Good afternoon, Richmond, Virginia

PA180033
Originally uploaded by Stunted Growth.

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Demonstrators from the Virginia Anti-War Network held a vigil in suburban Richmond, Virginia October 17 to "protest the arrival of Vice President Dick Cheney and demonstrate our dissatisfaction with his key role in embroiling us in an illegal and immoral war in the Middle East," said VAWN organizer Garrie Rouse.



Recent articles in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal have portrayed the vice president's office at the heart of an investigation into the disclosure of the identity of a CIA agent. Cheney came to Richmond Monday as the featured guest for a fund-raising dinner for Republican Jerry Kilgore’s gubernatorial campaign. This event was invitation-only at $5000 a plate. "As a key planner and promoter of the 'preemptive' war with Iraq, we need to remind Mr. Cheney that he is not free to travel this country with impunity, nor is he welcome in our home town," said Garrie Rouse.



"We had the good fortune of learning of the location of the home of the hosts for this event. It was at a gated community (Rivergate) on the south side of Patterson Avenue (Route 6), just inside the Goochland County line," about one-half hour west of downtown Richmond. The Virginia Antiwar Network vigil took place near one of the entrances, guarded by State Police, to this gated community from 5-6 pm.



"This was not be the same kind of setting as some of the vigils we have had in downtown Richmond. This is a semi-rural area, without sidewalks or immediate places to park." The group parked at a nearby shopping center and walked to an area across from the entrance. "This was a rare, local opportunity to make a statement of our opposition to this war to the highest administration leadership and its supporters."



The Virginia Anti-War Network is a recently-organized coalition of groups opposed to the war in Iraq. The group held a Cindy Sheehan Solidarity Day in front of the Federal Courthouse in downtown Richmond and sponsored the visit of the "Bring Them Home Now" Tour to Richmond.

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