Dueling Protests Square Off Near Bush's Dallas Home
Tuesday 09 June 2009
by: Anna M. Tinsley | The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. (Photo: Getty Images)
Dallas - Eighth-grader Steven Rasansky had a front-row seat for a government lesson Monday.
Sitting at his friends' lemonade stand across the street from former President George W. Bush's new home, he watched anti-war protesters and Bush supporters square off with only a city street dividing them.
Front and center in the sweltering 90-degree heat was Cindy Sheehan, the California mother who drew national attention in recent years with her protests near Bush's Crawford ranch as she demanded to speak to him about her son's death in Baghdad.
"George Bush and his administration are mass murderers," she told the crowd, using a loudspeaker. "People say, 'Cindy, get over it.' Well, there are still two wars raging. I don't have an option of getting over it. . . . We have to keep it up so things like this don't happen again."
Anti-war protesters say they want Bush and his administration investigated and prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sheehan has also demonstrated against President Barack Obama because the Democrat has continued the wars.
During the more than half-hour protest, which included a nearly mile-long march to the neighborhood, protesters yelled, "Don't wait, investigate." Pro-Bush supporters chanted "USA" for the former president whom they say did a good job.
"I think this is crazy," said Rasansky, 13, whose friends had hoped to make some money selling pink lemonade and chocolate chip cookies. "I didn't think it would end up like this."
Bearing signs with slogans ranging from "No war criminals in my neighborhood" and "W = War Crimes" to "Don't Mess with Bush" and "They did not die in vain," more than a hundred people turned out on both sides of the issue.
Dozens of police officers and Secret Service agents blocked the entrance to the Bush neighborhood and patrolled the area. An officer who declined to give his name said there had been no arrests and no problems.
Erika Davis drove from Fort Worth to join the protest against Bush.
"Just because we have a new president, people say you should forget about it," said Davis, a 62-year-old counselor in Fort Worth. "I don't believe anyone is above the law."
Charlotte and Chuck Herman of Dallas turned out to support Bush, holding a sign that read "Bush saved you cowards."
"We think he made a great president and we're glad he moved back here to Dallas," said Charlotte Herman, 64. "We want him to retire in peace."
Marla Kilday, who lives near Bush in Dallas, was also there to support him.
"I think this is inappropriate," she said. "The man has given his eight years in office and we just want the neighborhood to be peaceful and quiet."
Sheehan's son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, died in a 2004 ambush in Baghdad. She said she can't allow Bush's "crimes" to be forgotten just because he is no longer in the White House.
"You can bet your whatever that every time I'm in Dallas, I'll be out here holding a picture of my son."



Comments
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Offer that Kilday & Herman
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 17:31 β Anonarcmous (not verified)Perhaps those still
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 17:38 β Anonymous (not verified)Please keep it up as long as
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 18:47 β Peggy Manfredi (not verified)I recall back in 2004 when I
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 19:35 β Anonymous (not verified)Only in America would W.
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 19:46 β Anonymous (not verified)Everyone PLEASE continue to
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 19:47 β Les Perkins (not verified)Mrs. Sheehan, I wish
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 19:49 β Brooke Newell (not verified)We are suffering hugely from
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:08 β JDS (not verified)As the parent of a son who
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:17 β lindro (not verified)Cindy is a teacher as well
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:20 β NYCartist (not verified)Even though Bush & Co. got
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:37 β Jocelyn Limpert (not verified)We love you Cindy!!
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:43 β JeanTulsa (not verified)I agree with Cindy Sheehan.
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:44 β Anonymous (not verified)W should never be allowed to
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:47 β Skip Mendler (not verified)This is very simple. Bush,
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 20:59 β Anonymous (not verified)The president's neighbors
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:03 β We the People (not verified)So the neighbors and
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:04 β Anonymous (not verified)I imagine those kids across
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:06 β ArtFart (not verified)To me Cindy Sheehan was like
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:26 β hb (not verified)Thank you Cindy, Love you!
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:26 β J J Barrera (not verified)I don't think it was
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:27 β Anonymous (not verified)Yeah Cindy. You go, girl!!
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 21:59 β NotDorothy (not verified)Thank you, Cindy. Cheney,
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 23:07 β Michael Connolly (not verified)I was proud to march with
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 23:23 β amborider (not verified)I hear they have some nice
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 23:41 β dtroutma (not verified)Thank you to those who stood
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 23:51 β Paranoid4AReason (not verified)Bush is a failure as a human
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 00:06 β Anonymous (not verified)"How is this different from
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 00:40 β Anonymous (not verified)George Bush held a public
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 00:54 β Anonymous (not verified)Cindy is correct in pursuing
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 01:07 β Otto Schiff (not verified)The Seven Sisters,
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 01:14 β Haroldo Cantanhede, Jnr. (not verified)Bush had no business being
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 03:56 β Anonymous (not verified)Yes, protest. Tell Obama you
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 05:03 β Anonymous (not verified)retire in peace? isn't what
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 05:57 β Anonymous (not verified)Thank God there are still
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 07:26 β Anonymous (not verified)I'm deeply ashamed of Bush
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 15:46 β Sandra (not verified)I find it astonishing that
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 19:03 β Anonymous (not verified)This is crazy. Why are Bush,
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 02:13 β Anonymous (not verified)Peacefully protesting is not
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 13:20 β Anonymous (not verified)I hope that Cindy Sheehan
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 16:28 β Andrew Smith (not verified)What? Every treasonous war
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 04:47 β Anonymous (not verified)Dear Sandra: You and the
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 19:23 β Frances in California (not verified)