Looks like her gig was canceled in CA...'Peace mom' cancels appearance
thedesertsun.com
Rasha Aly
The Desert Sun
April 22, 2007
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A controversial local visit by the mom opposed to the Iraq War has been canceled due to food poisoning.
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan called off her planned appearance scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Cathedral City Civic Center on Saturday.
Tom Swann, president of the local chapter Veterans for Peace, which invited Sheehan for the visit, said he heard from the "peace mom" activist Saturday. She had contracted food poisoning in Atlanta and was too ill to take her flight.
Swann said Sheehan will be at the Coachella Arts and Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, with more details to come.
"So all the people who hate her will get her next weekend," he said, referring to her controversial position in the debate about the Iraq War.
Members of the Gathering of Eagles were expected to protest the Sheehan visit. Cathedral City police did not plan to have any extra security, police officials said.
"As long as they don't break the law, they have the right to protest," said Sergeant Dave Hatfield.
The Gathering of the Eagles is a group made up of war veterans, mostly Vietnam veterans, who are against Sheehan's war views, said Andy Grow, a member of the group.
Grow had expected about 50 protesters, most on motorcycles.
The group had planned to protest both Sheehan's speech at the Cathedral City Civic Center, 68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero, and a private brunch in Palm Desert.
Known as the "peace mom," Sheehan attracted international attention in August 2005 for her extended demonstration at a peace camp outside President George Bush's Texas ranch. Her son, Casey Sheehan, was killed during his service in Iraq.
According to Grow, a Vietnam veteran, Americans should stay to complete the mission in Iraq.
The Veterans for Peace chapter members invited Sheehan because they are naming a new AMVETS Post, to be headquartered in Rancho Mirage, after her son, Swann said.
Sheehan was originally scheduled to speak at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert in Palm Springs, but about a week before the event, Rev. Andrew Green, who initially said "Yes" to her visit, canceled having the event at the church.
Some parishioners thought the church may be viewed as attacking the president or the war - especially with Sheehan's well-known stance against the war in Iraq, Green had said. |
