Local vigil reflects
U.S. anti-war beliefs
By Rick Harrison,
Home News Tribune Online August 18, 2005
HIGHLAND PARK, NJ -- Four-year- old
Elizabeth Macioci made her stand against the war in Iraq last night.
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Photos by AUGUSTO F. MENEZES/Staff photographer
Left,
Karolina Jekal of Parlin holds her son, 2-year-old Matthew, at the
candlelight vigil on Raritan Ave. When he asked to hold a sign like
others in attendance, Jekal replied he was a sign himself.
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AUGUSTO F. MENEZES/Staff photographer
A
candlelight vigil was held last night in Highland Park, along Route
27, just north of the Albany Street bridge. Participants were
demonstrating their solidarity with Cindy Sheehan, a peace activist
who took her fight to Crawford, Texas. Sue Strom of Highland Park
flashes a peace sign as she watches traffic go by. |
In a pink flowered dress, with pink flip-flops revealing red-painted toenails,
Elizabeth held up a sign that read, "Bring our children home," joining 180
people at a candlelight vigil on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.
They came in support of Cindy Sheehan, who continues to camp outside President
Bush's Crawford ranch, demanding he meet with her to justify the death of her
son, Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, who died in Iraq.
The gathering was one of over 1,600 across the country scheduled for last night,
involving 50,000 expected participants, according to registration on the
MoveOn.org Web site, which helped organize the vigils.
Similar events were planned for Somerville, Princeton, Cranford and Hazlet.
"I've never done anything before like this in my life ever," said Elizabeth's
mother, Beth Macioci of North Brunswick. "But Americans are sleeping, and
if people like me don't come out and protest the war, next time it could be my
son."
Her son, 10-year-old Nicholas Macioci, explained what he was doing on the side
of the road with his family and strangers, listening as cars honked their horns
in support. "Holding signs," he said, "trying to make people stop the
war."
Debra Templeton, 52, of Sayerville held a candle and a sign that read "Moms for
Peace," with a peace sign printed in the "o."
Templeton saw a practical purpose in coming out to support Sheehan.
"It shows other people they are not alone," she said. "That poor woman,
Cindy, just wants to know why her son died. I'd leave for Texas if I
could, but I can't leave my 15-year-old — he'd have a big party."
Rutgers graduate Kate Lochota, 22, empathizes with Sheehan's demand to see the
president, even though he met with her twice already. "Why not make a big
stink out of it?" she said. "Half of the nation is paying attention, and
the other half is blindly following the leader. Why not talk to her if
you're on vacation for five weeks?"
Tina Weishaus, a member of Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War, which
organized the Highland Park vigil, said of Sheehan: "She lost her son and
she wants to know why. Doesn't she deserve an answer that makes sense and
is honest?"
Mary Walworth, another member of the group from Highland Park, flew to Texas
Tuesday with her 7-year-old daughter to join Sheehan in her cause. Sheehan
has waited almost two weeks to speak with Bush, living in a tent on the side of
the road. Bush, who is spending August at the ranch, has declined to meet
with her despite her protests.
As Weishaus looked out over the two rows of anti-war protesters holding candles
on either side of her town's main street in the early dusk, a grieving mother in
Texas and thousands of sons, daughters, mothers and fathers in Iraq felt a
little closer.
"Obviously, we're not alone," she said.
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