Update from Celeste Zappala, Co-Founder of Gold Star Families for Peace

NY Bri of Daily Kos on Gold Star Families Protest

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Letter from Celeste Zappala RE: Cindy

by NYBri
Sat Aug 6th, 2005 at 14:42:27 PDT

I have received the following email from Celeste Zappala, co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace. She asked that I post it on Dailykos and to thank everyone for their support.

I have just spoken to Cindy Sheehan at 5:05 pm. Her message:

"Today is the begining of the end of the occupation of Iraq." She is feeling strong, people have been bringing her food and water. The police have been polite. She has decided to stay on the Prairie Chapel Road, which is one mile from the Ranch, until George Bush meets with her and tells the truth. She invites anyone who can to join her during the month of August for as long as they can. She urges them to bring camping gear. Also, there are two caravans coming in from Louisiana and from Dayton, Ohio now.

Cindy says she knows from her travels that "people are fed up with this war and want to do something to stop it."

Cindy asks that those who want to lend support to send donations to the Crawford Peace House which has been generously offering hospitialtiy.

Code Pink is sending out a national call for its members to have a hunger strike until George Bush has an honest meeting with Cindy. Cindy's sister Dede has joined that hunger strike. Please keep Cindy and all of our folks in prayer. This is a stand for the honor and memory of our kids and the soul of our nation.

peace be with you,
Celeste Zappala
Co-founder, Gold Star Families for Peace
Mother of Sgt Sherwood Baker, KIA 4/26/04

Update [2005-8-6 18:47:46 by NYBri]:

More from Cindy via Celeste.

JUST NOW—6:13 p.m.

Cindy just called again.

TWO PEOPLE CAME OUT FROM THE RANCH TO TALK TO HER: JOE HAGEN, ASSISTANT WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, AND STEVEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

They told Cindy, George Bush really believed there were weapons of mass destruction, Saddam was a threat, the war in Iraq is making America safer, we are fighting in Iraq so they we don't have to fight terrorists here, and George Bush sincerely cares about the loss of the soldiers and their families. They had a twenty-five minute discussion as Cindy refuted these tired arguements, and reminded the men that she had met Bush last June and she had felt disrespected and belittled. She said to them "You are intelligent men, how can you believe what you are saying?"

Cindy will continue to wait for an honest discussion with George Bush.

For my part, I am proud that Cindy is standing up against these dreadful lies and the Bush ideology that has blinded so many from reality and logic. It's as if they keep saying these things it will become true. As Cindy pointed out to the representatives, since our kids were killed, the Downing Street memo and the 9/11 Commission report have been released which refutes these false claims. Yet here we are on August 6, 2005 and the President's men are still trying to convince American Mothers that their kids died for WMD and 9/11 links. It is not only insulting, it is madness. I will keep you posted as I talk to Cindy.

blessings,
Celeste