Police Apologize to Sheehan, Drop Charge

You would assume that if you were coming to an event like the State of the Union address you would be dressed in appropriate attire

C'mon guys . . . does everything have to turn into a political stunt? Isn't anything sacred anymore?

This was just more of life in America under Bush, where you can be removed from the scene and detained without commiting a crime just for dissenting from Bush's view. You don't have to be disruptive, as Sheehan certainly wasn't in this case. They can kick you out because they don't like the bumper sticker on your car, or the slogan of your T-shirt. And law enforcement has caught on that you can reduce dissent by arresting people during an event, hold them until the event is over, and then releasing them without charge. So much for free speech.

In fact, Capital law in this case was quite clear [Warning: PDF] in such cases:

Unlike the grounds surrounding the Capitol, which historically have been the site of
numerous demonstrations, there has been a ban on demonstrations inside the Capitol since 1946 when
Congress decreed: "It shall be unlawful for any person or group of persons willfully and knowingly -- .
. . to parade, demonstrate, or picket within any of the Capitol Buildings." 40 U.S.C. § 193f(b)(7). The
United States Capitol Police are responsible for enforcing this ban. 40 U.S.C. § 212a. Believing that
the Capitol Police needed guidance in determining what behavior constitutes a "demonstration," the
United States Capitol Police Board issued a regulation that interprets "demonstration activity" to
include:

parading, picketing, speechmaking, holding vigils, sit-ins, or other
expressive conduct that convey[s] a message supporting or opposing a
point of view or has the intent, effect or propensity to attract a crowd of
onlookers, but does not include merely wearing Tee shirts, buttons or
other similar articles of apparel that convey a message.

(Emphasis mine)

So in other words Sheehan wearing a T-shirt very explicitly does not violate this regulation. All the other propaganda (that she was causing a disturbance, that she was hanging a banner, etc.) were lies designed to make it seem she deserved her treatment. Well, if you still think she deserved to be taken out, the police now disagree with you.

Since when is the State of the Union "sacred"?? It's a highly political event. Is it really surprising, or offensive, to seeing political messages being displayed there, even by members of the audience? If the Democrats can get away with boisterous applause to rub in the fact that they successfully stopped Bush's Social Security reforms (which they should be able to do), then why would a T-Shirt with a non-offensive political message not be allowed?

I don't know if Bush was directly responsible for silencing Sheehan, but he does have a history of preventing dissenting voices from being heard at his speeches. At the very least I would think that this is a result of those general policies. It's sad when people aren't allowed to peacefully protest (silently in this case) in a nation that prides itself on freedom of speech.

If anyone wants to read Cindy's own account of what happened, I found it online. It matches what the police are saying now.

And the reason for anyone caring anymore is...?

Clearly she forgot that she was no longer in the "Free Speech zone". This is not to be confused with the "Civil Liberties zone" two block north.

It sad that the discrediting of a person like Cindy Sheehan through false statements and inuendo always receives media attention, whereas their correction is often shuffled to the back page or ignored entirely. I'll be interested to see how much coverage this appology gets, of if any media actually bother to look up the rules that Nebula Clash posted.

I'm sure the talking heads on Fox News will have moved on to redder pastures.

NebulaClash writes:

This was just more of life in America under Bush, where you can be removed from the scene and detained without commiting a crime just for dissenting from Bush's view.

And of course you have proof positive the orders came down from the WH via Karl Rove. And please links to dKos does nothing for the discusion. Unless your infected with BDS it's not worth the time clicking the link.

The last three paras of the article tell the whole story, and the end of it.

I'm sorry . . . maybe "sacred" was not the best word when referring to politics :-)

I suppose this was just another one of her publicity stunts . . . . and any publicity is good publicity . . . so I guess, in a way, even I am helping to spread her message.

Glad they issued an apology, etc ...

Really, her getting arrested is exactly what she wanted.

I happen to think she's not the greatest face for the anti-war movement, but I'd agree that she's been unjustly treated in this instance.

Moser: You're exactly right. Remember when Pete Townshend was charged with counts of possessing child pornography? (It was a huge story with the media.) Remember when he was cleared of those charges? No? Probably because the media didn't care at that point and didn't report the truth behind the accusations once the truth was uncovered.

The man has worked tirelessly against such abuse of children, and the only story was when he was accused of participating in said abuse. Shameful.

I happen to think she's not the greatest face for the anti-war movement, but I'd agree that she's been unjustly treated in this instance.

Moser: You're exactly right. Remember when Pete Townshend was charged with counts of possessing child pornography? (It was a huge story with the media.) Remember when he was cleared of those charges? No? Probably because the media didn't care at that point and didn't report the truth behind the accusations once the truth was uncovered.

The man has worked tirelessly against such abuse of children, and the only story was when he was accused of participating in said abuse. Shameful.

And of course you have proof positive the orders came down from the WH via Karl Rove. And please links to dKos does nothing for the discusion.

I never said it came down via orders from the WH or Karl Rove, did I? I merely said this is life in Bush's America.

As for the link to dKos, if you can find another other site that had Cindy's side of the story, I'd be happy to post it instead. She seems to have an account there, and posted her story there. Isn't it important to get both sides of any story, and isn't it best to get it directly from the person involved. I linked directly to her account, and nothing else, so if click the link you'll only read her direct account. What on earth is wrong with that? I thought it would be helpful in this discussion to get her account. Do you really think it's wrong to hear her side?

The woman is an idiot. Her son is dead and their is nothing she can do about it to get him back. My brother(currently in Iraq) and myself know personal friends in Iraq who died for their country fighting for a just cause. They and every single person who is fighting over their know what they're getting in for when they sign those enlistment letters. For her to still be crying over something her son made a decision on by HIMSELF is just shameful to her and her son.

KevinR, this is a story about how the police admit they did wrong, and they apologized. Why are you expressing your hatred for Cindy in this story?

KevinR,

Do you disagree that Ms. Sheehan is voicing her beliefs in the most American way possible? She is demonstrating, peacefully, against a war she feels is unjust. Which IS something America stands for. Just because you disagree with her point of view does not make her an idiot.

Why do minutes keep getting added to her 15 minutes of fame?

Because the police mistakenly arrested her, thus making headlines. Blame them this time.

This woman was obviously a very high risk invite. Whoever invited her shouldn't have done it in the first place. Otherwise, I don't care to hear about this woman or any other kooks for that matter.

Risk of what? Something off-message? Dissent?

With all that is said and done, I believe this is the dumbest bloody thing I have ever heard from a politician.

""My wife was humiliated," he told reporters. He suggested that "sensitivity training" may be in order for Capitol Police."

The woman is an idiot. Her son is dead and their is nothing she can do about it to get him back. My brother(currently in Iraq) and myself know personal friends in Iraq who died for their country fighting for a just cause. They and every single person who is fighting over their know what they're getting in for when they sign those enlistment letters. For her to still be crying over something her son made a decision on by HIMSELF is just shameful to her and her son.

I don't have a brother over there but I do have a couple of friends, and I hear exactly what you're saying. They knew exactly what they are getting into and at least the guys that I seem like they wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

After probably the inital shock, none of the grandstanding that Sheehan has done has been about the death of her son.

I wish your brother the best of luck and hopes he stays safe.

Did anyone notice that two people were arrested? Hmm, I will only notice what I want to notice. Forget about the facts. Seems like the Left to me.

Of course people noticed, it's right there in the story up above, and I knew about it yesterday. But if people want to attack Cindy, that's what's going to be discussed.

MKB, did you notice the police apologized to both women, and that neither woman violated laws? Did you also notice that Cindy was arrested while the Republican woman was not?

There is nothing sacred about the state of the union speech. Up until Woodrow Wilson Presidents submitted a written State of the Unions. I wish they would resume that tradition. What you have is a yearly orchestrated political stunt its no wonder people like Sheehan are attracted to the circus.