Portlanders Rally Downtown in Support of Cindy Sheehan
author: on the scene
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For the past several days Portlanders have been holding rallies from 12 noon to 1pm in front of the federal building in downtown Portland. Groups and organizations taking part include Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink, and, of course, Gold Star Families for Peace which was founded by Cindy Sheehan. At around 1pm, when these photos were taken I counted over 40 people taking part in the rally. Spirits were high and support from passers-by whether traveling by car, bike, or foot seemed to be enthusiastically positive. I witnessed several people stopping to talk and engage with those with signs and flags and talk about Cindy and the events unfolding in Crawford as well as more general talk about the occupation, peace, and the US government.
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For the past several days Portlanders have been holding rallies from 12 noon to 1pm in front of the federal building in downtown Portland. Groups and organizations taking part include Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink, and, of course, Gold Star Families for Peace which was founded by Cindy Sheehan. At around 1pm, when these photos were taken I counted over 40 people taking part in the rally. Spirits were high and support from passers-by whether traveling by car, bike, or foot seemed to be enthusiastically positive. I witnessed several people stopping to talk and engage with those with signs and flags and talk about Cindy and the events unfolding in Crawford as well as more general talk about the occupation, peace, and the US government.
The rallies will continue over the weekend at the same time, 12 to 1, in the same place, at Terry Shrunk Plaza across the street from the federal building, and I would encourage people to go downtown to take part. I was uplifted by the positive nature of the gathering and the strong emotions engendered in those present by the situation in Crawford. I think the narrative unfolding, the mother wanting answers for her son's death from an uncaring government, is one that deeply resonates with people and one that pushes people to speak out or otherwise take action in support of Cindy Sheehan and all that she presently represents and symbolizes. I'm excited to consider the possibilities that rallies here in Portland, in Crawford, and around the united states will gain momentum and galvanize people into organizing and mobilizing positive and effective actions.
Recent Related Stories on Portland IMC:
Support Cindy Sheehan/Out of Iraq Now! Rally continues
 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/322851.shtml
Organizing Buses to Crawford
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/322748.shtml
Support Cindy Sheehan! Rallies at noon at Federal Bldg
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/322745.shtml
Cindy Sheehan to Be Arrested Thursday
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/322732.shtml
Dear Friends and Supporters
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/322658.shtml
Older Related Stories on Portland IMC:
Who is Cindy Sheehan?
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/319632.shtml
Cindy Sheehan on MSNBC indicts Bush
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/319138.shtml
For IMC coverage of the events in crawford check out these imc's, both of which have some amazing articles from first hand accounts of these events:
North Texas IMC
http://www.ntimc.org/
Houston IMC
http://houston.indymedia.org/
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