Anti-war activist takes on “untouchable” Democrats
BY SCOTT WEAVER, C-ville Weekly, Charlottesville, Va.

On June 20, anti-war activist and perennial pain-in-POTUS’-ass, Cindy Sheehan, will lead a rally on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. Sheehan—who in May quit her anti-war activism in disgust only to return recently—is traveling to Washington, D.C., to call for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. She’s also announced that she’ll run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if Pelosi doesn’t back impeachment by July 23. Here’s some of Sheehan’s conversation with C-VILLE while she was on the road to Montgomery, Alabama.

Cindy Sheehan gave C-VILLE an exclusive interview in advance of her Charlottesville anti-war protest on July 20.

C-VILLE: What prompted your return to activism?

Cindy Sheehan: I always planned on coming back in a humanitarian group called People for Humanity. But when George Bush commuted “Scooter” Libby’s sentence, that really pulled me back in. While I was away, George’s “surge” had been disastrous. Then Dick Cheney says he’s not in the executive branch and doesn’t have to turn over his papers to the National Archives. That was just another flagrant abuse of executive power. It was just the last straw. I had to get back in earlier. I have been deeply disappointed with the Democratic leadership since they took over office. I had no illusions they were going to make much of a difference. Even before they were elected, Nancy Pelosi said impeachment was off the table. » read more »

The article focuses on efforts to start a chapter of Code Pink in Lynchburg.

The Richmond times Dispatch reports:

WASHINGTON -- Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, signed today as a co-sponsor of a resolution with articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney, according to Moran's spokesman. » read more »

WHAT: Rally for peace, justice, and impeachment, part of Cindy Sheehan's "Journey for Humanity" march/drive from Crawford, Texas, to New York City.

WHO: Cindy Sheehan, other leading activists for peace and justice, the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, and other allied peace and justice organizations.

WHEN: Friday, July 20, 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Outside, on the west end of the Downtown Mall, in front of the Charlottesville Ice Park, in Charlottesville, Va.

RAIN LOCATION: In case of hard rain, the event will be held at the Albemarle County Office Building at 401 McIntire Rd.

WHY: Because Dick Cheney is still the Vice President and Iraq is still occupied.

Cindy Sheehan, mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, is co-founder and president of Gold Star Families for Peace and The Camp Casey Peace Institute. She is leading a march / drive from Crawford, Texas, that will pass through Charlottesville, Va., on July 20th. Other leading activists taking part in the march and coming to Charlottesville include Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President of the Hip Hop Caucus; Debra Sweet, National Coordinator of World Can't Wait; 27-year CIA veteran Ray McGovern; and David Swanson, Cofounder of AfterDowningStreet.org and a Board Member of the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice (CCPJ). The route of the march can be found at http://www.thecampcaseypeaceinstitute.org » read more »

Virginia May Spurn GOP in '08, Independents Leaning Democratic for President
By Tim Craig and Jennifer Agiesta, Washington Post » read more »

WE MAKE CHANGE: COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY DO – AND WHY
By Kristin Layng Szakos and Joe Szakos

Buy a copy!

AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR ORGANIZERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEM!
Community organizers work at their jobs because they are passionate, because they believe that change is possible, and because they enjoy working with people. Although it's not an occupation that leads to great wealth, community organizers can make a living at it. They get salaries, pensions and health insurance. They raise families. They do well by doing good. » read more »

The Urban Journal airs tonight at 8p (est) and 5p(PAC) on XM Ch. 169 The Power, but it can be heard right now at www.theurbanjournal.org - and in the second and third audio segments you'll hear Norman Solomon and Loretta Alper discussing the new film War Made Easy. You can purchase a copy on DVD right here. You can catch the premier at Gravity Lounge on July 5, and you can hear Norman Solomon speak in Charlottesville on October 7.

1. Bill Anderson called our Annual Meeting to order at 6:55 with thanks to Westminster Presbyterian Church for use of their Fellowship Hall, and kitchen for the foregoing potluck supper, & he announced the order of business. He recapitulated the history of the organization, explaining how CCPJ functions and at what other points in the year people can get involved, and by what other means: e-mail list, newsletter, general monthly meetings, elected Board service, tabling, salons, lectures, films, parades, fundraisers, plus the many things we do in coalition & cosponsorship with other groups.

2. There followed several committee reports introducing the several standing committees of CCPJ: Speakers Committee (Sarah Lanzman), Tabling Committee (Lorrie Delehanty), Salon Committee (Susan Oberman), Website Committee (David Swanson), Arts for Peace Fundraiser Committee (Sarah Lanzman). » read more »

By Kevin Zeese

I am writing this to anti-war advocates in Virginia as this is a critical moment in advocacy on the Iraq War. Please forward this message to email lists of peace advocates and others you know in Virginia as Sen. Warner needs to hear from Virginians right now as he is considering his next move. It is very likely that the position he takes will become the position of the Senate and will pull many Republican senators, especially the 21 up for re-election in 2008, to his position. » read more »