Cindy Sheehan resigns as 'face' of antiwar movement

Although these early efforts helped the antiwar movement grow from grass roots to mainstream, Sheehan quickly became a controversial figure. Her outspoken nature and attacks that transcended party lines caused many antiwar activists to view her as a liability. Consequently, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that despite her contributions, the antiwar movement will not struggle without Sheehan.

Anti-war leaders praised her bravery in putting a human face on the war's toll, but said the movement will not be derailed by her departure. Analysts said Sheehan has become an increasingly polarizing figure since staging her impromptu "Camp Casey" in Crawford, Texas, in August 2005, especially after she appeared with Bush-bashing Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and announced that she would not pay federal income taxes to support the war.

"She did a tremendous thing in that she took her personal loss and made it public, so that people could understand the cost of the war," said Nita Chaudhary, an anti-Iraq-war organizer for MoveOn.org. Sheehan had criticized MoveOn in March for not doing enough to oppose the war.

"The anti-war movement is now the person next door, it's not just Cindy Sheehan," Chaudhary said.

The resignation has pleased a number of Sheehan's critics, many of whom accused her of exploiting her son's death and profaning his memory. The Associated Press spoke with one of her opponents who believes the antiwar movement fueled Sheehan's rage to better serve their needs.

Kristinn Taylor, spokesman for FreeRepublic.com, which has held pro-troop rallies and counter-protests of anti-war demonstrations, said dwindling crowds at Sheehan's Crawford protests since her initial vigil may have led to her decision. But he also said he hopes she will now be able to heal.

"Her politics have hurt a lot of people, including the troops and their families, but most of us who support the war on terror understand she is hurt very deeply," Taylor said Tuesday. "Those she got involved with in the anti-war movement realize it was to their benefit to keep her in that stage of anger."

Despite Sheehan's exit from the antiwar movement, she does not appear to be departing from the public stage. On Tuesday she appeared on The Ed Schultz Show, a progressive radio program, and said that she plans to redirect her efforts to greater humanitarian causes (requires audio player).

In an interview with CNN, Sheehan's sister spoke about Cindy's future plans.

Cindy Sheehan's sister, DeDe Miller, told CNN that the group would continue working for humanitarian causes, but drop its involvement in the anti-war movement. As for her sister's letter, Miller said, "She cried for quite a bit after writing it."

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