Vigil protests war

As one mother of a fallen American soldier continues to demand

answers from President Bush about his administration’s handling of

the war in Iraq, hundreds of supporters held simultaneous vigils for

her Wednesday night.

At the corner of Newport Boulevard and 19th Street, in front of

what used to be Triangle Square’s Niketown store, more than 90 people

lined the sidewalks with signs and candles.

“I feel strongly that we shouldn’t be in this war,” said Costa

Mesa resident Zeta Heiter, one of the first people to arrive at the

vigil. “We are spending American lives that are way too precious.”

The crowd faced the street and stood silently in honor of Cindy

Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan of Vacaville,

Calif., was killed last year in Baghdad.

Sheehan has stationed herself outside of President Bush’s

Crawford, Texas, ranch, where he is vacationing this month. She has

said publicly that she wants the president to tell her in person why

the war was started and why it is being continued.

At the corner of Anton Boulevard and Bristol Street, an

intersection where protesters have convened for past events, about 50

Sheehan supporters solicited reaction from cars passing by South

Coast Plaza.

Westminster resident Suzanne Hibbs said she has attended about

eight vigils and protests at that location.

“I was amazed when I found out how many people had signed up for

this event,” said Hibbs, who considers herself a political liberal.

“It’s [Orange County] known to be a conservative area, so it’s neat

to see like-minded people.”About 150 people attended a similar vigil

at UC Irvine, according to Greg Gilbert, who attended the Triangle

Square event and called for totals elsewhere.

The events were sponsored by a trio of organizations: MoveOn.org,

True Majority and Democracy for America. According to MoveOn.org,

more than 1,500 vigils were scheduled nationwide Wednesday evening to

honor Sheehan’s son and other American troops who have died in Iraq.

Costa Mesa resident Ken Rhea, who was active in the student

anti-war movement in the 1960s and ‘70s, said this event reminded him

of ones planned in the Vietnam War era.

“It’s possible to feel patriotic and still feel like we are not

well-guided by our administration,” Rhea said.

Both Rhea and Heiter said they support the troops but don’t

support the way the Bush administration is handling the war.

Costa Mesa resident Diane Blair, who organized the vigil at

Triangle Square, said she wanted to give Newport-Mesa residents a

place to vent their frustrations and to support Sheehan.

“We want to make people aware of what’s going on,” Blair said.

“For those who don’t support the way the war is going, we want them

to know they aren’t alone.”

Newport Beach resident Stacy Taylor, who identified herself as a

friend of Sheehan, said she has visited and spoken with Sheehan

numerous times.

A picture of Sheehan’s son was pinned to her shirt.

“Her message is: ‘What noble cause are we fighting for?,’” Taylor

said. “I back up her question.”

Taylor said she plans to go to Crawford next week to visit

Sheehan.

Many who attended the vigils said they would like to accompany

Sheehan but will be unable to make the trip. Coming to Wednesday’s

vigil was their way to get involved.

“Hopefully it will mobilize more people to be vocal,” Heiter said.

“We have to be louder and more obvious because some people aren’t

listening.”

o7* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment

reporter. He may be reached at (714) 966-4623.

f7*

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