DIVIDED WE STAND What happened to our country?

UPDATES ON CINDY SHEEHAN VISIT TO CRAWFORD
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 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.

9:30 p.m.

Tonight candlelight vigils have been held throughout the country in support of Cindy Sheehan. In all, at least 1,380 vigils were scheduled. Responsible for the push were Move On, True Majority, and Democracy for America.

Plans are under way for an Interfaith service on Friday at Camp Casey. Coordinators at the camp are expecting hundreds, perhaps thousands, to attend and are encouraging people to travel to Crawford for this special event. It is scheduled for noon on Friday. Religious leaders of all faiths have a special invitation to attend.

Arrangements continue to be made regarding the move to Fred Mattlage's property.

It has been announced that activist/singer/songwriter David Rovics, who was featured in a previous edition of The Iconoclast, has recorded "Song for Cindy Sheehan" which is now available for free download at: <http://www.soundclick.com/davidrovics>.

Iconoclast reporter Gene Ellis has posted an interview she conducted with two Iraq Veterans Against the War. To read it, go here.

2:45 p.m.
Deborah Mathews reporting for The Iconoclast

The Iconoclast staff has been attempting to draw up a rough map showing how to reach the new Camp Casey. It can be accessed by clicking here.

Members of the Texas Coalition for an Independent Judiciary met at the Crawford Post Office Wednesday morning to send empty boxes to the White House. Coalition members called on President Bush to fill the boxes with documents from Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' record as a deputy solicitor general in the first Bush administration. For the story, click here.

Phone Interview with Ann Wright of Camp Casey:

“WE NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF TRAFFIC CONES AND ROPE!!”

Camp supporters are currently discussing options for the big move to the one acre patch of land. “We’re excited about moving. I think this is the closest protest site that has been to the White House. We will be right next to a Secret Service checkpoint,” said Wright.

Supporters are encouraged to use the shuttle out to Camp Casey, as parking remains a problem.

Earlier reports were of a donation of 212 acres across from the new campsite to be used for parking. That offer has changed and campers will be restricted to the one acre; however, a very large tent will be erected to provide the shade that this new site doesn’t offer. Also, Wright explains, “We are bringing in trailers to help with interviews and so forth. There will be bathroom facilities and cooking facilities as well.”

This morning, we were told that the crosses (Arlington Crawford the campers have come to call it) will in fact be moved to the new site. Wright said, “We have evaluated the best area where the most impact will be made.”

Wright again asks, “PLEASE, WE NEED CONES AND ROPE!”

9:35 a.m. — Phone Press Conference with Fred Mattlage
Deborah Mathews reporting for The Iconoclast

Local landowner Fred Mattlage, a distant relative of Larry Mattlage, held a telephone press conference this morning at 8:30 to explain his reasons for donating land to Cindy Sheehan and Camp Casey.

“I wanted to provide this property as a place where they could peacefully assemble,” he said. “This was an act of compassion to a mother whose lost her son.”

Mattlage is a 52-year-old self-employed small business owner who resides in Waco. He is a distant relative of Larry Mattlage, the man who fired the shotgun into the air on Sunday.

The property he is offering is co-owned by his brothers Karl and Mark and sister, Patricia. Brother Mark actually owns the one acre tract where the new camp site will be. This one acre is at the corner of Prairie Chapel Road and Camen Church Road. Directly across from the one acre, the Mattlages own a 212-acre tract, which they will make available for parking purposes.

The 212-acre tract is to be opened today at 10 a.m. by Mattlage. He is asking that Camp Casey supporters have a person at the gate of the property at all times due to the fact that there are cattle on the site. Gates will have to be kept shut.

Mattlage went on to say, “These people did not approach me at any time. I went to the Peace House in Crawford to offer the land, but it is not my desire to put them in closer proximity to the President. I only want to alleviate some of the problems with the residents.”

Mattlage also said, “The gun shots (by Larry Mattlage) did not play into my decision. This has nothing to do with family.”

When asked about any parallels to his own time in the military service — 1972-1974 with the 82nd Airborn Division of the U.S. Army — Mattlage responded with, “There really is no comparison, but our country should have a good reason to committ our boys to combat. Maybe we didn’t learn a valuable enough lesson from Vietnam.”

Mattlage said that he is not really a supporter (of Sheehan or the President) either way. “I don’t really agree with the policy of being in the war.”

Mattlage has had no contact with the White House.

A camp supporter said, “It is unlikely that we will move today. We are using this time to figure out how to best to begin the move. We need to get some shade up first. The plan is to begin moving by the end of tomorrow or early on Friday, before our inter-faith meeting.”

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