Sheehan Yanked By Supporters, Not Police

Grieving mother turned anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan cleared things up and said she was "roughed up" by a supporter, not the police, when a rally was broken up at Union Square on Monday night. Her assistants had pulled her out of the fray quickly when the cops descended. However, Sheehan did say that police force seemed "pretty excessive" over an audio permit equipment issue. The organizer did actually apply for a permit, but was denied because a five-day waiting period was needed. Okay, folks, keep this in mind for your impromptu gatherings: Plan them five days-plus in advance. Sheehan's group capped off this issue by saying she didn't want to speak about this, as it's "really about the war."

The Village Voice has more on the story and points out that the police didn't seem to be bothered by a folkie playing music nearby.

Photograph of Sheehan speaking at St. John the Divine from Indymedia

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 21, 2005 7:33 AM

Comments [rss]

nola

Funny how nobody comments on her speaking at a church. I guess it's okay to deliver political messages from the pulpit if you are on the left.

paki

Protests are allowed in our parks, but there are rules regulating the time, place, and manner of those protests. These regulations are NOT content based.

I have a feeling that the organizers wanted a confrontation with the City in order to go to the papers with smthg more than their primary message.

S.D.

For the edited Video, see Here.

badger

This whole incident seems to fall under a greater accusation problem we liberals have with the NYPD. On one hand, when things go haywire we accuse their management of being completely unorganized, clueless and un-prepared. Yet, when something like this happens we seem to think that the NYPD has some kind of huge, detailed, and organized master plot to suppress free speech or protest or whatever. It’s really one way or the other.

carpeicthus

What, you think there should be a right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances? That's un-American!