The TRUTH shall set you free! Cindy Sheehan... thank you!
Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 09:39:32 PM PDT
FOR THE TRUTH, GO TO CINDY'S DIARY!
cindy sheehan, as we all know by now, was arrested for wearing a tee shirt that showed the number of american war dead. she was removed from the gallery for something that she MIGHT do in the future (according to capitol police statement to cnn reporter). she was removed 1/2 hr before the sotu speech (approx. 8:30pm), moved to a
two different locations and is STILL being processed (midnight).
WHY is she STILL in custody? Simple. DISSENT MUST BE SUPPRESSED! period! i will wager you serious odds that she will not be released until after all of the wrap up programs are over, until after the llpm news cycle - until after the papers have been put to bed.
this is why we should pay attention to the substance of the story, not the subject.
please read on - there is a greater issue here!
she is being charged with a misdemeanor which carries the maximum penalty of of one year in jail... for something she had not yet done?
[warning, wordy personal experience coming up:]
two years ago in seaside, california cop and his watch commander who tried to ticket me two years ago for sitting in a running motorhome with all lights on, as i sorted cardstock for an appointment. they tried to ticket me for "illegal camping", using the caveat that "we both know that as soon as we leave you will sleep here!".
my vehicle was "running" - i was visibly working at the table and had no intention of "camping", yet i faced being ticketed and fined for something that these two "officers" decided i WOULD do in the future.
THIS is what i think of tonite as cindy sheehan is being kept far away from the press. she is being charged with something that she had not and has not done! she is being held in custody for something that someone projected she would do in the future!
this is not about one mother who is protesting the death of her son - this is about ALL of us who might be accused of planning to commit some crime in the future!
my response to the two officers was to challenge their premise directly and ask based on what code did they intend to charge me with a "future" act! i was not ticketed then, but they did not forget. several weeks later, i was staying in my motorhome in property adjacent to the lot where i had been working - also had customer calls in the area. i was on private property at the invitation of the business owner. the officers had no jurisdiction, but chose to harrass me just the same. at one point, after lights were shined into my motorhome, i came out and challenged again as to what purpose was their visit. i informed the officer that i was there on business and had permission to be parked. he asked if i had a business license, when i responded in the affirmative, he asked to see it. i stupidly showed him. he took down my information (i have nothing to hide, right?).
the next week, when i returned to stay prior to my appointments in the area, i was told by the business owner that the police had paid a visit to the manager and said that if i were allowed to park there, the business would have ITS license pulled since only one business license was allowed on that property!
i don't scare easily. i was livid and immediately went to the mayor's office in seaside. he was not in, but i was directed to the chief of police. after telling him of my three encounters (also of my phone call to bernie ward, of kgoam - who referred to seaside cops as jackbooted thugs on air!), the chief was appalled at the abuse of his officers. he agreed that there was no such "regulation" regarding a person with a business license cancelling out a legitimate business simply by parking on the premises overnight. he also said he would address the issue with his officers immediately and told me to feel free to park there anytime.
i told him i frankly was loathe to even drive through his town for fear of being recognized and stopped. he then gave me his personal phone number and assurance that if i were EVER stopped, i should call him.
well, i still look in my rear view mirror whenever i am in seaside, i don't park there out of consideration to my friends (so they aren't targeted) and i am still angry.
tonight, i am virtually shaking over the preemptive arrest of someone who disagrees with the supposedly elected head of our democracy. we are in very dangerous waters here.
no matter WHAT you think of cindy sheehan, this incident should shake you to the very core. if you think it can't happen to you, buy a motor home and travel to seaside, ca.! or better yet, buy a tee-shirt and travel to washington, d.c.!
as some posters personalize this incident, as some denigrate cindy sheehan, are they and we losing sight of the bigger issue? from this diary, written back in august, it would appear that any person who disagrees with this administration is considered a threat to national security. please don't think sheehan, instead think civil rights, for if we close our eyes now, we won't HAVE any soon! i found out that one has to fight for our rights - but in the current clime today, i don't know if i would have won that fight! i would hope so, but ...
so, what are YOU going to do about this?
this excerpted text from david swanson at afterdowningstreet.org
The shirt Cindy was arrested for wearing. This photo was taken earlier in the day at the People's State of the Union with Congress Members Conyers and Woolsey.
Cindy Sheehan lost her son in Bush's war. Tonight she accepted an invitation from Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey to attend Bush's State of the Union speech. She had told me earlier that she didn't want to go. But she ended up going. All day she had been wearing a t-shirt and a sweat shirt. When she unzipped the sweat shirt, revealing that the t-shirt displayed a count of US soldiers killed in Iraq, the Capitol Police lifted her out of her seat and hauled her off to jail. She was released over 3 hours later, charged with unlawful conduct, which carries a fine of $45. She did not see the speech and was not able to speak at the rally outside the Capitol or the viewing party at Bus Boys and Poets restaurant, as she had planned. This was completely unexpected and not planned for. Cindy is clearly tired and frustrated by the experience.
would indicate that cindy sheehan did NOT go to the sotu to protest after all! she had been wearing that t-shirt at the "alternative state of the union" gathering earlier in the day - and may have just not changed clothes. she had a sweatshirt over the t-shirt and a jacket over that.
and this is from reuters...
Sheehan had been invited to be a guest at the speech by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a Democrat from her home state of California.
A Reuters photographer said Sheehan entered the House gallery a few minutes before Bush was to speak and was directed to her seat. She had been seated for less than a minute when a plainclothes agent took her by the arm, said, "You've got to leave," and rushed her from the gallery.
Sheehan did not resist and left with a smile.
Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider had no immediate details on why Sheehan was removed.
so, my question now, was this all a setup and an excuse to prevent her from attending the presentation out of
fear that she
might do something?
the capitol police have stated to the media (earlier quoted by cnn reporters) that they were on the lookout for her and were concerned that she might do something! looks like my original question is proving more accurate than i imagined! also looks like no sleep for me so i won't miss the morning talk shows. i really want to hear what she has to say about this!
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