Photo by Lona Cain

Speaking her mind: Debra Sweet, national coordinator of The World Can’t Wait, speaks out against Bush and the war at a protest held in Houston.

Rally round the flag in protest: Anti-war, anti-Bush rally calls for impeachment

By Jessica Hennessy

The event, called "Impeachment: Our Right, Our Duty," was held for people to be able to gather and protest, network, petition, and speak out about bringing home as military men and women. The main focus was on the duties and rights of the American people to impeach the president for the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

The keynote speaker at the event was Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. Sheehan first attracted international attention when she protested outside Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, in August 2005. Sheehan continues to show up and camp out in protest - even as recently as Easter weekend.

Several attendees at the event praised Sheehan, saying she is the reason a large portion of Americans have started speaking out against Bush and the war.

"We do this to save other people's children, so they won't have to go through what we did," Sheehan said.

Groups such as The Progressive Action Alliance, The World Can't Wait - Drive out the Bush Regime, CODEPINK, The Harris County Green Party, Veterans for Peace, Democracy for Houston, and The Greater Heights Democratic Club sponsored the event.

Booths were set up by all the different activist groups. Many were giving away T-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers with sayings on them such as "Peace or Bush," "Drive out the Bush Regime" and "Give Peace a Vote."

Mary Ann Wright, former army colonel and State Department official, was the first to speak to the enthusiastic audience. She spent Easter weekend with Sheehan camping out at Bush's ranch to protest the war.

"It is a tragic statement that we cannot believe our own government," Wright said. "That's a good reason to impeach the president of the United States." Sissy Farenthold, former state representative for Texas, focused her speech on two factors: accountability and Iraqi oil. She blames Bush and his administration for not taking responsibility and making excuses for their actions.

"Do we as people have the will and fortitude to expose this corrupt empire and restore our constitution?" Farenthold asked. "Because the two are essentially incompatible."

There was a general feeling among the anti-war protestors that Bush was a criminal and deserved more than impeachment. A common theme shouted out among the protestors was that he deserved jail time.

Lon Burnam, a state representative for Texas, expressed his appreciation for the audience's courage to fight for their rights. He pointed out the significance of voting and how it has become a problem because too many people "refuse to dirty their hand in mainstream electoral politics." "We are going to get rid of Bush one way or another," Burnam shouted, causing the audience to go wild with excitement.

Burnam was the only member of the Texas Legislature who spoke out against the war four years ago.

Robert Jensen, professor of journalism at the University of Texas - Austin, also spoke out against the war and Bush.

"A President does not, by himself, commit crimes," Jensen said. "It has to happen only in a world that supports those crimes."

For information on the event and others like it, go to the Progressive Action Alliance Web site at www.paa-tx.org