For Cindy Sheehan, getting arrested is nothing new. The “peace mom” is always eager to become a martyr for the anti-war movement. Sheehan was invited to attend President Bush’s State of the Union address by Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey. There, she was arrested by Capitol police on charges of unlawful conduct, according to the New York Times. She began a fight against American occupation in Iraq after her son, Casey Sheehan, was killed in battle in 2004. Since then, she has demonstrated, protested, marched and picketed her way through the country with many supporters and has ended up in jail several times.
Sheehan was in her seat in the House gallery when a plainclothes officer asked her to leave because she was allegedly wearing an anti-war T-shirt. But during CNN’s coverage before the speech, they reported that she was caught with a banner that she intended to wave during the speech. Recent reports show she was wearing a T-shirt that read “2,245 Dead. How Many More?”
Beverly Young, wife of senior U.S. Rep. Bill Young, was found wearing a pro-war shirt that read “Support The Troops-Defending Our Freedom,” and she was just asked to leave, no handcuffs or jail time, according to the New York Times. According to Capitol police, demonstrating in the Capitol building is against the law, but in this case, it appears it was enforced upon those who are against the war. And now, feeling guilty for the faux pas, the Capitol police have changed their minds about the charge and have released Sheehan. Sheehan intends to file a First Amendment Rights lawsuit, according to USA Today.
The difference in how the women were treated raises many questions and eyebrows. Has Sheehan become a victim of her own doings? Some believe Sheehan is looking for trouble. In fact, the Web site Shutupcindy.com is sick of her endless activism. But there is no doubt that the illegitimate arrest speaks for itself.
The White House will begin to resemble a dictatorship if it continues to try to make examples of those who oppose its beliefs. It is a glaring coincidence that Young was not arrested although she also decided to make a statement during the president’s speech. The fact that she was even asked to leave is surprising. In fact, the White House might have felt compelled to do so in order to defend its decision to arrest Sheehan.
Sheehan has lost her son to the war in Iraq and is trying to speak to the world of her beliefs. The real challenge is not in trying to reach the world, but to reach the politicians on Capitol Hill who don’t always want to listen. Did she go too far in trying to make her voice heard during the president’s address to the nation, or did she succeed in showing the nation that there will always be some things politicians will never stand to hear?
