And What About Cindy?

Cindy Sheehan, flanked by members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Hart Viges(L) and Charles Anderson(R), speaks during a press conference at her makeshift camp near the ranch of US President George W. Bush in Crawford.
Photo: Mandel Ngan
Conscientious Objectors


















Voices of Activism: Crawford © Unconditional Theatre 2006


Contra Costa Times
Sunday Aug. 13, 2006

Cindy Sheehan returned to Texas on Friday after a few days in Seattle at the Veterans for Peace convention. She planned to resume the war protest she started Aug. 6, the first anniversary of the beginning of her 26-day peace vigil that drew thousands of anti-war demonstrators and spurred counter demonstrations by Bush supporters.

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Sheehan paid for a 5-acre lot about 7 miles from Bush's ranch last month so protesters would have a place to gather while the president is at his ranch. Last year, she started out camped in ditches along the road leading to Bush's ranch, until county officials banned roadside parking and camping. A sympathetic landowner then let the group gather on his 1-acre lot near the ranch.

Last summer millions of people around the world tracked the story of Cindy Sheehan, distraught mother of a soldier killed in the early part of the Iraq war. Thousands more showed up in Crawford to help her protest, and mourn her loss, and the disasterous war.

Members of Unconditional Theatre traveled to Crawford, Texas, to interview people on all sides of the anti-war protests. The resulting documentary play traces the journeys of some surprising activists who stepped out of their comfort zones to get involved. It includes the voices of Camp Casey founders, soldiers who turned against the war, first-time activists, religious progressives, and counter-protesters from the "other side of the road". Every word comes from the actual people they met in Crawford.

Director John Warren has written an essay called The Wisdom of Crawford (pdf) which describes the company's experiences and the evolution of this theatre piece.


If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area you can see this fascinating study of history in the making.

VOICES OF ACTIVISM: CRAWFORD
Evenings of Documentary Theatre, Storytelling and Dialogue

Created & Directed by John Warren
Based on interviews conducted by Ashley Boyd, Kim Fowler, & John Warren

Featuring Joan Bernier, Susan Brashear, Tom Darci, Brady Gill, Jennifer Gordon, Karen Hester, Jay Martin, Tom Parker, Peter Schmuckal, Valerie Weak, & Jordan Winer

Friday August 25th, 7:30pm
Temescal Creek Co-Housing, 322 45th St, Oakland, California

Wednesday August 30th, 7:30pm
La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, California

Thursday August 31st, 7:30pm
Tam High School's Ruby Scott Theatre, 700 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, California

Admission $2-$20 (sliding scale)
Advance reservations not necessary
Email: untheatre@earthlink.net
Phone: (510) 883-1877

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