An eye witness account from someone I know and trust followed by Cindy's

[helderheid]

Laura Bonham of PDA (and someone I work with at the UDPC) just sent this to me. Laura and I have worked together since 2003.

-helderheid

An eye witness account from someone I know and trust followed by Cindy's
account:



What Really Happened by Mike Hersh

This is what I know about the events of January 31, 2006 involving Cindy
Sheehan. Cindy not only didn't protest at the SotU, she didn't even plan
- or want - to attend it. Cindy was set to kick off a rally outside the
Capitol near the Reflecting Pool - led by World Can't Wait and
cosponsored by Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy Cell Project
and others. We arranged for her to speak at 8 PM and then join friends
at the restaurant Busboys and Poets for an event sponsored by Code Pink.
Cindy arrived there after midnight, hours later than planned and only
after nothing went as expected - or as it should have gone.

I was with Cindy, her sister Didi, and her friends Ann Wright and Bill
Mitchell immediately before she went to the Capitol Building to watch
the State of the Union address. I saw Cindy pass the ticket for the SotU
to her friend Gael Murphy to give to Iraq War vet John Bruhns. We
protested together outside the White House, where Cindy took several
cell phone calls telling her the media were playing up Rep. Lynn
Woolsey's invitation. Then she drank hot chocolate and ate baby carrots
while we discussed whether or not she should change her mind and attend
the speech.

After intense discussion and hugs and kisses, we updated the number of
US troops killed in Bush's Iraq War on the now-famous shirt Cindy wore.
I watched John Bruhns return the ticket to Cindy so she could attend.
Keep in mind Cindy has been arrested protesting according to plan, but
she had no intention of protesting inside the House Chamber. We
discussed this just before she left the restaurant in the White House
area for the Capitol Building.

While Ann drove Cindy and Didi to the Capitol, I went with Goldstar
Families for Peace co-founder Bill Mitchell to the rally at the
Reflecting Pool. Event producer Karen Bradley of the Democracy Cell
Project arranged for Bill - whose son Mike died in Iraq the same day
Casey Sheehan died - to speak in Cindy's place. Later, Bill, Travis
Morales and other World Can't Wait leaders planned and led the march to
the Park Police Station. 100s from the rally assembled there. We met
Didi there, and consulted with Gael and Ann who were inside the station.
Then, we went to the second Police Station with David Swanson of After
Downing Street, where we met Cindy when the police finally released her.

A DC Police officer we spoke with acknowledged Cindy's account and
voiced astonishment at her mistreatment by the Capitol Police. I saw
Cindy's arm before and after her arrest and she showed us her new
bruises - physical evidence of the violent arrest. I heard Cindy give
her account three times and read her testimony below. She's 100%
consistent and is as honest as the Bush Administration is dishonest -
you can believe every word Cindy says about this. I watched the media
including National FOX videotape Cindy's brief statement as she left the
police station, but they refused to report accurately. This is what
really happened:

-- Mike Hersh


What Really Happened by Cindy Sheehan

Dear Friends,

As most of you have probably heard, I was arrested before the State of
the Union Address tonight.

I am speechless with fury at what happened and with grief over what we
have lost in our country.

There have been lies from the police and distortions by the press.
(Shocker) So this is what really happened:

This afternoon at the People's State of the Union Address in DC where I
was joined by Congresspersons Lynn Woolsey and John Conyers, Ann Wright,
Malik Rahim and John Cavanagh, Lynn brought me a ticket to the State of
the Union Address. At that time, I was wearing the shirt that said: 2245
Dead. How many more?

After the PSOTU press conference, I was having second thoughts about
going to the SOTU at the Capitol. I didn't feel comfortable going. I
knew George Bush would say things that would hurt me and anger me and I
knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the
ticket and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her. I, in
fact, had given the ticket to John Bruhns who is in Iraq Veterans
Against the War. However, Lynn's office had already called the media and
everyone knew I was going to be there so I sucked it up and went.

I got the ticket back from John, and I met one of Congresswoman Barbara
Lee's staffers in the Longworth Congressional Office building and we
went to the Capitol via the underground tunnel. I went through security
once, then had to use the rest room and went through security again.

My ticket was in the 5th gallery, front row, fourth seat in. The person
who in a few minutes was to arrest me, helped me to my seat.

I had just sat down and I was warm from climbing 3 flights of stairs
back up from the bathroom so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right
to take my left arm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled;
"Protester." He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat and
roughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me up the stairs. I said
something like "I'm going, do you have to be so rough?" By the way, his
name is Mike Weight.

The officer ran with me to the elevators yelling at everyone to move out
of the way. When we got to the elevators, he cuffed me and took me
outside to await a squad car. On the way out, someone behind me said,
"That's Cindy Sheehan." At which point the officer who arrested me said:
"Take these steps slowly." I said, "You didn't care about being careful
when you were dragging me up the other steps." He said, "That's because
you were protesting." Wow, I get hauled out of the People's House
because I was, "Protesting."

I was never told that I couldn't wear that shirt into the Congress. I
was never asked to take it off or zip my jacket back up. If I had been
asked to do any of those things...I would have, and written about the
suppression of my freedom of speech later. I was immediately, and
roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off
and arrested for "unlawful conduct."

After I had my personal items inventoried and my fingers printed, a nice
Sgt. came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2245, huh? I just got
back from there."

I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss
hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I
have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started
crying in pain.

What did Casey die for? What did the 2244 other brave young Americans
die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for
still? For this? I can't even wear a shirt that has the number of troops
on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are
responsible for killing.

I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be
there and I thought every once in awhile they would show me and I would
have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have
unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what
happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable
that I would be arrested...maybe I would have, but I didn't.

There have already been many wild stories out there.

I have some lawyers looking into filing a First Amendment lawsuit
against the government for what happened tonight. I will file it. It is
time to take our freedoms and our country back.

I don't want to live in a country that prohibits any person, whether
he/she has paid the ultimate price for that country, from wearing,
saying, writing, or telephoning any negative statements about the
government. That's why I am going to take my freedoms and liberties
back. That's why I am not going to let Bushco take anything else away
from me...or you.

I am so appreciative of the couple of hundred of protesters who came to
the jail while I was locked up to show their support....we have so much
potential for good...there is so much good in so many people.

Four hours and 2 jails after I was arrested, I was let out. Again, I am
so upset and sore it is hard to think straight.

Keep up the struggle...I promise you I will too.

Love and peace soon,
Cindy


Mike Hersh

- MikeHersh.com - http://www.mikehersh.com
- Field and Maryland State Coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America
http://www.pdamerica.org
- Chairperson, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance
http://www.mc-progressivealliance.com
- Organizer, Democracy for America / Maryland
http://www.democracyforamerica.com

=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=

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[babylonsister]

1. Oh, what have we become? Thank you for these firsthand

accounts, I write with tears in my eyes. :-(

[Protagoras]

7. sadly I think this fascist repression makes it clear

what we have become.

The question is no longer what has happened. It is how can we cake it back. We must become something else.

[helderheid]

12. What happened to her may be our road home. She is a hero and will

fight for us. I can't believe some people's lack of support for her.

[stevedeshazer]

16. Seems like just yesterday Bush was posthumously praising Rosa Parks...

...for not giving up her seat on the bus.

Never forget.

[wtmusic]

17. But..but...that was for someone ELSE'S injustices

good analogy :thumbsup:

[helderheid]

20. excellent point!!!

[kimpossible]

2. Thanks for that

[helderheid]

3. The way they have treated her at every turn is DISGRACEFUL. God bless her

for fighting back. I can't wait to hear about her lawsuit!!

[peacetalksforall]

4. Civil suit. Against the abuser-bruiser and his bosses and their bosses

so that their testimony and rationale is exposed and examined - for everybody's knowledge and to kick the truth up - not let it be manufacured by right wing tv court jesters who get their orders from their bosses on up to the WH.

[wtmusic]

5. There is always a silver lining to these kinds of things

Someone wears a shirt that says the wrong thing when our beloved leader is to address the masses, and is arrested for it. The fact that the administration is so touchy about their failed war is lost on no one. Cindy's lawsuit could succeed (note to self--donate to ACLU).

Cindy is the anti-Bush, and she scares the shit out of them. She holds a mirror up to their petulance, their arrogance, their insecurity.

[fasttense]

6. She lost her son and we treat her like crap. What has America turned into?

[sabra]

8. thank you for this.

[speedoo]

9. I think she has a great case for a lawsuit.

Jonathan Turley was on CNN this morning. I only caught the last 30 seconds or so, but Turley was saying plenty of people go into the House of Representatives wearing buttons. etc. with messages (as allowed by the Consitution) and that the "rules" evidently are arbitrarily applied.

[helderheid]

10. maybe he can represent her!

[leftchick]

11. this part just makes me cry....

<snip>

I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss
hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I
have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started
crying in pain.

What did Casey die for? What did the 2244 other brave young Americans
die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for
still? For this? I can't even wear a shirt that has the number of troops
on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are
responsible for killing.

[Binka]

13. Me Too

:cry:

[helderheid]

23. me too.

[SmokingJacket]

24. And me. Whenever I imagine her situation, imagine losing one of

my sons in Bush's war, I cry. I don't always agree with everything she says, but dammit, she's a real person with a real pain and she fighting for what she believes in. I respect that so much.

If I lost one of my sons to Bush -- I would go insane. And I would never let anyone stop thinking about those dead soldiers.

[murray hill farm]

14. "Unlawful Conduct"?

Well that says it loud and clear, doesn't it! It is no longer lawful to even acknowlege the number of soldiers killed in the "long war"! It appears that our freedoms have been conpletely stripped...and yet how many times did bushit say "freedoms" in his SOTU?

[helderheid]

15. He hates us for our freedoms.

[Loge23]

18. The State of our Union

The mother of a boy who died to "protect our freedom" is arrested at the Capitol of our country for what??
This is truly the State of our Union. DISSENT WILL BE PUNISHED.
I hope Cindy's 1st Amendment case goes all the way to Alito and Roberts so that they will be exposed one way or the other.
This is yet another very sad day for America.

[Nikki Stone 1]

19. kick

:kick:

[Solly Mack]

21. Recall in the war criminals "speech " how he praised

and fawned over the soldiers? Thanking them?

Yet the mother of a dead soldier is arrested for remembering the dead soldiers.

that's really "supporting the troops"...what a leader!

Thanks for posting this!!!!!

[helderheid]

22. The gauntlet has been thrown

Actually, it has been thrown for the last time. This is the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

[No Exit]

25. "Four dead in O-hi-o...four dead in O-hi-o!" n/t

[helderheid]

26. now that's stuck in my head!! :)

[No Exit]

32. LOL. It's been stuck in my head since March, 2003! As have

"Masters of War" and "Hell no, we won't go" and "One, two, three, four, We don't want your rich man's war" and "Fortunate Son"...

Every now and then, it pays to be old. :)

[fooj]

27. I'm in full agreement.

Little Lord Pissypants crossed the line. Big time.

Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

28. ***Much of this confirmed in updated MSNBC article, Olbermann will report

tonight.

Read about it and get the links here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=291399&mesg_id=296178

[helderheid]

29. thank goodness for KO!

[ooglymoogly]

30. so who am i going to trust...cindy who's hart is as pure

as a mountain stream or b*shco who lies every time their mouth opens. f**k those crapweazles. i'm for cindy
kickn nom

[KeepItReal]

31. I am with this Lady. If she wants DiFi's seat, she's got my vote and my $$

I'll take one Cindy Sheehan over 10 Feinstein's any day.