Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan (C) speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo: Yahoo)

    BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan pledged Wednesday to "force change to happen" during protest speeches outside the White House and Capitol Hill.

    Cindy Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son was killed in Iraq last year, arrived in Washington after a three-week cross-country bus tour that began near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

    Mrs. Sheehan was joined by about 30 supporters in her march down Pennsylvania Avenue to deliver a letter to Bush urging him to pull the troops out of Iraq.

    "This is where we will force change to happen because we the people of America are the checks and balances on this government," she said. "And we will end this war."

    "We're willing to spend weeks out of our lives and ask them the hard questions," she added after handing the letter through the iron gates of the White House to a staff member who promised to deliver it.

    The  movement appeared to stall after the protesters left Bush's ranch, largely overshadowed by the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe. Though Hurricane Rita now threatens the Gulf coast again, the protesters said the fighting wouldn't stop because of hurricanes or other bad news.

    "There's still a war on," Sheehan said on Capitol Hill. "Nine Americans were killed yesterday in Iraq. We will end this war. We will bring the troops home."

    Mrs. Sheehan is expected to participate in an anti-Iraq war rally Saturday on the Ellipse behind the White House. Organizers hope it could draw tens of thousands of people. Enditem

    (Agencies)