Mother of son who died in Iraq arrested
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| Fri, 09-17-2004 - 9:05am |
Did anyone see last night's Countdown? They had actual footage of a mother being arrested at a Laura Bush event. The mom was standing outside a building wearing a t-shirt that read something like "Pres. Bush I blame you for killing my son". It was just her and about 10 reporters and a camera which was videotaping her being interviewed. Then you see two police officers come up and ask her to come with them. She refuses, and they arrest her. She asks what's she be arrested for, which they don't answer and as they're dragging her off she says "but I have a ticket for this event". The media were shocked. I don't think any of them had been so close to witness it and even more to have it on tape!
I think the eventual charge was "defiant trespassing".
I'm assuming after she's released, can't remember, she's being interviewed again. She had written to Bush with her ex-husband and said something along the lines that they blamed him for their son's death. She was asked if she heard anything back. She says "No, but they did get something that asked if they'd like to donate to Bush/Cheney 04".
So for all the doubting Thomases about what's happening at Bush rallies - here's one caught on tape. It hasn't been posted on Countdown yet, or I would've posted the link and of course it doesn't appear as any other media picked up on it yet as I've googled the heck out of it to no avail (but it's early yet). Can anyone add any insight as to why or how the police are doing this too? Or are they just "following orders"? Any legal issues with this? Seems like harassment to me.
This is really out there, but I sometimes wonder if Bush even knows how many people died in Iraq. It seems such great lengths are taken to keep him from seeing any protesters and he has never attended a funeral of any of those that have died. The coffins are brought in late at night at Dover so it never appears in the media. I had heard that he has a thing about death, as in he avoids it and any mention of it, since his sister passed away. Don't know if that's true.

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http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/09/17/bush.protester/index.html
HAMILTON, New Jersey (CNN) -- The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq was arrested Thursday after interrupting a campaign speech by first lady Laura Bush. As police hauled her away, she shouted, "Police brutality."
Wearing a T-shirt with the message "President Bush You Killed My Son," Sue Niederer of nearby Hopewell screamed questions at the first lady as the audience tried to drown her out by chanting, "Four more years! Four more years!"
She pressed on, refused to leave and eventually police removed her from the firehouse rally.
The first lady finished her speech, praising the administration's achievements in the war on terror and the economy.
Outside, Niederer said she wanted to ask Laura Bush "Why the senators, the legislators, the congressmen, why aren't their children serving?"
She went on to blame the president for the death of her 24-year-old son, Army First Lieutenant Seth Dvorin. He was killed while trying to defuse a roadside bomb that exploded on him.
"My son was in the Army, and he was killed February third this year," she said.
As the Hamilton police and Secret Service agents surrounded her and reporters pressed her with questions, she held her ground, claiming "I had my ticket" to attend the speech by the first lady.
Police subsequently handcuffed her and she was led away to a nearby van. As she was escorted, she repeatedly shouted "Police brutality" and demanded to know her rights and the charges.
Later, she was charged with defiant trespass and released.
Since her son's death, the bereaved mother has spoken out repeatedly against the ongoing Iraq conflict. She is active in an anti-war protest group, Military Families Speak Out.
The Pittsburgh Independent Media Center reports she recently participated in demonstrations around the Republican National Convention in New York.
In March, The Toronto Star placed her outside Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. where many of the wounded soldiers are treated; Dover Air Force base where soldier remains arrive; and shouting at Secretary of State Colin Powell's motorcade after a speech at Princeton University.
Neither the Bush campaign nor the Hamilton Police would comment on the incident.
AP biased or controlled by the right? Please spare me.
She had a ticket for the event?
Elaine
I'm sure her grief was tremendous-what do you suggest should have been done? Should the police and Mrs. Bush have just completely ignored her screaming and allowed her to interfere with the rights of those who came to hear the first lady speak? She was asked to be quiet, refused, was asked to leave, refused, and then the police did the only thing they could do in he situation-remove her so that the event could continue. By the way, while we all grieve over ANY of our servicemen and women dying, the fact remains that they have volunteered to do a job which carries risk of death with it. George Bush did not kill her son-he died serving his country as he knew there was a chance he one day might be asked to do. Just because someone may not believe in the rationale for war does not mean military men and women who die in the fighting have been "murdered" by the president.
Sorry, I didn't mean it to come across as jumping all over you! I was debating the story (which is why it was posted here, I assume, to be debated). I was just using your post as a jumping off point, and asking a question meant for all of the discussion participants. I mean, it seems to me this story was posted to try and show the police and Mrs. Bush in a negative light for silencing the woman's protest, so I'm wondering what those who feel that way think should have been done differently. Didn't really mean you personally, but I should have been more clear about that.
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