NYC

'Peace Mom,' Susan Sarandon host benefit concert

(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe (left), antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan and Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels pose before the Bring 'Em Home Now! concert in New York Monday night.

Actress Susan Sarandon and activist Cindy Sheehan joined hit musicians in New York Monday night, at a concert campaigning against stationing U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

Held on the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Bring 'Em Home Now! concert lineup included R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, comedienne Margaret Cho, Canadian singer Rufus Wainwright, electronica-pop star Moby, indie artist Conor Oberst (better known as Bright Eyes), singer-songwriter Laura Dawn and electronica troupe Fischerspooner.

"It's awesome to me because there are more and more kids getting involved," Sheehan, the self-proclaimed "Peace Mom," said at a press conference before the concert.

Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004, made headlines last August when she staged a month-long antiwar protest outside the Texas ranch of U.S. President George W. Bush.

Monday night's concert was the kickoff to the Bring 'Em Home speaking tour, during which Sheehan and noted authors will travel to 15 U.S. cities and talk about the war.

"The arts can speak about critical issues of our time," event producer Chris Wangro, who helped organize the New York concert, told the Associated Press.

Sarandon, long one of Hollywood's most outspoken peace activists, said the artists were playing their part in the antiwar effort by attending the concert.

Sarandon said she is in talks to portray Sheehan in a film and said that the activist mother "gave a face to all that was going on."

According to the concert organizers, about 3,000 tickets were sold and profits will go to antiwar groups, including Gold Star Families for Peace and Veterans Against the War.

[original article]