Posted on 10/26/2005 10:16:03 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
US police have arrested Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a US soldier killed in Iraq who has become a prominent war opponent, along with two dozen people for demonstrating without authorisation in front of the White House.
Ms Sheehan became an icon of the anti-war movement when she camped outside President George W Bush's ranch in Texas during his August vacation, demanding he meet her for a second time.
Ms Sheehan had met the President earlier with a group of families of fallen soldiers.
Ms Sheehan and the other protesters staged a "die-in" in front of the the White House, lying on the ground to symbolise US soldiers killed in Iraq.
Several dozen sympathisers applauded as Ms Sheehan and others were taken away, while counter-protesters booed the group.
"Cindy Sheehan has been arrested with about 25 other people because she was demonstrating without a permit in front of the White House," Lieutenant Phil Beck of the US Park Police said.
"They laid down on the sidewalk without a permit, they were advised three times to leave the area, they chose not to leave therefore they were arrested.
"Most of them will probably be released tonight."
They face a $US75 fine.
She has called for civil disobedience around the country to demand the withdrawal of the 140,000 US troops from Iraq, as the US military death toll hit 2,000.
"There comes a time when we have to break a small law, like sitting down in front of the White House, in order to point out a greater law that's being broken," Ms Sheehan said in a statement.
"I can't imagine a greater law being broken than a war being waged in our name, whose justifications have proven to be false, and yet goes on and on anyway, taking the lives of thousands of people," she said.
Ann Wilcox, a protester with the anti-war group Code Pink, called Ms Sheehan "the Rosa Parks of our movement".
Ms Parks, who died this week aged 92, helped spark the civil rights movement nearly 50 years ago when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in segregated Alabama, an act that led to the black woman's arrest.
"I think middle of the road people are starting to see the futility of this war," Ms Wilcox said.
"We are going to continue putting our bodies on the line and being arrested."
Ms Sheehan was arrested in front of the White House late last month along with 370 other protesters and then released.
Several dozen sympathisers applauded as Ms Sheehan and others were taken away, while counter-protesters booed the group.
You are right! Not a hanging offense..But it
is behaviour that warrants psychological
evaluation, and a police arrest record, that
notes her being taken in for psychological
evaluation.
>Bo)
I say let her continue with her protests, Sheehan is a gift that keeps on giving... Sheehan represents the base of the Democrat Party, and the more she speaks, the better off we will be
Ping
Unauthorized pancakes alert. Does she get an honorable mention?
I'd even go downtown and pay her a 'visit'.
:'}
Sheehan and her supporters again show themselves to be ghouls.
Dang good question.
I think she'll have to try a bit harder. Now if she laid down between Teddy Kennedy and a fifth of Chivas...
I wonder if she would consider "slapping Cindy around" as civil disobedience. If so, I'll go.
Ahh, yes the "Drama Ditch Queen"!
"... disgrace to her son's memory she is"
Dont worry. She doesnt have that kind of power.
She disgraces herself and her moonbat cause.
Wow - thanks for posting this.
WTG, Freepers!! :-)
I've been out of the loop, what happened to her
"I'm chaining myself to the White House fence" reports that
came out awhile back??
You know, I read the headline of this post and kept right on scrolling past.
But then I thought I'd come back and tell everyone that I am so over this, that this will be the last time I read or respond to a Cindy Sheehan article.
For what it's worth...
Somebody told me this happened, but I'll wait to see it on the front pages tomorrow:
"Anyway, as I walked away I turned to see two of five protesters drop their signs down and one fold up a large banner which she threw in the trash can.
Then to my shock the other one ran towards me grabbed my shoulder as said to me with tears welling up in her eyes "I'm so sorry for my ignorance. Thanks so much for your sacrifice and tell your husband and his unit that I changed my mind and my prayers are with them all from this day on." I thanked her and went on about my way. I didn't realize that my 2 minute blow-up had such an impact, but I'm glad that it did.
People, Americans, whether you agree with the situation over there or not; you still MUST support our troops at all costs. They need to know we're behind them 100% percent, no matter what.
We need to make it our jobs to defend them here as they defend us there. Help people, like these I met this morning, understand that "Freedom Isn't Free" and most important "It's the Land of the Free, Because of the Brave"
If Cindy Sheehan is protesting by blocking my urinal and I ask her to move to another one, I want her to refuse me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.