Anti-War Mom Cindy Sheehan Handcuffed, Arrested Outside White House

AP is reporting that Cindy Sheehan, middle-aged mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, was arrested this morning, along with about 25 other non-violent anti-war protesters, outside the White House after they sat down on the Pennsylvania Avenue sidewalk.

The peaceful protest today was planned as the culmination of a well-organized, three-day anti-war demonstration that drew a diverse group of Americans estimated at more than 200,000 citizens of all ages, races and faiths.

Mrs. Sheehan, who led a 26-day sojourn outside President Bush's Texas ranch, asking for an audience with Mr. Bush to discuss the War in Iraq, is reported to be the first person arrested this morning.

Police are reported to have warned the seated protesters to move along, but they refused. When Mrs. Sheehan was handcuffed and led to the police vehicle, protesters chanted, "The whole world is watching."

Here is a blog diary and photos of the today's protest events in front of the White House.

President Bush continues to refuse to meet privately or publicly with Cindy Sheehan, citing his busy schedule and prior commitments.

All public opinion polls now report that the majority of Americans favor setting a specific...and fairly immediate.... date for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and believe that the Bush Administration has badly mishandled this conflict. In August 2005, Senator Russ Feingold became the first US Senator to demand a specific date for withdrawal of US troops.

Please take a minute to read this superb blog post by Detroit News columnist Ron Scott, about the weekend demonstrations, 500,000 People Vanish in Washington DC.

UPDATE from NBC: "A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police estimates about 370 people were taken into custody over a four and a half hour period. The demonstrators who were arrested cooperated with police."
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Related articles -- Cindy Sheehan Update: A Bona Fide Movement is Born & Growing
-- Massive Three-Day Anti-War Protest Set for Washington DC
-- 200,000 Anti-War Protesters in DC, Yet Cable News Failed to Send Reporters, Cameras
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