A Lawrence couple joined the anti-war protest at President Bush’s Texas ranch over the weekend.

Allan and Louise Hanson, longtime members of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace & Justice, joined a rally led by Cindy Sheehan, the mother of an American soldier who died in Iraq. Sheehan has vowed to maintain a vigil at Bush’s ranch until the president meets with her.

Allan Hanson said nearly 800 people attended the rally. He said Sheehan is a “fresh symbol” for the anti-war movement.

“I agree with her that we were brought into this war under false pretenses, that it is an unnecessary war and an unjust war,” he said.

Supporters of the war have criticized Cindy Sheehan, noting she met Bush on an earlier occasion and failed to express her concerns then.

The Hansons told about their trip Monday night at an anti-war rally in Lawrence.