Sheehan, Cindy (1957–)

Cindy Sheehan's son, Army Specialist Casey Austin Sheehan, was killed in Sadr City, Iraq, on April 4, 2004. Shortly after Casey's death, his sister Carly wrote a poem titled A Nation Rocked to Sleep that details the anguish felt by a family and a nation when a soldier dies. The poem inspired Cindy Sheehan to speak out about Casey's death and about her anti-war sentiment. In October 2004, Cindy traveled with her sister, her daughters, and close family friends to a United for Peace and Justice Rally in Washington, D.C., Cindy spoke to the crowd and openly wept as she told of the pain of losing Casey.

In January 2005, Cindy helped establish Gold Star Families for Peace, along with Casey's father, Pat Sheehan, and several others who had lost family members in Iraq. In August 2005, Cindy decided to approach President George W. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to ask for what noble cause her son had died. Bush refused to meet with Sheehan, who took up residence in a ditch outside of the ranch. She was joined by various peace and justice groups, including Veterans for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink, and Iraq Veterans Against the War. Sheehan stayed in Crawford for the month of August. Media coverage helped to spread awareness of Cindy's mission; she received national and international attention. The site of protest became known as Camp Casey. At the end of August, Camp Casey activists took part in an antiwar bus tour from Crawford to Washington, D.C.

Since August 2005, peace activists have gathered in Crawford during Thanksgiving of 2005 and Easter 2006. Camp Casey serves as a site of protest, a place for healing, and an opportunity for coalition building for various peace groups. Reverend Joseph Lowry attended Camp Casey in Easter of 2006 and endorsed a growing and inclusive peace movement.

Cindy has traveled nationally and internationally since Casey's death questioning the Bush administration's foreign and domestic policies, and advocating for peace. She spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Downing Street Memo. In January 2006, Cindy Sheehan was arrested at the State of the Union address for wearing a T-shirt that listed the number of soldiers killed in Iraq and asked: How Many More?

Some compare Sheehan's celebrity to that of politicians and Hollywood celebrities. Her notoriety leads to mixed public reaction. Many critics continue to disagree with Sheehan's political positions, and some [Page 1282]question her motives. Yet, those who disagree are reluctant to criticize publicly a mother who has lost her son to the war. It is difficult to censure a mother for mourning the loss of her Eagle Scout.

Cindy's first book, Not One More Mother's Child, recounts the events at the first Camp Casey. Her writings and speeches are available on http://www.truthout.org, http://www.moveon.org, and http://www.commondreams.org.

Casey Sheehan is also survived by his father Pat Sheehan and his three younger siblings Carly, Andy, and Jane.