RPT FROM CRAWFORD 8/10/05--INCLUDING NEEDS

[snot]

We drove to Camp Casey this morning with video and photo cameras, to try to help be the media.

Despite steady rain for most of the day, I’d estimate there were about 100 protesters. I counted 50 non-media folks when we left just after 6 pm, and at that point it had thinned out somewhat, and other protesters came and went during the course of the day.

Please GO TO CRAWFORD.

To roughly paraphrase one protester, we’ve been writing e-mails and letters and making phone calls. Now, we need people to get out from behind their desks and MAKE A STAND. Crawford is a great place to do that.

Also, please continue to blast the media asking for coverage! Although there were a lot of media out there and Cindy and others were doing interviews nonstop, I’m not sure how much of it was for corporate U.S. outlets, or how much will actually make it into the evening news, unless we demand it now and continue to demand it.

Perhaps because of media presence, no arrests today.

A number of the protesters are on a hunger strike; this was day 5 for one gal we interviewed, Diane Wilson.

NEEDS:

They NEED a port-o-potty.
They NEED a generator.
They need a laptop or two.
They need cel phones and walkie-talkies.

They need people, especially those with organizational ability or who are willing to pitch in and help out.

I also think we should to continue to have folks with video and photo cameras there.

They do NOT need flowers—quite a few have been delivered. And at least today, they did not need food or water.

Probably best to coordinate and donate through the Peace House in Crawford—I’ll paste their info below--or one of the other organizations involved, which include Code Pink, Gold Star Families, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans for Peace.

They also do not need more cars out there--there’s room for more people, but not for all their cars (it’s true, all people, equipment and cars must fit on narrow, grass strips between the road and private property—your tires cannot even be touching the road). So a shuttle is being organized from the Peace House, which is only about 5 miles away. Go to the Peace House first, and catch a ride from there.

We were able to interview quite a few folks. We shot over 3 hours of tape, which we plan to edit down to less than 30 minutes. We expect to post a link here. Many folks we interviewed were eloquent and spoke from direct personal knowledge.

One mother mentioned that before her son was killed in Iraq, he had asked her to send food, because food and water were being rationed.

While we were there, a trailer containing 1,000 crosses arrived, of the size and type used to mark soldiers’ graves, courtesy of Veterans for Peace--to be set up I’m not sure where.

Crawford Peace House
P.O. Box 710218
Dallas, TX. 75371-0218
The Peace House phone is 254-486-0099
John’s cell is 469 879 2227
Hadi”s cell is 214 392 2939
[e-mail]
To donate, go to http://www.crawfordpeacehouse.org/ and follow instructions there.

The street address of the Crawford Peace House is
9142 5th Street
Crawford, TX. 76638-3037
Near center of Crawford, next to intersection of Hwy 185 and the railroad tracks

More info at http://www.crawfordpeacehouse.org/

[Eloriel]

1. Nominated! And thank you. n/t

[jojo54]

2. Did ya see texaslady 's thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4310261

She said she still laughs at your username. I like it too.

Keep the updates coming snot. We who can't attend, are happy to get the updates.

[snot]

5. Thanks, not 'til now--

but I did meet and interview her! It's great to see her take on everything. And it was kinda like a bit o' family, running into a few DU'er's there!

Thank you all for all you say and do.

[uppityperson]

3. thank you. good report and ideas.

Anyone going from WA?

[Melissa G]

4. going from Austin on Saturday...

pm me for a possible ride...

[snot]

6. hate to say so myself but pls nominate

so other folks will see the NEEDS list.

[bananas]

10. Cindy and Diane will be on WPR in the morning

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4309808&mesg_id=4309808

[snot]

14. thanks, yay! nt

[caligirl]

7. they can't ignore a couple thousand people outside lthe 'ranch'

they can't silence the voices and stories that many people would generate.
Any less and they can continue to try to keep this off the MSM front pages.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Thanks! How many folks are there now?

[snot]

12. I and Texaslady each independently estimated 100 protesters

(excluding media)

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. That's a start, but I'd love for there to be far more. Wish I could be

there.

[Massacure]

9. Isn't the SS going to break the protest up tomorrow?

Wouldn't delivering supplies be a little late?

[snot]

13. I heard nothing confirming that today.

although I know it's been threatened.

I personally don't see any plausible pretext for arresting anyone--we complied with all police requests and were obviously peaceful. There's not even any significant traffic congestion, which is a feat considering how narrow the roads are.

But that's why it's impt to have coverage and cameras down there. I DON"T think they want to arrest gold star moms in front of a t.v. crew.

I actually think the biggest danger, and what *Co are really hoping, is that the media get tired of the story, and Cindy and a few supporters sit out there starving and ignored.

Another reason why bodies and coverage are CRITICAL.

[Karenina]

17. Will you be going there again?

If so, please tell everyone that a candle lighting ceremony was held in support of Mrs. Sheehan in Germany last night. Snail mail to follow.

[bananas]

11. The crosses are "Arlington West"

Some info here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4309326&mesg_id=4309326

[snot]

15. thanks! nt

[pimpbot]

18. Anyone organizing a road trip from the DC/MD/VA area?

I can chip in for gas!

[ben frank]

19. anyone using craigslist.org ridesharing?

http://www.craigslist.org

they have a rideshare board for every major city- you know that ad on kos with the volleyball player that you see every time... wouldn't it be cool if he replaced it with GO TO CRAWFORD NOW - ridesharing at craigslist.org -> plan the caravan, come to Crawford and Party!

what would it take for all the 'liberal blogs' to take put up a free ad- one with Cindy's message on it?

let's see, what if we had a moron president that lied to start a war, and had us perched world war III - every single child in America is now threatened with being drafted- unless we stop these bastards... is that enough to 'stop business as usual?'

calling for all liberal blogs and bloggers to spread the message- plane tickets for $100 at southwest, ridesharing at craiglist -> Come to Crawford, Nothing Else Matters.

This is not one woman's stand- Cindy is the leader of millions of Americans.... we've all been waiting for the dam to burst- this is it.




ps- of course y'all know about meetwithcindy.org - i think they've got the message a little mixed up- it should be Stand with Cindy- her mission is not merely to meet with Bush- it's to raise awareness and end this war. here's my page trying to illustrate her message- (work in progress)
http://www.benfrank.net/crawford

Can someone at Camp Casey show this to Cindy and ask if this might convey her message better than meetwithcindy.org. Which will turn people, motivate them into Coming to Crawford?

[ben frank]

20. Has anyone talked to the local land owners?

there must be someone sympathetic to the cause... explain to them that their grandchildren will be drafted for this perpetual war unless we stop them now.

Money talks- lets rent a field.


my page for the cause- Stand with Cindy
http://www.benfrank.net/crawford

flyers, t-shirts.... and everyone thinking of going should post a rideshare message on craigslist- be the first in your city to post a caravan to crawford rideshare
http://craigslist.org

peace NOW!