September 26, 2005
Cindy Sheehan Arrested at the White House
Anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan and a number of protestors has been arrested at the White House. The AP reports that Sheehan and over 50 other supporters were arrested earlier today for demonstrating without a permit, a misdemeanor. Police said they will be moved to an offsite location for processing and will be issued tickets and released in several hours. The Post also has a short story up on her arrest.
We thought it was interesting that Scott McClellan said Mr. Bush is "very much aware" of the protesters swarming the National Mall this weekend. Sheehan's protest was coordinated with a lobby day organized by the organization United for Peace.
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Bless you, Cindy.
Mr. Bush has always been "very much aware" of the protesters, though.
But no one could have anticipated them showing up in front of the White House. Next question, please?
Hmm, and they never arrest that person who is practically permanently stationed in Lafayette Square with the nuclear posters...are they still there? (don't go there much) Do they have permits? Are they really secret service in disguise...hmmm.
Cindy, be careful...one way tickets to Gitmo are this Administration's specialty.
The Prop1 tents (the anti-nuke folks) are grandfathered in due to the fact that they were there before many of our current protest laws were established. They are still there and they most likely will be there until nuclear weapons are abolished. I'm not sure about permits, but I can practically promise you that they are definitely not members of the secret service (I know some of them)
I had a long chat with Thomas my first day as a freshman at GW some 6 years ago. I haven't talked with him or Concepcion since, but he talked at great length about why and how they are there. Really, no matter which way your politics lean they are incredible interesting to chat with.
The Prop1 people are certainly not secret service though they could probably tell you who hanging out in Layfayette park is. They've been there since '81. Reagan was able to have them pushed off the White House fence to the park, but as CP noted, that was as far as they could push them. They've gone to court numerous times fighting for a right to hold their vigil.
I am guessing, but the the root legal difference, I believe, is that the Prop1 people are holding "vigils" for those who have suffered due to nuclear or other violence and not a "demonstration" or "protest" of adminstrations or policy.
That, and they really are willing to go to court again and again and again to fight for their right to be there. However they manage to subsist and focus entirely on holding the vigil and only leaving to go to court (and jail) when they must for nearly 25 years for every hour of the day...