BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer
RED BANK — As Cindy Sheehan stands outside of the president’s Texas ranch to speak with him about her son who died in Iraq, thousands of people across the country stood with her last week.
As part of a nationwide campaign, there were more than 1,500 candlelight vigils held across the country, including one in Red Bank, where more than 300 people showed up to voice their support of Sheehan and their disapproval of the war in Iraq.
The nationwide protest was organized by MoveOn.org, a family of organizations that, according to its Web site, “brings real Americans back into the political process.”
From left to right: Peg Rice-Moir, Fair Haven, wearing a poster reading “Moms for Peace,” talks to Marjorie Morgan, Red Bank, during the candlelight vigil in support of Cindy Sheehan’s protest outside of President Bush’s Crawford, Texas, ranch. Karl Singer, Bayville, stands on the opposite side of the street from the supporters of Sheehan, saying that he supports the war in Iraq and the troops fighting in it. MoveOn.org primarily focuses on education and advocacy on national issues.
The vigil held in the borough in front of the Broad Street post office was organized locally by Peg Rice-Moir and her husband, Rob Moir, both of Fair Haven.
“We only had about 24 hours to organize,” said Moir. “And 186 people registered to come.”
When, at the height of the protest, a head count revealed that nearly double that number had actually shown up, Rice-Moir was proud.
“As soon as it was put on the [MoveOn.org] Web site,” she said, “it was like a match to dry tinder. MoveOn.org made it very easy.”
Sheehan, a California resident, whose Marine son, Casey, was killed while fighting in Iraq, has been camped outside of President George W. Bush’s Crawford, Texas, ranch since Aug. 6, demanding that the president speak with her about her son’s death and the war in Iraq. She recently left the vigil because of her mother’s health. She said she would be back.
Rhiannon Morgan, Red Bank, attended the vigil with her son, Noah Andrew; her mother, Marjorie Morgan; and her grandmother, Gerri Brandow, a World War II Army nurse.
As Rhiannon shouted encouraging cheers at cars passing by, Brandow thought back to her time in the Army.
“That’s what made me a pacifist,” she said. “You see these kids all beat up and battered, and you don’t want to see it happen to anyone else.”
Brandow said that this was her first vigil against the war in Iraq, but that she uses her computer to write to her senators about where she thinks this war is going.
“During Vietnam,” she said, “I went to a huge protest in New York. There were thousands of people there. There wasn’t a word of it in the media about it.
“What’s going on now is the worst I’ve ever seen it. I’ve never felt this terrible anger that I feel toward Bush and the entire administration,” Brandow continued. “When I hear they’re threatening Iran, it makes my blood run cold.”
Brandow said that she corresponds with an Iraqi woman whose 18-year-old son was recently arrested and detained for three days.
“I love corresponding with her,” she said. “She is very intelligent, and it allows me to see another side of things.”
Marjorie Morgan said she has her own protesting history of which to be proud.
“I had the dubious honor of signing an ‘Impeach Nixon’ petition in his first term,” she said. “I also had the dubious honor of being tear-gassed in Grant Park in Chicago.
“I don’t think war is the answer,” she continued. “Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. I’m sick and tired of the way the right smears, slanders and vilifies anyone who dares to speak out against this war and administration. It’s just wrong.”
Jerry and Susan Florance, Tinton Falls, brought their own living, breathing placard in the form of their poodle, Jack, who was wearing a sign reading “Bring the Troops Home Now!”
Also in tow was the Florances’ small gray poodle named Terry.
“Radicalized poodles,” said Jerry Florance.
“Poodles for peace,” said Susan Florance.
Susan Florance said that she appreciates having a local venue to speak out.
“It’s a nice way to get together locally,” she said. “It’s nice to get an opportunity to voice your opinion about the war.”
Also voicing his opinion about the war was Karl Singer, Bayville, who stood with a small group on the opposite side of the street, holding signs reading “Support Our Troops,” and speaking out against the action Sheehan is taking.
Singer is a member of Protest Warriors of Coastal New Jersey, a group that holds counter protests wherever antiwar activists set up camp.
“We feel Cindy Sheehan is exploiting her son,” he said, “as well as dishonoring all soldiers that have fallen in this war, and all other wars in this country’s history.”
Singer had an answer for the people who would ask him why, if he was so in favor of this war, he did not join the military.
“We chose years ago not to join,” he said. “When I was of the age to join, I was in college, and the country was at peace. I’m older now. I have a family. I have a wife who is disabled, and for all those reasons, I can’t join. I did speak to a recruiter.”
Singer said that there were only three people on his side of the street because he only found out about the protest the night before, when he received an e-mail from MoveOn.org.
“Just like they infiltrate us,” he said, “we infiltrate them.”
Singer said his group attends the weekly protest held outside of Fort Monmouth every Saturday, and is planning, like the people protesting for peace, to attend the Sept. 24 peace protest in Washington, D.C.
Singer said that he doesn’t believe it’s possible to support the U.S. troops if one doesn’t support the war.
“If you can’t support their job,” he said, “you can’t support the troops.”
Barbara Harubecky, Port Monmouth, said that her 48-year-old brother had to leave his wife and four children to look for bombs in Iraq.
She held his picture in one hand, and a candle in the other.
“I am very, very much against the war,” she said. “I think it’s unimaginable that the president can’t go out and speak to that woman [Sheehan] for five minutes.
“I think this woman is making the loudest noise with the smallest action,” Harubecky continued. “A peaceful and gentle action.”
PHOTOS BY LAYLI WHYTE