Cindy Sheehan, famous for her high profile "Camp Casey" Iraq war protests outside former- president George W. Bush's Crawford, Texas home, comes to Sonoma State University on Fri., May 15 at 7 p.m. in the University Gym.
Her lecture will focus on how individual action can help President Barack Obama end the wars and occupations in the Middle East.
Known worldwide for her determined efforts to promote peace, Sheehan has been called "the Rosa Parks of the antiwar movement" and nicknamed "Peace Mom" by the mainstream press.
In 2007, she challenged California State Representative Nancy Pelosi for her Congress seat, based on what Sheehan called Pelosi's failure to attempt impeachment of Bush. She has also spoken of ambitions to run against California senator Diane Feinstein.
Sheehan's oldest son, 24-year old Casey Austin Sheehan, was killed on April 4, 2004 while serving in Iraq. Austin was a Specialist in the First Cavalry Division in Sadr City, and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star posthumously for his valor in combat.
In response to the loss, Sheehan founder Gold Star Families for Peace in January 2005. The organization is comprised of family members who have lost relatives as a result of the war and is dedicated to ending the occupation in Iraq and bringing the troops home.
In August 2005, camped outside Bush's Crawford home during his five-week vacation, resolving to remain there until he granted her request for a personal explanation of the "noble cause" for which her son died. She was joined by other peace activists and the encampment, dubbed "Camp Casey," swelled to include hundreds of protestors.
Suggested donation is $10 at the door as a fund-raiser for Project Censored, Students for Democracy and Media Fee Foundation's Investigative Research Fund. SSU students admitted free.
For more information, contact Peter Phillips at (707) 664-2588 or peter.phillips@sonoma.edu.
