogeler at the rally.

Will Williams, an African American member of Madison Veterans for Peace and a two-tour Vietnam veteran, said, “It’s us, the people, that will change the policies of this country. We must stop our children fighting for the corporate interests and from marching off to war.” Williams’ spouse Dot then joined him on stage for a stirring a cappella rendition of the song “How long will it be?”

The rally was sponsored by Call to Action, Peace Action Wisconsin, Veterans for Peace and supported by many labor and community organizations throughout the Metro Milwaukee and Madison areas.