The right to petition the government for a redress of grievances has not, so far, saved Cindy Sheehan from a prosecution for "trying to deliver a petition against the war in Iraq to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations." She was convicted yesterday. Her punishment, assuming she isn't arrested again during the next six months: pay court costs of $95.

Sheehan and her co-defendants were acquitted of more serious charges: resisting arrest and obstructing government administration. She was also acquitted of disorderly conduct.

The verdict will not silence Sheehan:

"We should never have been on trial in the first place," Sheehan said in a statement. "It's George Bush and his cronies who should be on trial, not peaceful women trying to stop this devastating war. This verdict, however, will not stop us from continuing to work tirelessly to bring our troops home."