DIVIDED WE STAND What happened to our country?

UPDATES ON CINDY SHEEHAN VISIT TO CRAWFORD
Friday, Aug. 12, 2005
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Click here to read Iconoclast interview with Cindy Sheehan's lawyer:
'Crawford 5' Lawyer Aids Sheehan's Legal Defense

7:50 p.m. Report — PRO-BUSH GROUP ARRIVES AT CAMP CASEY
Iconoclast's Nathan Diebenow reporting from Camp Casey:
PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF THIS SECTION

A group of about 50 pro-Bush demonstrators from the Metroplex armed with various sizes of American flags, as well as banners and posters, arrived directly across from Camp Casey on county right-of-way around 6:30 p.m. Radio personality Mike Gallagher, who organized the event, led the group in patriotic songs, a prayer, pro-Bush rhetoric, and thankfulness that they could openly express their beliefs in America.

The group, which traveled in a charter bus and several cars, stayed about 30 minutes and departed for Pirate Field in Crawford to see about another rally. There was no suggestion that they were going to camp the night.

The group was comprised of young and old, from elementary-school-age children to World War II veterans. The only time the group had much contact with the supporters of Cindy Sheehan was when it crossed a line of McLennan County Sheriff's Department vehicles to place American flags beside the crosses that were earlier placed in the ground by supporters of Veterans for Peace.

Sheehan's group held up a banner that said, "Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home Now," sang a song, but remained quiet and respectful during all the time Gallagher's people were there.

I asked Mike Gallagher if he was going to place a flag in front of Casey Sheehan's cross at Camp Casey. He said, "We wanted to. But the police said don't go over there, so we are placing flags over by the white crosses."

Lisa Fithian of the United Peace and Justice Organization said,"We're not going to stop it, you know. If they want to bring American flags, they can place American flags.They're honoring those that have died."

Chief Deputy Randy Plemons, after conversing with a supervisor, said, "No one was stopped or told not to go over there and place any flags or anything like that. That was not the case here today."

There were Secret Service present with Sheriff's Department deputies. As I am leaving, there are still at least 50 pro-Sheehan people out here. There are bouquets of flowers beside about 50 of the crosses and there's a ton of crosses lining the side of the road for about a quarter of a mile.

FATHER AND SON PRAY AT PRO-BUSH RALLY — World War II Veteran Bob Rogers of Branson, Mo. and his son, Scott, of Arlington, Texas, pray Friday evening at a pro-Bush, pro-U.S. soldiers rally across Prairie Chapel Road from Camp Casey, a few miles from President Bush’s ranch.
— Iconoclast Photo By Nathan Diebenow

BEATING DALLAS TRAFFIC on a charter bus, nationally syndicated radio talk show host Mike Gallagher (right, carrying the bullhorn) led over 50 people at a pro-Bush rally Friday evening for about 30 minutes near Camp Casey, the site where Cindy Sheehan has held a vigil for the past six days in order to meet with President Bush about the war in Iraq.
— Iconoclast Photo By Nathan Diebenow

MIKE GALLAGHER, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host who reportedly has 3.25 million weekly listeners, said during a pro-Bush rally near Crawford that he would have liked to place a flag in remembrance of Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, the late son of Cindy Sheehan who died in Iraq, but the police suggested he not do so. A spokesman for the McLennan County Sheriff’s Deparment said that no such suggestion was made and that each member of Gallagher’s group had access to every memorial cross in the area.
— Iconoclast Photo By Nathan Diebenow

OVER 50 SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT BUSH came out Friday evening from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex across from Camp Casey, the site where Cindy Sheehan has held a vigil for the past six days in order to meet with President Bush about the war in Iraq.
— Iconoclast Photo By Nathan Diebenow

CHILDREN PLACED AMERICAN FLAGS during a pro-Bush rally Friday evening by a number of crosses designed by Veterans for Peace at Camp Casey. The children were a part of a group of over 50 Bush supporters from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex led by nationally syndicated radio talk show host Mike Gallagher.
— Iconoclast Photo By Nathan Diebenow

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