[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E56-E57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION PROTECTING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF HOUSE 
                            GALLERY VISITORS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, last night, at President Bush's State of the 
Union address, two visitors were forced from the House Chamber. Cindy 
Sheehan and Rep. Bill Young's wife, Beverly. Cindy Sheehan was arrested 
for unlawful conduct, Mrs. Young was not.
  What did they do wrong?
  They were each wearing T-shirts that the Capitol Police determined 
were ``protests''. Ms. Sheehan's shirt read: ``2245 Dead. How many 
more?'' Mrs. Young's shirt read: ``Support the Troops--Fighting for 
Freedom.''
  Nothing in the House Rules prohibits the wearing of T-shirts or has 
limitations on what those shirts can have written on them.
  Both individuals insist they were not protesting, but simply wearing 
shirts that delivered important messages for them.
  What happened to them can only be described as Gestapo behavior. Each 
woman was forced to leave the House Gallery and Ms. Sheehan was then 
arrested and charged with unlawful conduct.
  It is my understanding that because President Bush was in the 
Chamber, control of the Chamber was ceded to him--or the Secret Service 
to be exact.
  Therefore, none of us should be surprised by what happened. Whenever 
and wherever President Bush speaks, he has the Secret Service sanitize 
and sterilize the audience. There are countless reports of people with 
T-shirts stating views that differ from the President being removed 
from his supposedly public appearances.
       What happened last night to Ms. Sheehan and Mrs. Young was 
     un-American and undemocratic. That's why I am introducing a 
     resolution calling on the Office of the Sergeant at Arms to 
     report to Congress within 30 days making clear under what 
     authority these two individuals were prosecuted and making 
     recommendations to Congress so we can assure that nothing 
     like this ever happens again. I urge my colleagues to join me 
     in support of this important resolution.
       How can we allow the President to proclaim he is fighting 
     for freedom abroad when he continually tramples our freedoms 
     here at home?

[[Page E57]]

       This is supposed to be the people's house. Therefore, the 
     President should not be able to override our governance and 
     make us part of his Gestapo regime.

                          ____________________