Police dismiss charges against woman who interrupted first lady

[Khephra]

TRENTON, N.J. -- Police have dropped charges against a Hopewell woman who was arrested when she interrupted a campaign speech by first lady Laura Bush to ask why her son was killed in Iraq.

Sue Sapir-Niederer had refused to leave the Thursday rally at a Hamilton fire house and was eventually escorted from the site. Sapir-Niederer wore a T-shirt that bore the words "President Bush You Killed My Son" and a picture of her son, Army 1st Lt. Seth Dvorin.

While he defended police for doing the right thing, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. issued a statement Friday that said police would dismiss the trespass charge.

"It is our determination that the police officers had more than enough probable cause to arrest Ms. Sapir-Niederer and were justified in the their actions," said Bocchini. "Taking all factors into consideration, including the recent loss of her son while serving in the armed forces in Iraq, I believe that the continued prosecution of the this matter would serve no useful purpose."


http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--laurabush-nj-arre0917sep17,0,452065.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[bluestateguy]

1. No Jersey jury would have convicted her

This is not Texas were talking about here.

But the cops who arrested her are still pigs. Oink! Oink!

[saigon68]

29. Oink Oink

I would have loved to be on that Jury.

[Booster]

2. Then she should sue their butts for false arrest.

[Erika]

3. Laura Bush showed 0 compassion to this woman

What a shame.

[MrBenchley]

7. Here's Corrente on the crowd...

"She drew little sympathy from the firehouse crowd.
"Your son chose to go fight that war!" shouted one woman. "She's got the press she wanted," cracked another.
(via The Trentonian)
And a party with attitudes like this is sending your sons and daughters off to die? Unbelievable.
NOTE Of course, she could consider herself lucky that she wasn't assaulted—the Republicans have a kink about assaulting women at Bush events. (See "Bush watches as woman gets abused, "Republicans keep hitting women; Kicking 'em while they're down.)"

http://corrente.blogspot.com/2004_09_12_corrente_archive.html#109543833309915217

[yardwork]

11. Of course the crowd was hateful and vicious

They're all paid by BushCo to be there. They applaud on command. A woman was quoted as saying that she is paid to attend the rallies and start shouting "four more years" when anyone interrupts or asks an awkward question.

These "rallies" are nothing but staged photo opportunities. The media knows this and they don't report it. We're watching the Bill of Rights go down the toilet.

[MrBenchley]

15. I see it reported pretty often...

and I think a lot of people are repulsed by things like this.

[UpInArms]

18. Reminds me of Orwell's "Animal Farm"

when the sheep interrupt anyone questioning authority

When they had once got it by heart, the sheep developed a great liking for this maxim, and often as they lay in the field they would all start bleating "Four legs good, two legs bad! Four legs good, two legs bad!" and keep it up for hours on end, never growing tired of it.

[shanti]

21. and all for the almighty dollar

what a goddam shame...

[shanti]

20. they are cold SOB's

aren't they? :(

[Mace]

25. Interesting

Her son did NOT choose to go fight the war in Iraq, he was ordered.

That woman should of said "Your son chose to join the military", which would of been more accurate. But they are cold, heartless, and will follow every word their leader 'Bush' will say.

[Justice]

17. To be perfectly blunt

If Laura had shown compassion, or even reacted in a human fashion, it could have swayed huge votes (b/c it would have obtained large coverage).

The fact that Laura had nothing to offer this woman tells me that Laura is just that - empty - she has nothing to offer.

[Rose Siding]

4. The arrest equates with intimidation and marginalization

Mission accomplished?

[mreh]

5. I wish someone would sue the hell out of the Bush/Cheney

campaign for all of these illegal arrests and detentions. The campaign and the RNC are independent entities with a lot of money. They are the ones that instruct the cops to arrest disruptors and provide them with their marching orders. (No pro-Kerry shirts or signs, no anti-* shirts or signs, no anti-war, et cetera.) The police are doing what they have been instructed to do, assuming that they are acting on the orders of the SS & the prez. In all reality, it is the campaign and campaign spokesmen that are giving the orders.

SOMEONE needs to sue the campaign and the RNC. Get their attention by going after their most cherished possession, their money!

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. This will happen

just like with Nixon, but the wheels of justice move painfully slowh

[mreh]

16. I hope you are right, suits filed against the RNC and the b/c

campaign would be the best way to alleviate the intimidations. It has to be done during the campaign so that the police at each campaign stop knows that they are not required to make the arrests. It would also tie up the lawyers for both the RNC and the b/c campaign by making them fight the lawsuits. Suits asking for TROs and/or permanent injunctions should be filed seeking orders from the court that prohibit the detentions and arrests unless the protesters are in fact trespassing and/or causing disturbances. If the speeches occur in public forums, folks wearing anti-* or pro-kerry shirts or carrying signs should not be prohibited from attending.

[AndyTiedye]

19. We Had a Democratic Congress When Nixon Was in Office

somewhat infested with boll weevils, to be sure, but we still had the chairmanships and all
that goes with them, and we could launch Congressional investigations and introduce
articles of impeachment. Since we lost Congress we can do none of those things. Boosh
has gotten away with a hundred Watergates, and worse, and will continue to do so as long
as the Republicans are in charge.

This election is our last chance to get our country back.

[shanti]

22. money, exactly

that's all they care about...

[MaineDem]

26. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Just Me]

6. They did the right thing.

My heart goes out to you, Ms. Sapir-Niederer.

I am sorry for your loss and embrace your passion about this mo-fo pResident dependent upon right-wing radicals,...all of whom serve themselves rather than the best interests of humanity.

[Disturbed]

9. Intemidation of Free Speech

L. Bush no compassion. Androids do not have compassion programmed in.

The Neo Facists are anti-Free Speech.

[sal]

8. What a great mom.

That guy was lucky to have her. I bet Jenna and the other one wish they had a mom like that.

[cureautismnow]

10. 1000+ Other Mothers Should Follow Suit...

... and disrupt all teleprompted speeches by the Murderer-in-Chief. Mother after Mother should loudly ask questions such as:

Why did my son or daughter have to die to defend YOUR worthless daddy? Why are YOU such a coward that you personally couldn't defend him yourself? SH challenged your candy-ass to a duel, not my son or daughter, nor America. Why don't you have the decency to attend ONE single funeral for those who died in the ignoble cause to save your daddy's honor?
:puke:

[Princess Turandot]

12. Kerry have her on stage at a rally with him..

I posted something abt this on another board, and the rightwingers immediately responded that if you join the military, you accept that risk, so what was she protesting about. One said she was a 'troublemaker' because she has been to other Bush rallies. Just a few more compassionate conservatives.

Oh, and one said that the reason that the president & other lawmakers' children were not in the military was because it was an 'all voluntary'army.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Don't you love them

compasionate conservatives? They are neither compasionate or conservative...

[Mace]

24. oxymoron

it is!

[shanti]

23. but won't they like it

when THEIR children are drafted? if it comes to a draft, their children had better be drafted alongside our children...again, it's all about money.

[truthisfreedom]

27. Kerry should hire this woman as well.

we need to support our troops and their families. unlike the bushes, the Kerrys love our country and support our troops.

[JimmyJazz]

28. What's really pathetic about this whole thing

aside from Stepford Wife's reaction and the reaction of the audience, is there is more news coverage about a three year old crying over a torn sign.

Not to be cold hearted, but my three year old was just crying because I wouldn't let her go swimming - it's 62 degrees right now!!!

And, I'm pretty sure this woman's son didn't join the military so that he could fight an illegal, unjustified war so that Halliburton could make a lot of money. Good God, they are an insensitive lot.