Cambridge Chronicle coverage of the "Bring Them Home Now" tour

[paineinthearse]

I spoke with the dapperly dressed Chris Helms at the rally yesterday, but his story is not yet posted on line. Here's his piece from Thursday.

http://www.townonline.com/cambridge/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=325051

Sheehan to lead protest on Common
By Chris Helms/ Chronicle Staff
Thursday, September 15, 2005

Three months after the Army hosted a large birthday celebration on the Cambridge Common, a group of military families who rejects the Iraq War will be holding its own event there. Cindy Sheehan, the California mother who camped outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch demanding an explanation for the war that killed her 24-year-old son, will be among those attending Saturday afternoon's "Bring Them Home Now" protest. The event is expected to bring throngs to the Common, which in June was the scene of confrontations between military officials and war protesters.

Sheehan, part of the caravan of "Gold Star Families for Peace" which is traveling the country, plans to appear towards the end of the 3 p.m. program, according to organizer Cathy Hoffman of the Cambridge Peace Commission. Also speaking will be a Roslindale man, Carlos Arredondo, whose Marine son, Alexander, was killed in action last year. Hoffman said she hopes the event sparks dialogue, not diatribes. "It's an open time to reach out to people who felt offended about the use of the Common by the Army and those who felt offended by the protests," she said.

The June 14 event was a 230th birthday party for the United States Army. Many participants on both side of the issue agree that the low point came when protesters booed loudly during a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by 11-year-old David Smith, son of Medal of Honor winner Sgt. First Class Paul Ray Smith. David's father was killed while defending Baghdad International Airport in the early days of the invasion. Critics viewed the June event as a recruiting fair for the military that had no business taking place in Cambridge. Seven people were arrested for unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct. Court dates in those cases were scheduled for today at the Middlesex County Courthouse.

The political fallout from the June celebration continues. Vice Mayor Marjorie Decker on Monday pressed the city administration to reveal preliminary findings in a City Council-mandated report about the event. She led the Council to vote unanimously that the city's Law Department must present an interim report by noon Wednesday, the same time as the Chronicle's deadline. A key issue is whether the city will continue to use so-called "free speech zones" at large public gatherings. The idea behind the constitutionally questionable areas is that protesters can be confined away from the targets of their protests. The tactic was used at last summer's Democratic National Convention in Boston.

<snip>

Iraq war protesters rally on the Cambridge Common on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., with speeches at 3 p.m.

For more information, contact the Peace Commission at 617-349-4694