POSTPONED: Cindy Sheehan in Palm Desert

Greetings to all:
Cindy Sheehan will be in the desert Saturday April 21. We have her speaking at St. Paul's church in Palm Springs at 7:00 PM. In appreciation of Ginny Foat we ask that Ginny have the honor of introducing Cindy.

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Veterans for Peace seeks new site after anti-war mom's speech canceled at church

10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 13, 2007

By SANDRA BALTAZAR MARTÍNEZ
The Press-Enterprise

Veterans for Peace is searching for a new location where anti-war mom Cindy Sheehan can speak next weekend.

Sheehan was scheduled to speak April 21 at The Church of St. Paul in the Desert in Palm Springs, but news of her visit brought tension among church members, prompting the church rector, the Rev. Andrew Green, to cancel the event.

Veterans for Peace members say they are disappointed with the short notice because Sheehan's visit to the desert also involves a commemoration of a veterans post in Rancho Mirage that will be renamed in honor of Sheehan's son, Casey, an Army specialist who was killed in Iraq in 2004, said Tom Swann, commander of the new post.

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Swann said he understood Green's position, especially when parishioners threatened to form a picket line.

The church didn't invite Sheehan to speak there, Green said. Veterans for Peace just asked if they could use a space for the event and he approved, he added.

"I didn't anticipate it was going to be as big a deal as it was," Green said.

On Thursday, Green called Veterans for Peace to announce the cancellation.

"It was creating a certain amount of tension, and it was a distraction from what we are about at the congregation," Green said.

Swann said he is looking into hotels or a Coachella Valley city that might have an events room available. The meeting will be free and open to the public.

Swann said they are aiming to reschedule the event for April 22 -- the same day the group will have a reception at a private home, Swann said. Attendants may give a $40 donation, Swann said.

"We fought for American values," Swann said. "Cindy Sheehan has a First Amendment right to say what she wants to say."

Those interested in attending the private reception may call Tom Swann at 760-324-5670.

Reach Sandra Baltazar Martínez at 760-837-4412 or at sbmartinez@PE.com