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Cindy Sheehan Arrested

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:03:40 PM EST
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Cindy Sheehan was arrested outside the White House gate for "interfering with a government function." Cindy and 50 protestors wanted to share with their president the signatures of 80,000 Americans who agree that he shouldn't attack Iran. This is known as petitioning the government for a redress of grievances, a right protected by the First Amendment.

The "government function" with which Cindy interfered apparently consisted of ignoring Cindy's request to accept the petitions.

"It was taking too long for them to decide whether to accept them or not, so we just delivered them," said Sheehan, who waited about 15 minutes with other protesters before tossing the petitions over the fence.

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    Cindy Sheehan Arrested | 15 comments (15 topical)

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    So that's (none / 0) (#1)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 11:21:47 PM EST
    who I heard in the background during one midday MSM report from the WH. The reporters on both CNN and MSNBC were reporting and you could hear someone in the background with a bullhorn chanting.

    Goodbye Constitution (none / 0) (#2)
    by Sailor on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 01:53:04 AM EST
     "interfering with a government function"
    Amendment I

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
    Fire in a crowded theater (none / 0) (#3)
    by narudy on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 05:56:00 AM EST
    Sheehan wasn't prevented from petitioning for redress of grievances.  There are any number of ways -- including the US mail, fax, going through a sympathetic member of Congress, publishing it in the media, etc. -- she could have delivered the petition.

    Having the right to do something doesn't mean you get to pick any means to achieve it you want.  When there are 10 ways to achieve a goal and you are barred from doing one because it impedes others' rights your rights have not been abridged.

    yeah (none / 0) (#4)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 06:50:53 AM EST
    Yeah, but then we couldn't have more Theater of the Absurd.

    Parent
    That fire we're yelling about... (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 11:23:36 AM EST
    Is the 1st amendment burning.

    The 4th is already ashes.

    Parent

    close, but... (none / 0) (#10)
    by roy on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 11:40:13 AM EST
    You have a point, but not a trump card.  I can see a citation for littering, and whatever they call it when people block access to public spaces, but the arrest still sounds bogus.  Unless you've read something about an actual government function being disrupted?

    I'd complain about "chilling effects", but I suspect we'll see the opposite.


    Parent

    well, the new look (none / 0) (#5)
    by scribe on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 06:59:41 AM EST
    at the WH lasted what, about 10 minutes?

    Give 'em hell... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 08:41:03 AM EST
    Cindy, give 'em hell.  Our elected officials (aka our employees) like to live in a bubble that no unconnected American citizen can penetrate.  Any attempt to pop that bubble is a good thing.

    here's a YouTube of Cindy at the WH fence (none / 0) (#8)
    by scribe on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:17:11 AM EST
    (5:00 long)

    first, bullhorning the WH, offering to buy The Unit a one-way ticket to Crawford (Only $225.)
    Then, being interviewed about election results,

    Then getting a call telling her Rummy quit,

    Then telling the world....

    Bullhorns are one of the all-time great inventions....

    BTW... (none / 0) (#14)
    by Edger on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 12:40:56 PM EST
    I guess Karl's book was pretty short.

    He fuc*ked up and no one trusted him (none / 0) (#15)
    by Edger on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 12:45:41 PM EST
    Karl should have found someone who could at least "act" like a president. I guess he was short on theatre.

    Parent
    laughing boy says... (none / 0) (#16)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 02:17:32 PM EST
    It was theater

    Surely that's your unbiased opinion. Historically they are known as demonstrations.

    Never mind (none / 0) (#17)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 02:20:22 PM EST
    that the electorate just validated Sheehan's POV.

    Theatrics... (none / 0) (#18)
    by desertswine on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 02:36:27 PM EST
    like making a state occasion about giving Tenet and Bremer a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

    I'm laughing.

    Maybe they can trade them in for a cup of coffee somewhere.

    Oh yeh, Tommy Franks, too.

    Or a (none / 0) (#19)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 04:28:47 PM EST
    pair of handcuffs.

    Cindy Sheehan Arrested | 15 comments (15 topical)

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