WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Anti-Iraq war demonstrators gathered at more than 1,000 locations around the United States, broadening a protest by the mother of a slain U.S. soldier.
Organizers put together the Wednesday evening protests in support of Cindy Sheehan, who has been camping near President Bush's Texas ranch in an attempt to meet with the president and tell him to bring U.S. troops home Iraq. The White House says such a meeting is unlikely, since Bush met with the Sheehan family last year after Casey Sheehan was killed.
The series of coast-to-coast protests were led by a group of liberal activist groups. Many protesters had signs asking Bush to meet with Sheehan and others lit candles and sang.
Near the White House, a small group of Bush supporters gathered in a counter-demonstration to the anti-war group there.
Before Sheehan's group began a vigil Wednesday, Gary Qualls went to the campsite and removed a cross bearing the name of his son, who died in the Iraq war, the BBC said. He called the gathering "disgraceful."
