From the Los Angeles Times
A Capitol offense
Just before Bush spoke of freedom Tuesday night, she was jailed over a T-shirt that took a stand.
By Cindy Sheehan
February 3, 2006
I WAS ARRESTED in the U.S. Capitol just minutes before the State of the Union address for wearing a T-shirt that pointed out how many Americans, like my son, Casey, have been killed in Iraq. The T-shirt simply said: "2,245 Dead. How Many More?"
During the address, President Bush uttered the word "freedom" 17 times, saying that was what our troops were fighting in Iraq to defend. At a minimum, you'd think we would all have the freedom to express ourselves through slogans on a T-shirt.
Is this what my son died for? Is this theft of our precious freedom of speech the "noble cause" that Bush told us our soldiers are fighting for?
Sure, I'm outspoken and don't normally shy away from protesting. But that wasn't my plan. Just hours before the speech, I had been given a ticket by Rep. Lynn Woolsey of Petaluma, who has worked to press Congress to bring the troops home.
At first I didn't really want to go, and I gave the ticket away to someone who gave it back. I would not have been disruptive out of respect for Lynn and the many other members of Congress I deeply admire.
I intended to make a statement, not a scene. Had I wanted to create a disruption, I would have waited until the president arrived to reveal my shirt.
My ticket was in the fifth gallery, front row. An officer — who a few minutes later would arrest me — helped me to my seat. I had just sat down and was warm from climbing three flights of stairs, so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my left arm out when the officer saw my shirt and yelled "protester!" He then hauled me out of my seat and shoved me up the stairs.
The officer ran, pulling me with him, to an elevator, yelling at everyone to move out of the way. Then he handcuffed me as we rode down and then took me outside to await a squad car.
DESPITE WHAT was said in several reports, I was never asked to change the shirt or zip up my jacket. If I had been asked to do those things I would have and expressed concerns about the suppression of my freedom of speech later.
I was immediately and roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off and arrested for "unlawful conduct." The reports about my being "vocal," attributed to the police, are also untrue.
Lawyers have advised me that I was well within my constitutional rights to wear a T-shirt emblazoned with a slogan. The police belatedly agreed and said they would drop the charges. I don't understand how they could have held me in jail for four hours before saying that this was all a mistake.
After my personal items were inventoried and my fingerprints taken, a nice sergeant came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2,245, huh? I just got back from there." I told him that my son died there.
That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. On top of losing my son, I have lost my 1st Amendment rights.
Where did my America go? I started crying in pain.
What did Casey die for? What did the 2,244 other brave young Americans die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for? For this? I can't even wear a shirt that has the number of troops on it that Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are responsible for killing.
Polls indicate that the people in our country and Iraq want this war to end. The war is making this country and the world less safe and secure. It's time to stop the killing by bringing the troops home.
I wore the shirt to make a statement. I believed it was my right to do so.
I don't want to live in a country that prohibits any person from wearing, saying, writing or relaying over a telephone negative statements about the government. That's why I am taking my freedoms and liberties back. That's why I am not going to let the Bush administration take anything else away from me. They already took my son away. That was more than enough.
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CINDY SHEEHAN is a co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace and a member of Military Families Speak Out
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WHAT Apology?
By Cindy Sheehan
I just saw the below "apology" on MichaelMoore.com...thanks Eric!
This is the biggest crock of horse manure ever.
Everyone is saying how "wonderful" it is that they apologized to me.
Look at a few things they said: My "initial" conduct wasn't enough to warrant me getting arrested.
None of my conduct was. I didn't yell at the officer, or call anyone an "idiot" like Mrs. Young did.
Secondly, it states the Mrs. Young wasn't arrested because she didn't "return to the gallery."
Why did they arrest me? They didn't even give me the opportunity to leave the gallery.
They had fours hours to figure out that I didn't do anything wrong. The Capitol police tried the tactic of smearing me and lying about me when I was in jail to the media. I guess they didn't count on the Reuter's reporter who was sitting right next to me.
They also started lying about me when I was in jail, I heard a female officer say "She took off her jacket and threw it." And MIke Weight who arrested me said I "stood up and started yelling something."
The Capitol police could not support their lies, that's why they apologized.
Tbat's the only reason.
_________________________
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The United States Capitol Police will request that the U.S. Attorney's Office not pursue the charge against Cindy Lee Sheehan who was arrested Tuesday Night before the President's State of the Union address.
Mrs. Sheehan was charged Tuesday night with Unlawful Conduct after she displayed a T-shirt with an anti-war message while in the House Gallery. Subsequently she was arrested and transported to USCP Headquarters for processing.
As the Department reviewed the incident, it was determined that while officers acted in a manner consistent with the rules of decorum enforced by the Department in the House Gallery for years, neither Mrs. Sheehan's manner of dress or initial conduct warranted law enforcement intervention. The USCP also asked Mrs. Beverly Young, to leave the gallery because of a T-shirt she was wearing. Mrs. Young did not return to the Gallery so there was no need for further police action. Neither guest should have been confronted about the expressive T-shirts.
"The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol. The policy and procedures were too vague," said Chief Terrance W. Gainer. "The failure to adequately prepare the officers is mine."
Chief Gainer met with Chairman Young and his wife to both apologize and share the Department's plans for avoiding this in the future. A similar message has been left with Mrs. Sheehan.
The Department will work with the House Sergeant at Arms to clarify the rules of the House, and ensure that officers clearly understand the rules.
If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to this release please contact the United States Capitol Police Public Information Office at 202-224-1677.
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REMINDER: Meeting of the South Florida Peace &
Justice Coalition, Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1pm at St.
Maurice Church (corner of Stirling Rd. & Lake Shore
Dr., 1 mi. west of I-95) in the Music Room.
The newly-recreated SFPJNet is a coalition of regional
peace & justice groups to coordinate and strengthen
our efforts. Groups participating include the Broward
AntiWar Coalition, Truth Project Inc., Miami for
Peace, CodePink, Raging Grannies, Veterans for Peace,
Bolivarian Youth, Haiti Solidarity Committee, IMPACT
Collective, Coral Springs for Peace, Boca Peace
Corner, Greens, Progressive Democrats, and other
groups (sorry if I left your group off--I'm just
listing the first ones that came to mind!).
Individuals NOT affiliated with the above groups are
more than welcome to attend and participate in the
Network! But we would also encourage you to get
involved with a local group in your area.
We're planning activities in all 3 counties to mark
the 3rd anniversary of the invasion of Iraq in
mid-March. Your input and participation are vital to
making this effort a success!
Today I received word from Ray that former soldier and
political prisoner, Camilo Mejia, jailed for
courageously refusing to participate in the occupation
of Iraq will be at our meeting. He's been active with
Vets for Peace and will present a proposal for a
campaign to link antiwar efforts together with a
people's initiative to rebuild the Gulf Coast,
culminating in a march from Mobile, AL to New Orleans.
They're looking for participation from constituent
groups of the Network for a film presentation in each
county as well as other activities.
SEE YOU ON SUNDAY!!
Paul Lefrak
Broward AntiWar Coalition
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