Sheehan Convicted In Antiwar Protest
29 Fined for Defiance Outside White House

By Henri E. Cauvin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 18, 2005; B03



Cindy Sheehan and 28 other antiwar activists were convicted yesterday of staging an illegal protest outside the White House after they failed in their attempt to deliver petitions to President Bush.

Sheehan, whose son was killed in the Iraq war, and about 370 other protesters were arrested Sept. 26 and charged with demonstrating without a permit. They had marched to the White House to demand a meeting with Bush and to deliver their petitions. When they were turned away, the activists sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House and defied orders to leave.

They were not committing a crime, Sheehan insisted yesterday, a few minutes after she was convicted in the first trial stemming from the episode.

"We were guilty of nothing," she said outside the federal courthouse. "We were only exercising our First Amendment right."

The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Catharine A. Hartzenbusch, said the Code of Federal Regulations requires a permit for a demonstration on the White House sidewalk by more than 25 people. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay concluded that Sheehan and the others were demonstrating.

"They violated the regulation, I think, knowingly, intentionally, as a means for obtaining a public forum," Kay told the packed courtroom early yesterday afternoon.

Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., was part of the first group to challenge the misdemeanor charge in court. Except for Sheehan, all the defendants represented themselves, and at times the two-day proceeding seemed like a law school class, as Kay tried to accommodate the legal novices appearing before him.

Aided by veteran civil rights lawyer Mark Goldstone and by Sheehan's attorney, Jon W. Norris, the pro se defendants picked a few from among themselves to make an opening statement, question witnesses, deliver closing arguments and make a final, and fruitless, plea for leniency.

Some cases were dropped by prosecutors as the trial got underway. That was not necessarily a cause for celebration among those who were off the hook, including a woman who protested, "I don't want to be dismissed." The judge told her that it was entirely within the government's power to dismiss the charge, with or without explanation.

From start to finish, it was a trial unlike most that unfold in the courthouse, as one defendant after another pilloried Bush from the well of the courtroom and from the witness stand.

Delivering the opening statement for the pro se defendants, Virginia Rodino of Baltimore launched into a denunciation of the war in Iraq, only to be cut off by Kay. "You want to make a political statement, and I'm not going to allow it," he told her.

When defendants took the stand, Kay often was forced to step in, but usually not before the witness-defendant managed a choice comment or two.

"I believe that Bush is a war criminal and he should be on trial," said Joy First of Madison, Wis.

Sheehan, who rose to prominence with her vigil last summer outside the president's ranch in Texas, was the last of the activists to testify.

Sitting down on that sidewalk, she said, was the act of a citizen who had -- with speeches, faxes and e-mails -- exhausted her other options for gaining the ear of the president. "I have tried to petition my government for redress of wrong, and I have never been answered," she said.

In asserting their innocence, she and the other defendants argued that the right to petition was protected under the First Amendment.

But Kay said the activists' actions went beyond petitioning the government, and he rejected that defense and others that were put forward, including challenges to arrest procedures and the contention that a permit had been issued.

All 29 were guilty as charged, Kay said, before ordering each defendant to pay a fine and a court fee totaling $75. As the judge left the bench, the activists erupted into the song "We Shall Overcome."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...1701030_pf.html

Time for an appeal. 25 is an abitrary value.Take it to the Supreme Court.

I hope their statements went on the public record. Good for them.

This may be a very unpopular opinion but when has that ever stopped me?

Cindy is beginning to turn into a caricature and that saddens me. She did so much of a positive nature historically that it really is a shame that she is allowing those with purely political motives to now dictate her actions.

Appealing a 75$ fine? It is now looking as if she craves the limelight and her message is being lost.

She's going to tour in Europe ? What can she possibly accomplish other than to encourage those who are looking for reasons to criticize the country for which her son died? He may have died because of the POTUS 's decisions but the country he fought for deserves to be respected by his Mother.

I agree with the prosecutor and the judge.

Taking non violent action to be arrested on a misdemeanor charge is a time honored method of protest, but honor dictates facing the consequences of knowingly breaking the law for your cause.

Sadly I must agree with CO.

I love Cindy Sheehan for her passion. I value her message to the United States and the world.

A $75 fine for civil disobedience is quite lenient. Many others have spent time in prison for their defiance of our government when it was wrong.

I'm glad the fine was so little. I hope her voice will be raised in protest for as long as it takes to end this unjust war.

OneInTen, I also applaud her passion. Its her judgment in recent days that I question.

Her cause needs her voice. If she allows those with their own agenda to influence her actions she will lose credibility and support.

If Cindy goes to Europe she will be equated to Jane Fonda going to North Vietnam by those who would silence her. The Pro War people will revel in it and they will find Americans listening to their rhetoric for all the wrong reasons! And Cindy's voice will be lost.

It will be seen by Europeans as justification for even more criticism of America. There is already too much of that around the world.

Criticizing your government in your own country when they are wrong is a patriotic act. Criticizing your country abroad is disloyal and an affront to those now wearing the uniform of that country in battle.

You have a point C.O.

What has become of America? We treat those, who really care about wha is really happening to our young men and women and those innocent Iraqi civillians, like criminals, while we keep allowing The Bush Evil Regime to us American tax dollars to keep the smell of death and bloodshed flooding the streets of Iraq. It's becoming more and more evident that our Troops have been forced to exterminate certain groups of Iraqi citizens on behalf of the Chalabi Regime.

Whereever Bush pushes his Ponocchio nose, he divides the citizens of those nations, like the way he divides Americans. Just listen to how the Bushies throw dirt on the Democrats. It's obvious, he's going about it the same way in spitting up the peoples of Iraq, South America, now Korea and other parts of Asia, too. Bush is the Prince of Death. Another person, who comes to mind as the Prince of Death, is Hitler!

This Zarqawi ghost - is becoming more and more Bin Laden ghost - ghosts to spark off populations in nations - strangely these nations seem to be only Middle Eastern nations. Very interestingly, we are able to get still photos of Zarqawi and taped messages, but no actual videos showing Zarqawi actually relaying his messages.

It's a shame we should still have people who'd rather crucify Sheehan and the anti-war activists, and hail those who'd willingly be seen as exterminating other nations' citizens! What ever has become of America's ethics and morality? What is America doing to make God deserve watching Satan fulfilling his desire to destroy God's creatures through the hands of men? Under Bush, we not only see the most human destruction, not only through wars, but through natural disasters. The Bush Regime must personify Death and Destruction! It leaves the track of Death, Blood, and anger - NEVER PEACE.

It is my humble opinion that Cindy Sheehan is a major reason Mr. Bush has sub-40 ratings.