Anti-Fascism Files
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 Dede Miller, and her friends
including 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: (see Cindy's
article).
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