CINDY SHEEHAN ARRESTED IN NYC PROTEST
Monday, March 6th
Editor's Note: t r u t h o u t's Rebecca MacNeice was on the ground in New York filming the events when the arrests took place. Rebecca described the police as very rough. She said that many in the crowd were thrown against a building including the press. She described the arrestees as being "drag off" in a rough manner. Truthout also spoke to Cindy Sheehan's sister Dee Dee Miller who spoke to Cindy after the arrest. Dee Dee said that Cindy indicated that the police were very rough with her and the other three arrested. She said that they were requesting an ambulance but we have not confirmed that anyone was seriously injured. Ann Wright who was also on the scene confirmed that the police were very rough and described that the arrestees were carried with their arms behind their backs. She said at times that their arms were raised very high which could have caused an injury. We will have footage of the arrests very soon. Go to www.truthout.org

Steve Kent from Democracy Now! has provided us with the following update:

Here is an update on the arrest of Cindy Sheehan and three other activists at the UN today when they attempted to deliver a petition with 72,000 signatures organized by womensaynotowar.org to the United States mission. The four are being held now at Police Service Area 4, 8th Street and Avenue C, on their way to the DA's office. They are to be charged with resisting arrest. Sheehan is apparently rather injured from the arrest, according to Rev. Patti Ackerman who just called from custody, with a wrenched arm and bruises on her torso and head from being dropped on the pavement. After initially telling the activists they could deliver the petitions to a receptionist at the US Mission, where they had an appointment to do so, the New York police cited a change of plan from "higher up" and moved in to prevent the delivery and arrest the activists. In addition to rough handling of Ms. Sheehan, one of the Iraqi women with the group was punched in the stomach. This according to Rev. Ackerman on the phone. One broadcast producer with whom I spoke who saw footage of the incident said the police were "particularly nasty" in their handling of the women.

[Duchess Note: The behavior towards “peaceful” activists by these NYC police is absolutely appalling. My respect for NYC police died years ago due to their continually horrible, abusive treatment of “peaceful” protestors and activists. They continually violate a New Yorker and Americans right to freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution. Also, I’m sure the “higher up” is none other than John Bolton.]

Kucinich: PATRIOT Act “Is A Full Frontal Assault On The Bill Of Rights And Constitution” -- Washington, March 6th
On the eve of House consideration of amendments to the USA PATRIOT Act, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement:

“At the very time our troops are overseas heroically fighting and dying in the name of protecting and promoting freedom and democracy, tomorrow the House of Representatives will consider a bill to strip those very freedoms at home. The PATRIOT Act threatens the civil liberties of every citizen of this nation, and is a full frontal assault on the Bill of Rights and our Constitution. Like every other Member of Congress I take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, to vote for this bill would violate this sacred oath. This bill violates the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to our Constitution."

"The PATRIOT Act permits the government to continue to conduct criminal investigations without probable cause, to conduct secret searches, to gain wide powers of phone and internet surveillance, and access highly personal medical, financial, mental health, and student records with minimal judicial oversight. This bill threatens to turn back the clock on over 200 years of progress in the protection of civil liberties in this nation. America can and must be both safe and free. The USA PATRIOT Act fails to protect citizens, fails the Constitution of the United States and fails this great nation.”
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=40307