Jacob1983

NEW YORK - Peace activist Cindy Sheehan and three other women were convicted of trespassing Monday for trying to delivery an anti-Iraq war petition to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

A Manhattan Criminal Court judge sentenced them immediately to conditional discharge, which means they could face some form of penalty if they are arrested in the next six months, and ordered them to pay $95 in court surcharges.

Sheehan and about 100 other members of a group called Global Exchange were rebuffed last March when they attempted to take a petition with some 72,000 signatures to the U.S. Mission's headquarters across a street from the United Nations.

After Monday's sentencing, the women returned to the Mission; this time, their petition was accepted.

Prosecutors said they were arrested in March after ignoring police orders to disperse.

The four were acquitted of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration. They had faced up to a year in jail if convicted of all counts.

"We should never have been on trial in the first place," Sheehan said in a statement after the verdict. "It's George Bush and his cronies who should be on trial, not peaceful women trying to stop this devastating war. This verdict, however, will not stop us from continuing to work tirelessly to bring our troops home."

Sheehan, 49, of Vacaville, Calif., lost her 24-year-old son Casey in Iraq on April 4, 2004. She has since emerged as one of the most vocal and high-profile opponents of the war, drawing international attention when she camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch to protest the war.

The women, calling their campaign "Women Say No To War," had hoped to give the petition to Peggy Kerry, the mission's liaison for non-governmental organizations and sister of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as they had in 2005.

Kerry refused to meet with the women in the presence of Sheehan and the news media. She testified during the trial that the presentation seemed like a publicity stunt.

The women ignored police orders to leave and were reading it aloud on the sidewalk when officers arrested them. The women sat on the sidewalk and were carried to patrol wagons.

Following Monday's court session, the women returned to the U.S. Mission to ask for an apology and resubmit the petition.

They were met by Richard A. Grenell, the mission's director of external affairs, but didn't have the petitions with them. After obtaining copies of the petition, they went back a second time and handed them over to Kerry and Grenell in the building's lobby.

Grenell did not explain why the petitions were accepted this time.

Sheehan's co-defendants were Melissa Beattie, 57, of New York; Susan "Medea" Benjamin, 54, of San Francisco; and Patricia Ackerman, 48, of Nyack, N.Y.

Sheehan among 4 convicted of trespassing - Yahoo! News


Talk about bad karma. I guess what goes around comes around. It's sad that this woman will not let herself grieve and stop disgracing her son's memory. I think this a sign that she needs to either take a break or stop her whole anti-war and anti-Bush campaign. I honestly think that if she doesn't stop now that she might do something bad that she will regret. For her to buy property that is clearly next to Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas is a clear sign that she has an unhealthy obsession. I know that she has the right to protest and voice her opinion but sometimes going too far will cost you. She also needs to realize that your actions sometimes do have consequences. She has to pay the price for her obsession. Hopefully, she will get some help. It's also sad that she has benefited from her son's death. Her efforts to stop this war have failed so far and I believe she will continue to fail. She is engaging in a losing battle.

flagpolesitta43

I don't think she's disgracing her son's memory. Bush disgraced all of the men and women in the military by sending them into a war for what I believe was his own personal gain. Not only did he send them into an unnecessary war, he sent them in without any plan on how to get them out. Now they're just stuck in the middle of a civil war.

Jacob1983

Isn't possible that Ms. Sheehan has taken her obsession a little bit too far? I'm not trying to be mean or disrespectful to her but her going on and on with her own personal hatred and disgust of Bush and this war will not bring her son back.

How should Bush have handled the aftermath of 9/11? I'd really like to know and don't go on anti-Bush rant either. Try to sell me your way on how you would have handled America after it had the worst terrorist attack in American history. Would have you done everything perfectly? How is America suppose to fight terrorists? Do you want our soldiers to fight terrorists on American soil while your life and well being will be in danger? Or would you rather have our soldiers fight over seas in order to make sure that terrorists don't come over here again? Which do you want?

ceilirose

Jacob..I think you could insert Bush's name everywhere you have Sheehan's name. Bush is the one obsessed with Iraq, a "victory" and how it will affect his legacy.

Please provide a link on Sheenan buying property next to Bush..that's the first I've heard of it.

Jacob1983

I will finally post proof for something that I post. This story clearly proves that Sheehan has an unhealthy obsession with hating Bush, and the war. This thread isn't about Bush either. It's about a woman went too far in her protest and it cost her. I hope she learned some type of lesson from it. This is a personal question but how would you like if someone purposely bought land near you and moved there for the sole goal to annoy the crap out of you? How would you feel about that? Sheehan can make herself believe that living right next to Bush will make him change his mind but it won't. Bush will change his mind when he wants to.

CRAWFORD, Texas - War protester Cindy Sheehan has purchased a 5-acre plot in Crawford with some of the insurance money she received after her son was killed in Iraq.

The group she helps lead, Gold Star Families for Peace, says on its Web site that it will return next month to protest the war in Iraq in the small town near Waco where President Bush has a ranch. Like last year, Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004, will again demand to meet with the president.

“We decided to buy property in Crawford to use until George’s resignation or impeachment, which we all hope is soon for the sake of the world,” Sheehan said in a newsletter set to be sent to supporters Thursday. “I can’t think of a better way to use Casey’s insurance money than for peace, and I am sure that Casey approves.”

Sheehan buys land in Crawford, Tex. - Politics - MSNBC.com

Sheehan buying land near Bush's ranch is old news. It happend during the summer.

Lexis

Huh? I don't understand what you're implying here - doing some illegal isn't really karma is it? Or are you talking about something else?

Sorry, I'm suffering from the flu so maybe I'm just confused.

I don't think she's disgracing her son - I think she's fighting for him in death because she couldn't protect him when he was in Iraq. I think her grief is so profound, so disturbing that the only way she can deal with it is to try and stop the war, thus protecting other soldiers and their mothers.

Uh, how?

I think that is an distortion of the situation. You think those are the options - military struggle in the US or military engagement in Iraq and/or Middle East? The situation is much, much more complicated than that and I think you are aware of that.

Jacob1983

Please answer the question: do you want our soldiers to fight terrorists in America while you life and well being are threatened on a daily basis or would you want our guys to fight terrorists over seas in order to make sure they don't come over to America? You either pick one or the other.

I do think Sheehan experienced some bad karma. She broke a law and now has to pay for it. The consequences weren't that bad for her but she still has to face them. Just my opinion though.

I definately think on some level that Sheehan has benefited from her son's death. Just look at the all the spotlight and fame she has received. I wonder how much money she has received for being an activist. If her son had never went to Iraq, no one would give a crap about Cindy Sheehan. That is how our society works.

migamoo

Answer this as if you were an Iraqi : Do you want American soldiers to fight terrorists in Iraq while your life and well being are threatened on a daily basis or would you want them to fight terrorists over seas in order to make sure they don't come over here? You either pick one or the other.

Lexis

Except no, you don't. This is a distortion of the current situation - or are you talking completely hypothetically here?

OK, I think that is way, way, way harsh. She lost her son - the son she adored and whose death she has said made her want to throw herself after him into the grave - and you are suggesting that the fame/spotlight is a benefit. Sheehan has said many times she wishes she could go back but sadly, life doesn't work like that. She's stuck with the situation she's got.

Jacob1983

I would want the soldiers to fight terrorists overseas in order to protect my country and life. And yes, the question was a hypothetical one.
I get a little annoyed when Bush haters and anti-war people won't answer certain questions because they want to be cool and politically correct. An example would be the question of do you want America to win in Iraq? If an American refuses to answer that question then there is something wrong.

Sheehan has benefited greatly because of son's death in Iraq and her tirade about it. Just look at the great people she has become buddies with i.e. Hugo Chavez. She uses her son's death to further her cause and that ain't right. Doesn't she know that her protesting and causing so much trouble makes her look bad and that it won't change Bush's mind?

migamoo

It's an un-winnable war. You may not like the answer, but that’s what I feel it is.

They’ve met once so now they are buddies? I don’t think so.

Do you think maybe it was her son’s death that made her realize this war is just? Maybe she uses her son to show what can happen?

It makes her look like an American to me. But hey, if American equates “looking bad” than that’s your perogitive.

Lexis

What's a win for America? From what I gather from Bush's speeches, its a stable, democratic, secure Iraq.

If that's the case, I'd be thrilled if America (and your allies...don't forget us - we're the ones holding down the south of the country, getting our troops blown to bits in boats and on patrols) won in Iraq.

But the question then becomes - what does it take to win and are we ready for that cost?

Vietnam tested the limits of people's tolerance and ultimatly, it could not be "won" for America. People realised that and we all know what happenned next.

Her son is dead. I feel sorry for the woman - she's upset, angry and hurt. I may not agree with all she does but I think its out of order to imply she benefits from her son's death. I'm sure she'd rather that Casey was here today, getting on with his life. This "cause" you refer to is to stop others suffering the horror she has and to stop the deaths of other soldiers in this war that took so much from her.

S.A.S.H.A.

I feel such pity for this woman, and not so much because she lost her son, but because she has gone to such extreme lengths at times that even her (ex) husband couldn't stand by her side.

Sasha

ceilirose

I feel pity for her because she lost her son. I guess I'm not sure why Bush supporters and the Right are so down on her as if she's committing some sort of crime. And gasp...a divocee too..the horror of it all! Webb got his rear end handed to him by the Right and I guess Sheehan will always be a sore spot for them as well.

Actually I've heard the Right say her husband divorced her because of her actions and otherwise from other sources. Divorce is a funny thing - when it comes down to it the only two people who know are the ones in the marriage.

Jacob..thanks for the link. I find it somewhat amusing that she did that. I hope she doesn't take a loss on that after Bush is out of office.

ETA - I missed the "Sheehan benefited greatly..." comment but Jacob with that comment you're going into Ann Coulter territory. Jersey Girls, husbands dead, becoming famous? That's not a good place to be IMO.

sunnykerr

If only fighting overseas prevented terrorists from coming this side of the Atlantic...

So you do know how people feel when their questions go unanswered...

No idea why you don't answer questions, though. I wouldn't presume to know why another poster does or doesn't do anything.

Well, I'm a Canadian, but I'll answer that anyway. I want the U.S. to win. Absolutely. A simple answer to a very simple question.

Now, let's all pretend it's that simple and there's nothing more to it, shall we?

Bite your tongue. That is her child you are talking about. And unless you've met the woman and have talked it over with her, you are in no position to discuss how her actions are tied in with her grieving. No one gets to tell another person how to grieve. And to say that she is using her child's death... Talk about inviting karma.