She says she was humiliated when they slapped the cuffs on. Probably not as humiliated as her daughter was when she started whooping and hollering after being warned of the consequences.

It doesn't matter if the woman is an idiot or not. She was proud of her child and has every right to express it.

DYK?: S.C. has the highest concentration of KKK members in the U.S. and is one of the most racist states of our nation.

This lady did not deserve such a reception and the police department should be ashamed!

There is definitely another side to this story. How many high school graduations have a police presence? From the way this story lets on, the police were not called because of her cheering, the police were already there. I want to know more about the school.

C. Francis, what does the KKK population of SC have to do with anything? As for her arrest, it may well be that she "didn't do anything different from other parents" but did do it longer. Anyone who has been to a graduation ceremony knows that they read these kids names off at a reasonably fast pace given that the graduating class may number in the hundreds. If one parent or group starts loudly cheering one kid, the next 2 kids parents can't even hear their kid's name read which is rude. A quick shout would probably be overlooked but an extended celebration is just stepping on the enjoyment of others and should not be tolerated.

I live in racist Illinois. Every year at this time there are fusses over conduct at graduations. I know parents and other family members being rowdy have been asked to leave. Can't remember an arrest. Having police on hand for a crowd of 9000 seems like a reasonable idea.

Every parent is proud. But parents have been waiting 18 years to hear their child's name being called at graduation.

I think the people announcing the names could use much better judgement. If there is a commotion when Billy's name is called, just wait for it to get quiet again before calling up Susie. Frequently, the announcers are just charging down the list to speed the entire thing up.

They should have two graduation ceremonies. One for people who want to get it done quickly, and the other for people who want to drag it out for hours.

Or perhaps we should remove the sticks from our rears and accept that not everyone prescribes to the same level of decorum / rules of public behavior - Maybe celebrating like a stoic blue-blood isn't what everyone wants and it really shouldn't matter how long it takes to read out the names.

Basically, if she wasn't cursing, threating violence, indecently dressed, or making indecent gestures then arresting her is completely indefensible. I suppose there is some possibility that she was escorted out because of the disruption and then arrested for something she said or did to the officer(s) during or after the escort. However, I wouldn't be surprised by an officer on a power trip and/or a discriminatory bender - wouldn't be the first time any of us have ever seen that now would it?

I'm in the same boat as Irish23. There is definitely more going on here than is being reported. The school must have a history of obnoxiously loud idiotic parents doing stupid @!$%# to have police in attendance. I'm not voting one war or the other until the rest of the story is revealed. I have a feeling this lady was completely out of control with her carrying on.

Anyone who supports her getting arrested for simply cheering at her daughter's graduation is insane! Is this what America has become? This is ridiculous. We need to stand up against these retarded laws and against the conniving legislators who pass them. What happened to the land of liberty?

Where was the Dad in all of this?

Let the woman cheer for crying out loud!

Ever been to a graduation before? They actually give out pamphlets to tell you to shut the @!$%# up so they can call out the next kid's name. When I went to my sister's graduation last year it was just awful. It's an area where just about every African American in the area is related and when you have 5 or 6 kids in a row who graduate at one time, it gets loud as hell. Couldn't even hear the names of the 3 or 4 kids who came after that person.

As for the story, do I believe she should have been arrested? No. Removed from the ceremony at least? Hell yes.

She said police arrested her as she made her way down the stairs and onto the auditorium's main floor. She said officers walked her across the Florence Civic Center, where the graduation ceremony was being held, in full view of everyone.

This seems pretty cut and dry to me.

She's not an 'idiot', however, she is guilty of being terribly inconsiderate of everyone else that was graduating by virtue of the above mentioned actions. I don't think they needed to arrest her as opposed to having simply removed her from the building, but it wasn't right for her to disrupt everything that was going on for the 8999 other people in the building whose children or relatives were going through the graduation ceremony.

The fact that they even needed to send out a letter advising everyone as to the kind of behavior that's expected of them is indicative that there have been problems in the past as a result of the number of people attending and 'crowd control'.

She was warned ahead of time and at the start of the ceremony by the presenter to keep it respectful and not get out of hand. This woman obviously thought that they meant everyone else and that because she was proud of her daughter the rules did not apply to her. She was obviously loud and disruptive for the police to take the action they did. Apparently she was out of her seat as she was walking towards the stage when the police stopped and arrested her. People were probably warned not to get up or approach the stage as well, instructions which she ignored. Arresting her might seem a little over the top when they could have just escorted her out, but I guess the police wanted to make the point that there are consequences to not behaving properly. This woman has no one to blame but herself. She probably was so self absorbed she did not even bother to read the notice regarding behavior at the ceremony or hear the admonition from the presenter to keep it respectful so everyone could hear their kid's names being called.

The heavy hand of authority comes down hard in our 'free' society. We can only be free when we behave responsibly. Consideration for others is responsible behavior. I can understand a parent's emotion when their child is successful, but there are times it should be tempered with responsible consideration for those around you. A citation was all that was needed in this case. Both parties, the parent and the authorities overstepped the boundaries of responsible behavior.

You people are right. The police should just be able to arrest anyone who is slightly misbehaving at all. That will help keep everyone else in line. Get freaking real.

With 50% of kids not graduating in my state I think that she should be proud and yell it if she wants. Some of you had to call out the people of color like you have never been around white folks who are just as loud. It is amazing to me that you have such hate for a race of people that you only see what you want.

Out of consideration, wait until everyone's names have been called. This rule is for every graduation ceremony. Why was this woman surprised? Why do people assume that they are the exception to all the rules? First, she was not the only person escorted and arrested. Second, she was cheering while she walked down the stairs and onto the auditorium floor, so yes, she was disruptive. Third, how many parents didn't hear their kids names because of her attention seeking racket? Her kid wasn't the only student who worked hard to graduate. There were those who worked to make the Deans List, the top 10 grads, the valedictorian, the salutatorian. But of course, the parents of these kids don't count. Only this one woman. And the other people who were escorted out for disrupting the ceremony.

If they had to send out letters, and announce to those attending to be respectful then there was problems before. You see parents make such an A$$ out of themselves in front of their kids friends. She was warned and got out of hand.

There was a whole class to congratulate. What if it was your kid having their name called out while this lady was screaming. It's just respect for all students.

Maybe asking her to tone it down or leave. Arresting her? Absurd.

To all the people on here defending her loud obnoxious display: Have you ever attended YOUR kids graduation? I did with both of mine at the high school level and college level. Thank God the college session was done properly so everyone could hear their kids names being called. The high school event was just like described above and it was idiotic at best. I COULD NOT HEAR my kids name called because of some a$$hole parents screaming so damned long. I am glad this person and the others got arrested. If you are told before hand to keep it civil and not be loud...and you then GET loud..it's all on you. Don't blame anyone else. This kind of person will disregard any law that they think inconveniences them.

Yes she SHOULD be proud of her child graduating (as stated by others). I agree. But for courtesies sake, why carry on to the point of disruption to others? Is her child ONE BIT better than the other kids standing right behind her waiting to get their diplomas? If you think that she is better than the rest then it won't matter what anyone else says. You are just as selfish as she is. For you, please get a dictionary and look up the word "respect". Learn it. It will come in handy someday.

@lulu98...by the time they get to her to ask her that..its too late. She will have disrupted at least 2 other kids time to shine. A little late, don't you think?

So, Mom found out she's not the exception to the rule. What an odd way to make your child's day all about you.

I think the people announcing the names could use much better judgement. If there is a commotion when Billy's name is called, just wait for it to get quiet again before calling up Susie.

And in this instance, with 407 students and taking only 30 seconds to quiet the crowd after each momma cheers for their baby, it would have taken a mere 203+ minutes (only 3 hours and twenty minutes) just to read the names. If it took the more likely time span of one minute to quiet down they would have been pushing 7 hours just to hear the names - not mentioning the rest of the commencement ceremony.

She said she wants to put the day behind her, but finds it difficult at the moment.

Of course announcing it to a national media outlet makes it so much easier to put behind her.

Maybe asking her to tone it down or leave. Arresting her? Absurd.

I've got a hunch that there is more to the story than just mom's version. I suspect that the cops tried to keep it at a lower level but that momma figured that they would back down if momma raised enough commotion. Seems as though just made it worse. Of course momma would never admit to any culpability.

They is jus' pickin' on me.

Okay, first a graduation is meant to be a solemn ceremony. It's not supposed to be a free-for-all. It's a symbol of academic achievement not a fraternity party. So decorum is to be exercised. People are supposed to behave in a respectful manner in acknowledgment of the graduates achievement. You wouldn't think of cheering and screaming at a funeral and a graduation ceremony is meant to be just as solemn. You don't holler and yell when baby is born. It's a hospital. People are expected to be quiet.

However, arrest seems a bit harsh. It's delightful that this woman was so enthusiastic that her daughter completed high school. It's a shame more parents don't feel this way. Still she should have kept it to herself until out of the auditorium where she could have cheered and whooped all she liked.

There are just some things in life that beg for quiet reflection. Graduation should be one of them. Often there is just as much honor in silence.

This arrest seems to really be stretching it. Every graduation I have EVER attended (my own, several friends' and a couple of cousins') have included parents who shouted or cheered out of pride when their child's name was called. Many didn't do so, some did.

Who are you, mj, to declare what a graduation is "meant to be"? Obviously, 63% of the poll respondents feel differently than you do. Obviously, many of the attendees of the graduation ceremonies I have attended felt differently as well. Graduation isn't about honor or solemnity, it's about acheivement.

My memory of my own ceremony (my own parents were not amongst those who whooped it up) was that the shouting added to the excitement, the feel of accomplishment, and the atmosphere of completion of one of life's major journeys (and the commencement of the next). It didn't matter if the parents were shouting for me, or for another student. . .we all felt that their individual pride extended to all of us who were graduating. We all appreciated that some couldn't contain it and solemnly sit on their hands through a ceremony celebrating one of the pivotal acheivements of their childrens' lives.

And they didn't see the need to ARREST anyone for expressing that pride at any of the graduations I ever attended. Instead, they just calmly waited for the noise to die down, before announcing the next name over the loudspeakers.

The U.S. is deep into generation 2 of rude, arrogant and trashy self-centered nitwits that cannot follow directions or respect rules that exist so that everyone enjoys a public event. The only possible reason for this woman to go all nuts was if the daughter was the first kid in the family to ever graduate high school, which would be a truly sad statement. For those who missed the Golden Rule in kindergarten: behave as if others matter as much as you do. When rules of the road are stated numerous times beforehand, don't show up and think "Oh, that means everyone but me." What a boorish nation we are.

You go, Mom.

That town must be hard up or cash.....You are suppost to be escorted out and if you dont quietly then you are written a sitation then if you are over the top disorderly like resisting you are arrested. And I live in S.C have had 3 children graduate One more to go in 4 more years.Duncan, S.C

Richard Small: You are right because a white mom wouldn't have acted like a fool. This was probably the only one in her family to ever graduate. I went through this when my oldest son graduated, with some jerk whooping it up. I never did hear his name called. I wanted to choke somebody!

"The school district made an announcement and sent out letters to all of the parents for everyone to be as orderly as they can during the ceremony"

“And as soon as they said 'Christin' I stood up, {started praising}, {woohooing} and {cheering it up} for my baby. I was like {'Go baby!}{You did it}'."

Was she told ahead of time to be orderly? Yes, everyone was told this. Did she do as asked? No.

"She said police arrested her as she made her way down the stairs and onto the auditorium's main floor. She said officers walked her across the Florence Civic Center, where the graduation ceremony was being held, in full view of everyone."

How is walking down the steps, onto the main floor being orderly? Going to the main floor during the ceremony wasn’t just rude and inconsiderate to the graduates but also to everyone she distracted during her walk down the aisle.

Said Cooper: "Disorderly conduct? What's the disorderly conduct? How was I so disorderly you know any different from just a happy parent?”

A total of 3 people were arrested for similar actions.

It was a lot of hard work to get my baby to this point, you know? I wanted to celebrate. I wanted to shout out my joy."

She did as she wanted. Period. Now TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. Period.

Should the rules/guidelines have been different? That doesn’t matter now. Attendance at the event signifies ones agreement to abide by the rules and guidelines for the event. If the requirements for attendance at the ceremony were too much for some people to follow, then that should have been addressed before the event.

TO: proudamericanveteran who wrote:

"...Talk about the product of liberal propaganda. Actually Martin Luther King cited Chicago as being one of the most racist cities..."

Over Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina? Even Virginia?

Not a chance.

I lived in Chicago and IT should have been labeled the "city of brotherly love" because the people there sure are some of the nicest in the world.

And you can bet she didnt cop an attitude when the police approached her.

Watch a few Bridezilla shows, Jerry Springer, or COP's you will get an idea for this behavior...

She should have been arrested for being disruptive!! This has nothing to do with race and it has everything to do with respecting others. Why is it when a Black Person is held accountable for their actions, the 1st thing they do is blame others and claim racism?? Numerous Notices has been sent to parents outlining the behavioral requirements for the graduation and this lady failed to comply and apparently thought she should get "preference". I have been to all my children's High School & College Graduations and with over 400 students, if every parent acted like this lady the ceremony would have taken hours. Every parent wants to hear their child's name and their accomplishments when they get their diploma's/degrees and if every parent acted like this parent, that would not happen.

It's called decorum. Whatever her color, she is either deaf, ignorant, or (like many) just doesn't care about social graces. Like almost all graduation exercises, an announcement was made instructing the audience not to cheer and be disruptive of the proceedings.

All there were obviously proud of various individuals, but didn't show their butts by screaming and making fools of themselves. Some people just need to stay home.

@ProudAmericanVet:

His comments went right over your head! He talked about a state and you went to one city in another stat to try and refute what he said???? Now, about the incident: I wondered if anyone applauded???? If so, then they celebrated!! This is in answer to someone saying this was a solemn occasion. A parent is suppose to celebrate their child's achievements, and for some people this could be the first celebration for the family!! Maybe she went a little over board in her jubilation, but jail, really???? Perhaps the rules were a little too ridged for this ceremony.

Pugface said:

Richard Small: You are right because a white mom wouldn't have acted like a fool. This was probably the only one in her family to ever graduate.

You make me embarrassed to admit that I'm white. Please cut the racist crap. It's trashy and not becoming of a white woman. You're not acting like a fool... you're acting like a hundred of them. A hundred mean and nasty racist fools.

C. Francis stated: S.C. has the highest concentration of KKK members in the U.S. and is one of the most racist states of our nation.

proudamericanFAKEveteran replies, with his fingers shoved up his nose: Talk about the product of liberal propaganda. Actually Martin Luther King cited Chicago as being one of the most racist cities. Didn't know that did you. Need to research on your own and take MSNBC with a grain of salt.

Um, i have a newsflash for you, proud American FAKE veteran. ML King DIED almost 45 years ago. So, try doing some of your own research, and realize that MAYBE things have changed in almost a HALF CENTURY! C Francis was talking about the current day...not back when your mom was scrambling schmeckle!

after I cheered for my daughter. I was already leaving on my own anyways

After your daughter got her diploma to hell with everyone else. Others had to sit through your daughter receiving her diploma but you weren't about to sit through watching others get theirs. Sounds like that is all your daughter was known for - the kid that had the rude disruptive momma that got her ass hauled to jail on graduation night.

Welcome to all the freedom you enjoy in America.

I live in the deep south. At the graduations in the area I live in the parents show their pride by bringing cow bells to ring and air horns to blow. The people planning the graduation has taken in account that the parents want to celebrate this event with their child. When the graduates names are called their is a pause between each one for the families and friends to celebrate and then the next name is called. Now I know that you are probably thinking dumb hillbillies, but this is our time to uplift our children for the accomplishments that they have done.

Shannon - Did you think about the student who was directly AFTER your child? Did you think about his/her parents? You took something away from them that they can NEVER get back....hearing their child's name called at graduation. Wouldn't you be angry if the parents of the child ahead of yours had done the same thing and you didn't get to hear YOUR child's name. Yes, be happy for your child, but don't ruin the experience for other people. That is just rude.

I have said this a thousand times before....The Criminalization of America has come of age.

No mater how law abiding a citizen is, they will break the law one way or another through no fault of their own.

Rules are not to trump the constitution.

This isn't the America I can be proud of.

I think the moral of this story is someone out there will go shoot the racist.

Shannon - Firstly, no matter how loud and obnoxious you MAY have been, you should not have been arrested, that's ridiculous. However, your actions of exiting immediately and saying you expected to be escorted out do seem to paint the picture that you purposely planned on being ridiculous yourself. As someone who has recently graduated college, trust me when I say everyone, including the students think it is ridiculous when people feel they need to make a huge scene when their child is called. I mean is it that hard to just clap and give a quick "CONGRATULATIONS, I LOVE YOU!" I know many who act like you, and generally they do not mean any harm to others, as I believe you did not, but you may want to take a look at your own actions, because you may find you annoy people to this degree more than you realize. Also, congrats to your daughter. It is a accomplishment that you should justly be proud of, just realize annoying everyone else is not.

Shannon,

Thank you for coming here to tell your side. You were even civil, which is much more than I would have been given all of the offensive comments. Most of these people are trolls who are holier than thou and have never done anything but sit quietly when they are told to. Props to you and your daughter, you for raising a graduate and her for making her momma proud by graduating. Now enough about this off to college so you can do it again in 4 years.

First time I have ever heard that cheering was diorderly conduct! Happen in Cincinnati Ohio also. They refused to give the kid his diploma because his family celebrated they say "too loud"

I have no idea how loud this woman was or how she was told that this sort of thing was subject to arrest but these two examples are just another indication that we are headed for a police state as we let them take away our tights one step at a time.

Nothing like a police state, more headed to a world where people have manners and respects those around them instead of acting like animals.

What happened to manners?

This is so sad.

With so many young people not even able to stay in school long enough to graduate, we have this.

Absolutely do NOT treat your child's graduation as if it's something to celebrate; Behave as if you are at a funeral-which is what it is. After all, we all know that there is no life after high school. (sarcasm)

wow there would be paddywagons full of people that attended my grad! and my school had a lot of "blue blood" spoiled rich kids and we all still got those letters saying that people in the audience should behave. no one listened and sure at times it was annoying. you really couldn't hear your kids names? maybe you should complain to someone in audio dept because my ceremony was at a stadium made to host CONCERTS! everone could hear their name. the rule was there because some people had more supporters than others at the grad and no one wanted anyone to feel left out. so sure it was annoying at times but at no point did i ever even THINK that anyone should be arrested for being loud at their loved ones graduation! for some of these people, they are first generation HIGH SCHOOL GRADS! how sad is that no wonder they are so happy. i know many of you can't fathom that but seriously take your heads out of your a$$. the police are despicable and they force should be used for real reasons not something like this. i hate to see them out on the streets doing nothing on my dime just waiting for speeders to pass. PIGS. all of you people that agree are advocating a police state. you are probably conservatives who complain about govt interference but kiss police officers ass every chance you get and could give two @!$%#s when they beat people.i can say things like this because i live in fresno with one of the most corrupt police depts. in the nation. google it and you will see. Having said all of this shannon: remember there are other people in attendance and try to think of others when you do things that will affect them in any way.

and seriously the comment collapsing is getting ridiculous people. you don't like other peoples opinions get over it because opinions are like @!$%#s and everyones got one. unless they are downright derrogatory you need to give it a rest seriously this is supposed to be the land of the free. we have rights to say what we believe but clearly some people have issues with this. despicable.

Just a few more thoughts-from the graduates point of view:

A) We don't care about the speeches. From the principle or the governor or the class president or even the Valedictorian.

B) If you were to eliminate the speeches that no one is interested in, then the names could be read at a slower pace & the family could have their 5 seconds of 'glory'.

C) I've been to Catholic weddings & Catholic funerals that didn't last as long as a graduation; But I will admit, that they were equally boring (no, I'm not Catholic).

D) Why 'make' them go thru the ceremony at all; Just give them their piece of paper & don't get off on making people sit in a hall, for hours, with no A/C- in JUNE!

@ the thinker and wryview

quote from shannon: "I was already leaving on my own anyways just like all the other families, and my cheering was over before my daughter even exited off the stage and way before the next childs name was called."

She did not leave after her daughter's name, but after the ceremony, hence just like all the other families and she states that her cheering was done before the next name was called. Also, she states that the staff were cheering at the students as well and they didnt get arrested, so she felt that if the staff saw fit to cheer, why cant she. I agree with her. And to others, I just watched my son graduate high school and my daughter junior high and both ceremonies had cheering as well.

Now see all of this could have been avoided if the parent of the child called before her's had just gotten up and whooped and hollered--she then would have missed her child's name and none of this would have happened. WOW!! the fates were really against her. I wonder when the lawyers will get involved?????

Okay, so maybe she shouldn't have been cheering loudly if they were already given letters beforehand. But come on, arresting someone for being proud of their child graduating!! Ridiculous!! A warning or like a previous poster said, even a citation would have made more sense. They sure are quick to arrest a proud parent for cheering, but yet sometimes don't do their jobs when its actually required for something little more serious. But then again, there are two sides to every story, for all we know she could have "gave attitude" when they approached her, but we weren't there so we don't know for sure. Congrats to her daughter on graduating tho, & good luck to her in all her future endeavors.

Another poorly vetted one-sided story by MSN. Right....just take this woman's word as the gospel truth. Don't check out any facts. You know damn well we're not hearing the real story. But the truth can't keep selfish pigs like this from filing a lawsuit. No doubt Jessie and Al are on a plane headed to S.C.

Read post 766 is you want to get a better picture of what really happened at this graduation. It's on about page 36.

Yep we have become a police state, although I tend to believe had she been a white mom there would be no news.

oh poor me, I'm black and the whole world hates me.

Well, stop making stupid comments and maybe they wont

For all you idiots, I am a white guy that recognizes the plight of other races in America. So spare me when calling me a raciscist because having been in combat to defend this country, my defenders were of many colors not one. Time you folks that enjoy the freedom we defended without a claim of being veteran get over attacking racism.

It would depend on how long she continued screaming after her daughter's name was called.

If the other parents were cheering then that is one thing. But being obnoxious for an unreasonable amount of time is disorderly conduct.

You can't arrest someone for violating school rules, they aren't written laws. SO even if she violated school policy they can ask her to leave but cannot legally arrest her unless she refused to leave. If it was a few seconds of cheering until the next name is called then that is reasonable and not uncommon.

I was at a HS graduation in Alabama just last week, held in a church and no one cheered when each of the only 48 names were called for the class of 2012. It sucked. It felt like a funeral. I applaud schools that allow celebration, but be polite please.

SO again, it depends on HOW obnoxious she was compared to the other parents. If it went on well past the calling of her daughter's name then at some point yes, it becomes disorderly conduct in public. Otherwise, pull the stick out of your a$$!!!

As I read all those who say that graduation is a solemn, somber time, I wonder how dreadfully boring your lives must have been when you graduated HS. College. or the like. Graduation is a celebration, especially in this current era, with only 1 in 3 graduating HS the first time through. I'm a gambling man, and I'm betting that many of you

a. went half naked under your cap and gown, (which is why the schools check now)
b. took several beach balls (which is why the pockets are checked now)
c. had your friends/family cheer you with AIR HORNS (Most graduations are outside now)

This woman ( who responded in the article above) stated she was leaving already after she cheered her daughter. This is why she was met on the auditorum floor. She stated she was not hand cuffed in the arena of the graduation, but in the hallway away from it. The fact that there was uniformed police presence there, tells me that there have been more serious incidents at this HS in the past, probably not limited to gun play or fighting.

You can sit on your chair, and talk about respect, dignity, and being able to hear your own child's name all you want.
I am deaf in one ear, and listen to a lot of loud music so I probably can't hear out of the other, but at no time when my children crossed the stage, was I not able to hear (above the air horns, a trumpet quartet-from a band geeks family, and a megaphone mom) my own childs name called and cheer them on to glory and completion. Even the Kid who had hodskins, graduated, bald and all, When he crosssed the STAGE, METALLICA couldn't have made that much noise.
CELEBRATE their success, QUIT acting like a graduation is a FUNERAL.

from the graduates point of view: A) We don't care about the speeches. From the principle...

Looks like somebody graduated a little early. I grade 3 I learned principle (fundamental truth; rule governing one's behaviour) and principal (head or director of a school)

ks1971 - It wasn't about the cheering but about the level and duration of the cheering. But of course momma did downplay her role through her self-serving comments.

and my cheering was over...before the next childs name was called."

It wasn't fair to the next student to call the name until momma shut up.

I am from friggin' Red Neck Idaho and with the drop out rate we have here, we scream, jump, dance down the isles, and generally fly our freak flag when our kids gradi'ate.!!! Guess what color we are... And, yes, we get the little paper that says we are spose to 'settle down'. Well, that is a relative term. Meanin', when our relative's get up to get his/her diploma, we take our turn, then we settle down the rest of the time. That's what you call a compromise which should certainly keep a person out of jail! Let's mediate not adjudicate, for crying out loud! Saves a lot of time and money!

@mackman

She is a jerk for ruining the event for everyone else.

Try hearing the next kids name called with her bellowing her head off... All of the kids parents deserved to hear their name called. You are probably one of those making a scene mackman.

Mackman,

Anyone who has been to a graduation ceremony knows that they read these kids names off at a reasonably fast pace given that the graduating class may number in the hundreds. If one parent or group starts loudly cheering one kid, the next 2 kids parents can't even hear their kid's name read which is rude. A quick shout would probably be overlooked but an extended celebration is just stepping on the enjoyment of others and should not be tolerated.

She was a jerk because she disobeyed all instruction on how to act during the graduation. I am sure that her daughter was very embarrassed by the mother's actions. I know my daughter would have been but the difference is that I would have abided by the announcement and letter furnished in advance.

Jerk or not, the rules were clearly communicated to the attendees, and she chose to
ignore them. There were over 9,000 people in the audience, and with 30 officers
already standing by, it seems the school felt this audience had a propensity
for disruptive behavior. A graduation isn't a solemn ceremony in my opinion,
but it's not a cage fight either.

I would have to see the tape of the event before I could judge whether it was warranted or not. A yelp is different than going crazy and screaming so no one else can hear. The point is that all the parents are excited and would shout, and then no one would graduate. I don't know if she disrupted the event or not...we don't unless we see it, really.

Come on folks, it's a graduation ceremony.. not a funeral service. I don't know how rowdy she got but it is ridiculous that some schools have taken to the extreme in telling graduates and parents how to act at a graduation ceremony.

It is a time of celebrating success and accomplishments. For some families, it might be the first time anyone graduated from that family. That being said, it is not a sporting event where you scream at the top of your lungs or profanities and jump up and down or do the wave.

I still think there is something more to this story that we are not being told though.

You shouldn't have to be told in a Graduation Ceremony to be respectful. These graduations drag on for hours because everyone has to get in on it. That's why the throwing your hate in the air at the end to congratulate all the kids.

but it is ridiculous that some schools have taken to the extreme in telling graduates and parents how to act at a graduation ceremony.

I'm guessing it was based on past experiences. Sounds as if those parents and graduates aren't as reasonable as you.

I hope she Whooped and hollered while doing Snoopys Spring Dance. Our kids graduate HS ONCE. If her daughter was embarrassed, SO WHAT. When shes 30, she'll remember with a smile or a laugh in some inapropriate place and will have one of her fondest memories from childhood.

I hope the judge is more understanding.

Houstonite,

"Come on folks, it's a graduation ceremony.. not a funeral service. I don't know how rowdy she got but it is ridiculous that some schools have taken to the extreme in telling graduates and parents how to act at a graduation ceremony."

I agree, it seems to me there may be more here than meets the eye. Was she really arrested just because she got emotional in shouting for her daughter or was she arrested because she gave the officers "lip" when they approached her? Either that or maybe we are seeing a return to the pre-1960's South.

I hope the judge's kid was the next in line, you know, the kid whose parents couldn't hear her name being called because this idiot was whooping it up.

Do you think those other parents sat through hours of boring speeches just to hear you carry on and drown out the names of the other graduates? And how incredibly rude to leave after you see your kid graduate and disrupt the rest of the ceremony!!!

I had no problem at all with being escorted out after I cheered for my daughter. I was already leaving on my own anyways just like all the other families

If she can't behave in public, take her away so she does not ruin the event for everyone else. No class at all but, what can I say.

No manners - OUT!

A South Carolina mother says she was humiliated when she was arrested during her daughter's high school graduation last weekend in Florence, S.C., for cheering too loudly.

But police say Shannon Cooper's shouting was nothing short of disorderly conduct.

I agree with the police. Some parents get way too loud at school events to the point were they are intruding upon all others rights to enjoy this graduation event or some other school sporting event.

If you want to act like an azz, expect to be treated as one.

Arresting her may have been going a stretch too far, but removing her from the auditorium and fining her would have been more than enough imo.

The pic of her and all those tattoo's just screams "GHETTO" for me. Any mother that dresses like that and defaces her body imo is just effed up in the head.

Arieus because you don't like it doesn't make it wrong or criminal. Your's is nothing but your personnel opinion, very often those should be held close to the vest and not spoken, because yours like most have something in common with a rectum. everyone has one and they all stink.

Subliminal....Nothing

Peace

Some families don't know the proper way to act at a graduation. Most I have been to they expect you to act with some decorum as it is a joyful but solemn ceremony. At every one I have been to they ask the guests to hold all applause so that each child's name can be heard by the community and so that a 2.5 hour ceremony doesn't stretch into a 4 hour ceremony.

"Come on folks, it's a graduation ceremony.. not a funeral service. I don't know how rowdy she got but it is ridiculous that some schools have taken to the extreme in telling graduates and parents how to act at a graduation ceremony."

Mickey, she needed to learn to compose herself at a public event as one would do in a public restaurant. The graduation wasn't just for her daughter, but for all the other parents and their kids.

This woman acted and behaved like a buffoon. Remove her from the graduation and give her a fine. If you want to act "ghetto", then keep it in the "ghetto".

Devels son apparently those that pay ungodly sums of money to educate their children feel otherwise, because I've been to 17 in the last 5 years and every single one has had cheering and many came from homes a hell of a lot more wealthy than yours or mine. Are you sure it's not the appearance of the suspect that sways your opinion? I think if she was slender, white and attractive there would have never been an iota of concern. Your way is not always the right way nor the proper way. I think your seeing a little bit of the old south rearing it's head and testing the waters for a new era of Jim Crow laws that are about to take effect in this country during the next election.....Film at 11

Everyone there is lucky she didn't use an air horn, like one family did at one of my kids' graduations.

(Couldn't blame them, really. Their student was last of eleven kids, and the only one to graduate high school and to make it to 18 without a police record.)

According to the story, others were also escorted out.

Babs..2 others, i think theres more than meets the eye here.

Jim Crow returns...keep electing Republicans and this will be tame in comparison.

I've been attending graduation ceremonies for the past 15 years. It seems parents are getting louder and louder every year. Some of the cheers and screams are so sustained that others can't hear the names of their children. I've also seen kids doing victory dances as they are handed their diploma. What has happened to decorum, courtesy and modesty?

Sure are a lot of people calling this lady names. She may have been disorderly, inconsiderate, and discourteous but since when do people get thrown in the hokey for that? She says others were cheering too. Is she lying? Is she a jerk? I don't know the woman myself, but some here know her well enough to make that call. Is it her tats that bother you or something else.

I was one of the kids who got bullied in High School. kept as much to myself as I could, not a lot of friends...though I was a stung student winning many awards in academics, arts, sciences and the like.

But Not too many friends I thought...that is until Graduation Night...People walked across the stage with their names called, mostly with very light clapping from a couple family members if anything...A few got some cheering and more...I expected nothing...Then my name was called and a loud roar of clapping and cheers rose up (None from my fairly reserved family as only my parents were there anyway)...I cannot express how much my heart soared, I almost broke down crying..that moment lifted me out of a depression that had kept me back for years and years. They did like me (I know...how Sally Field!) I did have supporters there and not just the 2-3 I thought of as friends.

To this day I thank them all for that night, my self-esteem changed forever. I college I was elected to campus wide Student Govt Office. Today I work in a very people oriented business where I am at ease meeting and chatting. I am very successful and made it on my own. THis would have never been possible if it were not for that night.

Cheer all you want for your daughter Ms. Cooper...show your pride and lift her up. I would not be surprised if she was not the first in for family to graduate from HS, but I bet she will not be the last. May she go further in her Education and have great success in life, with a loving supportive Mom like you I bet she can.

FYI I am originally from Coastal South Carolina. My family was quite well off, but very reserved. I attended a private academy Middle School, but whose to go to the public high school over the private elite one my parents preferred. And guess what, those who went to the private high schools did not succeed whereas those who went tot he public one did, probably because they learned how to interact with people from all 'levels' of society. The only ones who went to private schools who now live well, inherited that money, none made it on their own.

ArIeus there is some serious underlying racism in your post.

AS IF only blacks living in a ghetto have tattoos?

You comment on what she is wearing in her yard in the summer in sc? SC is hot as hell in the summer.

I am sure you have a closet full of Imprinted T shirts, Flip Flops and Jeans. You fashion maven!

First let's do a little math. There were over 9000 people at the ceremony. If we take out the 407 grads and take out another 1000 for the faculty, dignitaries, staff etc., we still have an average of more than 18 guests per student. The school needs to (as most schools do) cap the number of guests at somewhere between 7 and 10. Reducing the number of guests reduces the uproar.

Second, having been to a number of commencement ceremonies over the past several years, many of these parents/guests are completely out of control. It is disrespectful to the others present, prolongs the ceremony and, as well can see, might get you arrested. Good for this HS. If the family wants to whoop and holler, let them do it at a family graduation party after the ceremony.

another control freak heard from.

I think we all know its just like the movie theater ,,,, maybe she is so used to acting a fool she didnt realize just how disruptive she was being lol ,, like others said "GHETTO" ,, if you feel you cant controll yourself then dont go to event have someone tape it n watch it after in your own privacy so you dont bother the rest ,, just like many of us stopped going to the movie theaters because "GHETTO" people tend to ruin our expoeriences.

Could be that the real issue was discussed in the body of the article.

Cooper doesn't think she did anything wrong. She said police arrested her as she made her way down the stairs and onto the auditorium's main floor. She said officers walked her across the Florence Civic Center, where the graduation ceremony was being held, in full view of everyone.

perhaps Ms. Coopers error came in the whole...

She said police arrested her as she made her way down the stairs and onto the auditorium's main floor.

Now if she thought it would be a good idea to whoop and holler and make her way to the auditorium floor in the midst of the ceremony I think it could be reasonable to believe that she took her glee a bit too far....having a parent enter the actual ceremony while it is in process is certainly disruptive.

If police waited until after the ceremony,when she went to share with her daughter, and singled her out that could be excessive.

Wait until you have busted your but trying to keep your kid in school for 12 years and then you can tell me what the big deal is. Its a struggle every single day to get your high schooler up and out of the house. Keeping your daughters from getting pregnant, doing drugs, your sons from knocking up their girlfriends, and the list goes on and on. and its even friggin harder when your a single parent, so unless youve been there dont judge.

I'm the first female in my family to graduate so for my family it was a big deal.

For some High School Graduation IS a really big deal. Unfortunately, that accomplishment is about as far as they are going to go in life. They know it, and make the most of it.

Let them have their time in the sun. You'll have yours later.

High School Graduation is more important that Boot Camp. It is also not for the child it is for the parent. When you have kids you will understand. It is a passage, an acknowledgement that the child has become an adult.

The parent whose child was next probably didnt get to hear the name called. Whooping like that is rude and disrespectful to the other parents. Save your hollering for your own parties afterwards.

The story said nothing about the mom shouting over the next name that was called. Some of you anally challenged people seem to be embellishing the story to make this woman's behavior look as bad as it could possibly be. Before long she'll be drunkenly shooting a pistol in the air to celebrate her daughter's graduation while shouting incoherently. My guess, just as everyone else's comment is a guess, is that she was somewhat more enthusiastic than others at the graduation, and she expressed her enthusiasm a few seconds more than was expected by anally challenged cops who found it necessary to have 30 of them on hand, just in case the parents of the grads became unduly unruley. To justify their overkill, they decided to humiliate a black woman by arresting her for celebrating a bit longer than they deemed appropriate. Had the woman been white, I assure you she would not have been humiliated and arrested for celebrating her daughter's graduation, and I doubt very much that the woman in question shouted over the name of the next grad. Just another unconfirmed take on how things went down at the event.

Graduating from high school is not more important than graduating from boot camp. I have graduated from both, and my boot camp graduation was/is far more important to me. Have you graduated from both?

I believe you all missed the point of her comment. The comment was intended to point out that it has been made too restrictive and solemn when it should be a time of celebration not to say graduating from high school is no big deal. Sheesh

In any case, the lady who was arrested was an idiot for breaking the rules as well as rude, but she should have been escorted out at the time of the incident, not arrested.

I am sure it was a big deal for this mother as it it for others, that doesn't give anyone the right to toss civilized behaviour out the window and disrupt the ceremony for everyone else. It was not as if she just found out she won a million dollars and could not contain the excitement, she obviously knew her daughter was graduating.

I like Amy's comment. Getting my Infantry cord and disks at that first Army graduation was a much more rewarding experience than receiving a HS diploma. A HS diploma only means that you have at least "met the standards" as mandated by the state. Let's face it, HS standards and educational requirements have been falling for the last 30 years. If you go to school and invest a modicum of effort, you will graduate. Many HS graduates have to "unlearn" study habits and styles of writing from HS and then relearn them in their first semesters of college.

I am from Florence and I graduated at the same Civic Center. They warn people multiple times not to get carried away at the graduation. I'm 100% sure she did more than just clap and yelp. I have seen some families carry on so long that 4 or 5 kids families dont get to hear their student's name called. As happy as she is that her daughter graduated I'm sure they ruined the experience for some other family who didn't get to hear their child's name. I'm glad that her daughter graduated and that she was proud of her, but that didn't give her the right to ruin other peoples happy day.

Another example of increased censorship and further loss of our freedoms

Read the story, she was arrested after she had made her way down the stairs and was starting across the lower floor. This was way beyond !yays!

Also, note the name, Cooper. If this was being done by last name, the ceremony had hardly started. 9000 people there, maybe arrest was to far but she did need to be removed. If every parent there did this, and they waited for it to finish to continue, they would be about to the 'm's' by now. :)

Relsin, yes it says she was arrested after walking down to the floor, but where did it say she didn't wait until the ceremony ended? It didn't even suggest that the ceremony was or wasn't over yet. You know what they say about making assumptions right?

For a lot of people it IS a big deal. This lady should have been just escorted out - not cuffed... that is so wrong!

Well I understand removing someone for being too loud - some parents can be so obnoxious at those ceremonies - but arrested??? I think that went too far, they should have asked her to sit down or leave, and only pull out cuffs if se REFUSED to do so. Maybe that's what happened, but from the article it sounds to me like it DIDN'T happen that way. That's just crazy!

Her being arrested was a bit much. It was a rule the SCHOOL made - it wasn't a LAW.

It's like your employer telling you not to eat at your desk and then when you do the cops show up and arrest you. There are rules and there are laws. She broke a rule, that's it.

Obviously, they were all well-informed about the expected behavior for the event and the consequences of failing to comply. There are valid reasons for the rules: making the graduation experience fair (every name heard; no embarrassment for the unfortunate children who would have no one carrying on excessively when their name was called); making the event somewhat dignified (clearly, an underrated quality) and relatively efficient.

This woman felt entitled to ignore the clearly-stated rules. She suffered the clearly-stated consequences of her sense of entitlement.

She knew to be quiet, she didn't care.

I get wanting to be exicted, but what right do you have to hear your child's name and not the parent of the student behind her? Parents are LOUD and they don't care. They will cheer forever.

My college has the same rule and during my HS graduation no babies were to be allowed. Its a cermony, everyone has a right to hear their child's name, not just you!

Shells said 30 officers were stationed at the convention center that evening to monitor a crowd of 9,000 people. South Florence High School had 407 students graduating that night, he said.

So I would guess that they have had some "major" problems in the past given the need for 30 officers. By the way; 9,0000 people??????? That is a little over 22 people PER graduate!!!! What????

The Police chose this Mother to make an example of. The school invited them in and they went overboard. I hope they all feel justified in their stupidity. I would fight the charges in court and sue the District and get my child a Scholarship.

Some parents are simply low class and do not read or follow instructions. Have some pride and dignity and show the world you are not ghetto. Sadly there were 2 families at my son's graduation who behaved in this uncivilized manner. The school anticipated it, and all the parents knew who those kids were.

I went to my sons HS graduation, Boot camp graduation, and Warrant Officer training graduation. I cheered at all the them.

Arrest me.

The way it was done at my sons HS graduation was they gave a short pause from naming one student to the next, to announce whatever awards or scholarships they were getting, etc. The next childs name was clearly heard.

Unless this woman was screaming at the top of her lungs or such, I think the arrest was stupid. I also think the $225.00 fine was outrageous. Looks to me that the cops were just looking for a way to collect extra cash. Like when they have to issue so many tickets in a month.

And 9000 people for 400 kids graduating? That's just ridiculous. Most graduations they give so many tickets per graduate. 3-4 most of the time. I remember we had to specifically ask for extra tickets for extended family that wanted to attend and those were given out on individual requests.

Mo,

The speed limit is 70 mph. You can choose to go 75 and risk the consequences. You knew the rules when you broke them. Whether anyone else was ticked for the same violation or similar, say 73, is irrelevant. You have no case. But it is people like you that have our insurance costs along with many others going through the roof with frivolous law suits.

If she was that disruptive for cheering, she should have been escorted out not arrested. The school went overboard. Its a great accomplishment for some parents to have their child graduate from anywhere.

These Cops don't have anything better to do than arrest proud parents?! What a waste of tax payer dollars. Instead how about arresting dead beat parents who are bringing their kids down.

What the h— — — is wrong with you people? Meta World Something please stop posting inane "I am a sheep" comments. Here is a thought. Stop hosting graduations at offsite places other than the school where you have to get everyone in and out in the one to two hours for which you have rented the facility. Do it back at the school and split into groups if too many students are in the class. Limit tickets to 4 or 5 per family. Then when each student is called allow ten seconds or so for the students' family and other graduating friends' families to clap yell do whatever to acknowledge what for some may be their last educational achievement. Then call the next student. Is ten to fifteen seconds really too much to allow? I am sick of administrators in schools acting worse than the Gestapo to just get through the "ordeal" of another graduation. If it is too much for you you overpaid twit in charge, then get another job. Graduation is for the families and the kids not the school. Remember, no one can clap over another student's name if the nimrod holding the microphone doesn't call the name until it can be heard. Ban air horns, megaphones, etc, fine but let the people celebrate!

“According to the report, she was disruptive during the ceremony and ceremonies are considered solemn occasions,” Shells said.

Yes, I would put it number two just behind funerals for solemn occasions, that's why everyone wears black.

If people weren't so sue happy he could admit there was an over reaction instead of making that ridiculous statement.

Amanda, wipe that smirk of your face, you are about to graduate. I better not hear one peep out of you when I call your name, this is a solemn occasion and your giddiness is a disgrace to everyone cue the New Orleans style tuba funeral music and we shall begin

i can understand wanting to cheer. all the parents were warned, and it was not he school but actual police officers who were present at the time who determined it to be disorderly conduct. let me say that again, the police officers, not the school, made this determination. the school has no power to stop the police from doing their job. 2 other people were arrested, but they are not making a big deal out of it. graduation ceremonies are for the students not the parents, not to mention that if everyone acted like this the ceremony would take days in some places. this was not an unreasonable request by the school. it was unreasonable of this lady and the other 2 parents to act like this after they were asked not to.

Truesaid, this type of request/regulation has been around for a long time. I graduated H.S. in 1972 and college four years later. They had these rules even back then. They had these rules when my kids graduated H.S. in the early 2000's, and college in the last few years. It is very disheartening not to be able to hear your child's name called because the parent(s) of the child before yours is whooping it up. They usually read the names one after another, with very little time inbetween. This parent, as were all of the other parents, were forwarned a number of times. They could whoop it up as much as they wanted after all of the names were read. While arresting her may have been going a little too far, they did arrest a few other parents too, according to the article. We don't know how long this mother's excitement went on. That could also have been a factor in the action taken.

Metta World Shanti

Obviously, they were all well-informed about the expected behavior for the event and the consequences of failing to comply.

I'm sorry, I must have missed the law that states people are not allowed to cheer at a graduation ceremony. Perhaps this was a RULE not a LAW thus the police had no right to arrest her.

Was she wrong in yelling an excessive amount at an outrageous volume? Maybe, but due to the cops action of arresting her for something not pertaining to the law I would say what she did is no longer the issue at hand.

the cops had no authority to arrest her, none at all. she broke no law, disorderly conduct is far from what she did and for a police officer to use that as an excuse to arrest a citizen is outrageous and a troubling tell of what the future holds if we keep allowing these abusers to rein free. i hope the arresting cop meets an unfortunate end as he was never fit to wear a badge, i have no cares for these type of people.

no schools should ever have that many people for a graduation in one place, there are so many problems with it but i dont give the schools a A+ for common sense, more like an F. its sad that as parents they need to just sit and watch a now useless ceremony that some people think is the world to them but in reality its just a waste of time, if i was a parent i would hold my own grad ceremony and screw the schools, overpaid useless entity that has made our population dumber.

My child recently graduated college. The ceremony was a pain in the butt. It took forever because people kept screaming for their graduate. Then some names you couldn't even hear because people wouldn't stop screaming. For my next one, I think I'll just skip it. 4 hours (we had to get there early too in order to get a decent seat) is too long.

Another example of increased censorship and further loss of our freedoms

How is telling parents multiple times in spoken word and print, not to get too loud losing your freedoms?

I wonder how Sues parents felt when her name was called to get her diploma. That's right, they didn't get hear it because some lady was hootin' and hollerin'.

There is a reason rules like this are in place. Every parent I know, wants to hear their childs name called, but do not want to sit though hours and hours of cheering. That's what graduation parties are for.

There is in no way any type of censorship and loss of freedoms going on. Your logic would make rules illegal and unconstitutional.

If you don't like the rules, or feel you can not abide by them, stay home.

Swagganaut - disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor thus a crime so she has been accused of breaking a law, you might not agree, others might not agree but it is a crime. Note that she said ""And as soon as they said 'Christin' I stood up, started praising, woohooing and cheering it up for my baby. I was like 'Go baby! You did it'." - which the way I read it she did't even wait for the whole name to get out, lets all admit that parents get carried away sometimes and it is disruptive if people are 'praising, and woohooing' for their kids. And since I wan't there I don't know if her cheering drowned out the names of the next kid(s) but I would suspect that she did disrupt the ceremony for those around her. ANd if the class is 400 strong and they give each family 10 seconds to cheer for each kid it would take over an hour to get thru all of them. My HS and college graduatios were outside think about what it is like in a cap and gown in the heat - all you want is for it to be over and if it drags because your adult parents cant control themselves.....

I have been to HS graduations where once a kid crosses the stage his/her family will get up and leave, or start holding conversations and disrupting the ceremony for others.

Lastly - I am not sure which is worse - having your mother busted for cheering or having your diploma withheld because your families cheering ws disruptive (this hapened last week in OHIO) - actually I do the graduate shouldn't be punished for soemthing they did not do.

I've been through several of these ceremony's and there have been a few that allowed just an extra second or two between names to allow for acknowledgment of the student achievement. Others though have rattled off names so fast as to make it too cold and impersonal, as if the accomplishment was of no consequence. I think that with all of the hoo hah about high drop out and low graduation rates that this should be lauded and applauded, even if it takes a little longer to get through the ceremony. After all, it took that kid 12 yrs. to get that point, I think it only right that we as the parents and the educators can afford to spend a little bit more time on the celebration.
I think it absolutely deplorable for them to arrest someone for something like this. I'm sure a word of restraint would have sufficed.
I have always cheered for my children when their names were called. Granted, not like you would cheer at a concert, but cheered nice and loud for a brief moment. Fortunately, the principal maintained a nice pace that allowed for this, as he and the educators who taught my children view it as much of an accomplishment as the parents and didn't view it as something to get over with as soon as possible. I mean hey, it took 12 years right? What's the rush? Is your beer getting warm?
For those of you who think it unnecessary or that it shows a lack of decorum for the so called solemnity of the occasion, Since when is a graduation supposed to be like a funeral? Get a grip people. Lighten up a little and learn to enjoy the accomplishments of others.

At my kids graduations there was always somebodys family or indiviuals who couldnt keep there mouths shut when asked repeatedly to keep it down so they could continue with the ceremonies, arresting her i think a little extreme, just escorted her out for the remainder of the ceremonies. Its good to be excited about it, just wait until its over and cheer as loud as you want.

"I'm sorry, I must have missed the law that states people are not allowed to cheer at a graduation ceremony. " --JohnDoe -- quoted from above.

that would be the law that they were arrested for, disorderly conduct. and it applies outside of graduation ceremonies as well. it would be racist to not hold this lady accountable in the same way the rest of us are for our behavior

this was also a rule when i graduated 15 years ago, as others above have stated. there was a brief pause for a short cheer, and that was it. this lady clearly went way beyond what was respectful and reasonable

Hollykb read this and tell me she should be arrested? http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.42.htm nothing in there gives the cops the authority to arrest her.

graduation ceremonies are a waste of time due to the schools not knowing how to handle them.

She doesn't look humiliated in her mug shots

Swagganaut--my HS, same size class as this one, had to ban AIR HORNS. Have you ever had an AIR horn go off in your ear? I have, and I've heard some people who could WHOOP (her word!) louder than that, not to mention that her standing up might have blocked the people behind her from videoing or taking photos of THEIR kid.

There are ALWAYS people who believe that rules and regs as well as laws are only meant if you agree with them.

Another poorly vetted one-sided story by MSN. Right....just take this woman's word as the gospel truth. Don't check out any facts. You know damn well we're not hearing the real story. But the truth can't keep selfish pigs like this from filing a lawsuit. No doubt Jessie and Al are on a plane headed to S.C.

Read post 766 is you want to get a better picture of what really happened at this graduation. It's on about page 36.

And, meanwhile, there are real crimes being committed.

Whooping and yelling at a graduation is disrepctful and classless. The necessity for police presense at graduation is scary, and telling. I don't mean to judge based on appearances, but it's human nature, why fight it - the mother in question was booked wearing the halter style top that she wore to her child's graduation; this wardrobe choice, in and of itself, is screaming, actually.

Great observation there, Sherlock. Florence, SC has a population of just over 37,000. That would make the inner city about three square blocks.

proudamericanverteran you sound like a proudamericanracist like you said you have not been to all of the graduations so I'm sure there are some white people who holler and shout at graduations around the country

The size of the city may keep it from having what folks consider an 'inner city' but, in today's world, an inner city attitude isn't limited to certain geographic areas.

I did a little checking (greatschools.org) the school is 49% African-American and 49% White; 46% of the students qualify for free/reduced price lunches. That means that there is a good likelihood that, for some of these families, at least, a high school graduation is a significant milestone.

Weallhaveopnions: That might be part of it. But, it might also be a lesson for those who are thrilled with the way the country has been going. Want to board an airplane? Well, you must be groped. Want to speak up, well, the first amendment doesn't apply. If you don't agree with those in authority, then you are guilty of disorderly conduct. I wasn't there, but it sounds like it was something that was limited to the period of time that the woman's daughter was getting her degree. Sorry, but to arrest someone under these circumstances is absurd. On the other hand, if she was disruptive through the entire ceremony, then escorting her outside the building would be enough.

witchrunner, don't want to go off topic here but have you noticed the inundation of conservative bloggers who are setting up shop on these threads before the rest of us can even jot down a line or two? I feel like something is amiss on MSNBC. It seems so unbalanced and visceral.

Denver Bill uh the Metro Area has 205,000 in it. City limits are fairly meaningless

Florence is actually made up of three cities and towns including Florence and Darlington, the Entire SMSA is even larger. So yes a lower income city like Florence does had some large fairly down trodden areas the downtown area is still mostly a ghost town. Especially since the textile industry collapsed. It is coming back now with new foreign industry which likes the Non Unionized workforce and Right To Work Laws. But things were fairly bad for several decades.

I own a large piece of Property in the county (800 acres), my uncle used to own a textile mill and clothing manufacturer our families farm/plantation was very big and the remnants of it are a small town in the area.

I am VERY white and my son just graduated from our small rural high school in May. He was even named class valedictorian inspite of his struggle with Asperger's Autism his whole life. You can bet I was hootin' and hollarin'. I cheered when he got up and gave his speech and even more when his name was called and he received his diploma. And we lit up the place when they read the over $100,000 in scholarships he has been awarded for college!

Yes graduation ceremonies should be "solemn occassions" but it is also a celebration of important milestones. Wanting to cheer for your child's accomplishments is not an uncooth "inner city behavior", it is normal. To sit stoically while your child is being recognized is just sad! If this lady was being so disruptive she should have been asked to leave immediately, not arrested when the ceremony was concluded. Ridiculous over reaction!

Maybe the area she is from is inner city

...

The size of the city may keep it from having what folks consider an 'inner city' but, in today's world, an inner city attitude isn't limited to certain geographic areas.

Why use the euphemism? We all know that "inner-city" means black.

Opinion, So maybe she worked hard, and didn't get knocked up. But then, that would apply to everyone in her school. This one person doesn't have it any different than everyone else in her demographic. Every parent that attends their child's graduation is proud. Every child worked hard to get their name heard. But not every mother whooped an hollered going down the stairs and walking across the auditorium. Readers seem to miss the part where she wasn't the only person escorted out and arrested. The article also neglects to mention her behavior while being escorted out.

You can be proud of your child graduating and you can tell your child that you are proud of them every single day of their lives. You don't need to disrupt graduation to prove to your child you are proud of them. Yes, it is an accomplishment to get your child through 12 years of school, however the site of the graduation is full of people that accomplished the very same thing.

I say cheer a child on that has succeeded at the first part of their life

So do I, but not to the point that the ceremony has to be stopped, or someone doesn't get to hear their child's named called.

The woman stated that she was going to leave after her daughters name was called anyways. That clearly shows she had zero regard for anyone after her daughter.

Scream up a storm at the graduation party, not at a ceremony for people other than just her child. This was a clear demonstration of selfish behavior. She got to hear her childs name and cared for no one after that.

So Boom, only blacks live in inner city areas...hmmmmm!

So Boom, only blacks live in inner city areas...hmmmmm!

Hate to break it to you, but we all know what you were implying.

Racial stereotypes and euphemisms are mostly not accurate, so the angle that you're trying to use to weasel your way out of reality was already dead in the water.

Oh, and hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

The crime was disorderly conduct. I suppose you wouldn't call the police if I started yelling at your barbecue after being warned not to.

you know, what we ALL pay for?

Yeah.. we all pay for. So how about having some respect for others that want to hear their own child announced instead of some loud antics that drowns out the event for everyone else.

This woman was just a self-centered b!tch.

Carlo Caraluzzo

Hey, Nazi, this was NOT some barbecue with you and your redneck buddies cooking up squirrels.

Since you know nothing of my political affiliations, my friends or my eating habits, I can only assume you believe that starting an argument with a polemic is a winning strategy.

It was a public event on public property, you know, what we ALL pay for???

What you say is true, but meaningless. Nobody has the right to engage in disorderly conduct just because they are doing so in a public place.

This was not because anyone was complaining-no one did.

Nowhere in the article does it say whether or not anybody complained.

"It's not the things you don't know that make you ignorant. It's the things you do know that just ain't so." ---Mark Twain

Regardless of whether or not anybody complained, the police do not need a complaint to enforce a law they observe being broken. If she files suit, the courts will decide who was right, not you or I.

It was freaking Storm Troopers at work.

A buffoon is someone who is ridiculous and amusing, such as a clown or a court jester. You are almost there. As soon as you learn to be amusing, I think you will qualify.

And since we're being technical about it, get it right......HALF of us pay for it.

I think you're confused here JimP1969. The meme is that only 50% pay federal income taxes.

Municipal buildings, such as this would be paid for by local, not federal funds and typically, by property taxes. Since property taxes are levied on owners that means property owners (and tenants - even illegal ones) are paying property taxes.

The other local taxing option is sales taxes and of course, everyone (rich, poor, legal and illegal) pays those as well.

Again, if you want to be technical about it, if they're receiving more in benefits than they pay in all forms of taxes then the taxpayers are paying those bills too.

I think the school system made idiots of themselves for having the woman arrested!!! Yes, escorting her out formaking a huge disturbannce could be understandable so as not to ruin the expeirience for others, but tomake her pay a $225 bail> Florence, S.C. JHust makde itself look ridiculoous and almost liek the gestapo.

I'm not black but I do have to wonder whether this woman would have actually been booked to jail if she'd been a white lady with a hubby in some professiofnal or business position doing the same amount of yelling. (These days, you can't assume someone is from an 'inner city" just because they don't behave the way many of us were brought up.)

Yes she would have been. We graduate here in a graduation center. The school system did not arrest her the city police did. She was in violation of the rules.

Having attend several graduations, I have seen all races escorted out and even arrested for disorderly conduct at graduations.

Teresa-2787812

We graduate here in a graduation center.

With that statement I presume you are local to the event... I'm curious.. do they always have 21 people for every graduate? When I graduated, more than a few moons ago, both HS and college, we were limited to the number who could attend.. due to venue supposedly but there was plenty of room. The numbers just seem to invite challenges to order.

I know when you read this you will think dumb hillibillies but...I am from the deep south. In our area when graduation rolls around we take our cow bells to ring and our air horns to blow and we yell to the top of our lungs in celebration of the accomplishment of our children. The school system knows that this will happen and they have adjusted the ceremony to adapt. When the graduates name is called they give time for each set of family and friends to celebrate with their child. Now I am sure there are some that attend that are offended, and I can understand that they might be.

I just went to my son's graduation Friday in another city in SC. There were rules spelled out about shouting and cheering and the consequences were spelled out. I saw a few families that disobeyed and they were promptly escorted out of the stadium as spelled out BEFORE the ceremony. I'm sure this woman knew the rules and the consequences.

We all want to cheer on our kids. We're all equally proud and it has been a struggle for all of us. My son who graduated is 20 and has Autism. I certainly wanted to shout because it HAS been a struggle to get him to this point! But I kept quiet.

I'm sure there is more to this story than her acting just like the rest of the parents. I'm sure, again, this will turn into an "I'm black and that's why they arrested me" story. I don't buy the innocence.

There's a difference between cheering and acting like a fool.

Lil Deb,

Sorry but the school didn't point a finger and say, that one arrest that one!!!

I'm so, so tired of the "if she had been white", blah, blah, blah.......!!

Sounds like everyone else there whether white, black, asian, middle eastern, cuban, mexican or otherwise were more "respectful" of the people around them and thus were not arrested. I'm tired of stupid excuses. You have to work pretty hard at an event of this type to get arrested!!

There's a difference between being Escorted out and being arrested. If you start screaming in a movie theatre, you will be escorted out. If you scream "Fire" you might be arrested.

Janine,

Totally agree!! However, we do not know what she said or how she acted when told she would have to leave. Just not buying the whole "who little ole' innocent me" thing!

But, the school has certainly lost sight of what they are there for. This is about the graduates, NOT the school!!

@ Shannon;

Wish you would have lived in my small town where they don't mind if you shout for joy over your child's accomplishment. I've been a single mom for the past 20 plus years, and I struggled to help my three boys through grade and high school. I was definitely so proud of them and the accomplishments they made. Sometimes, your heart overflows with so much joy you cannot help but let it out.

I would have been arrested too. Because, when all three of my boys graduated, I was right there on the floor taking pictures and after receiving their diploma, I was there to cry and hug on their necks and tell them how very proud of them I was. I've also been to a graduating ceremony where they threatened the parents if anyone dared to verbally congratulate their kid. The "air" in those auditoriums was rigid and I thanked God my kids didn't have to endure a school like this.

True, the graduating class of my boys' was around 120 kids, but, we, as a community, understand graduating from high school IS a big deal. Whoever said graduation ceremonies are solemn events is mistaken; they are reasons to celebrate! A time to be joyful. A time for woo-hoo's and halellujahs!

You know, there is a way to "Fix" the whole "shout" "don't shout" problem... stop reading the kids names. You get blank diploma's anyway (or at least you used to). Do all the speeches and what nots, then, introduce the graduating class of "Whatever year," have the students file through to pick up their paper copy while the parents make fools of themselves if they wish, viola, you're done...no harm, no foul...and more importantly, no bogus arrest.

Could be that the real issue was discussed in the body of the article.

Cooper doesn't think she did anything wrong. She said police arrested her as she made her way down the stairs and onto the auditorium's main floor. She said officers walked her across the Florence Civic Center, where the graduation ceremony was being held, in full view of everyone.

perhaps Ms. Coopers error came in the whole...

She said police arrested her as she made her way down the stairs and onto the auditorium's main floor.

Now if she thought it would be a good idea to whoop and holler and make her way to the auditorium floor in the midst of the ceremony I think it could be reasonable to believe that she took her glee a bit too far....having a parent enter the actual ceremony while it is in process is certainly disruptive.

If police waited until after the ceremony,when she went to share with her daughter, and singled her out that could be excessive.

Good call Txmom. I missed that part. No wait!!! Your wrong. She was arrested because she was black. That is what many on here have said. Not my words, theirs!!

RULES ARE NOT LAWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the police officer had no legal authority to arrest her, NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! the school could escort her out if she broke THEIR RULES!!!!!! the police CANNOT arrest her because she broke someones rules.

do any of you people understand the difference here? http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.42.htm, while she was being loud it was reasonable due to the event, the schools went past reasonable to tell people they cant applaud their graduating students thus why you have a rule that was broken but not law, if she had continued after being told not to by a peace officer then she was be committing a crime but that is not the case.

when people cant tell the difference between rules and laws, we have lost

Seig Heil Rules! We are the freest country on earth as long as you obey the rules. And the renter sign says no war vets need to apply. So I took out my m-16......signs, signs everywhere a sign

Patrick,

There are probably not more than four of us here that know what you are talking about, but I was thinking the same thing.

Swag,

if she had continued after being told not to by a peace officer then she was be committing a crime but that is not the case.

Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor I do believe. That would imply there is a law there somewhere. You have no idea what she did or did NOT do! They cuffed her and took her to jail and made her bond out. That in of itself implies more than a "loud cheer for her baby!" I call B>S>!!!!!

did you not get my link to the law? we can only go by the story and in the story it made no mention of a peace officer warning her to keep quite in a public venue and under that scenario in order to get charged with disorderly conduct, one need to be warned first by a peach officer or magistrate.

just because the cops arrest and charge someone does not mean any crime has actually been committed or do you think all authority figures are right? the only law i need to follow is the one that says do no harm to others, as a free man i will abide by no mans unjust laws.

Swag,

My brother is a cop. 20 years. I have seen first hand what they deal with daily!! Funny how people like you don't want the gun or the badge. You don't want to put your life on the line everytime you leave home for work, but you want to tell the ones that will how they will go about it.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We know that.

Page 36 766

The issue was that it was not just the mother shouting - but the whole family. They started screaming the child's name almost from the moment the ceremony started and did not stop until the police were called to arrest her. They drowned out all of the other children's name as they were announced so that other families could not enjoy what is a very important event in the life of a young person.

We as a culture have an entitlement problem - where we believe that the rules do not apply to us, that we may act as badly as we wish because anyone else's rights are not to be embraced or supported.

Worse, I hear now that the school board is withholding the child's diploma until they perform community service for basically ruining the graduation ceremony for everyone else

Best guess, she became combative when asked to leave. But the courts will soon know and they will have 8, 990 or so witnesses and most likely some video footage.

If there were any complaining parents, it would have been because their child might have been the first person in their family to graduate. And because of some woman who was screaming while running down the stairs and across the auditorium floor, they were denied being able to hear their child's name called. She wasn't the only proud parent in the room. She wasn't the only disruptive parent in the building. She wasn't the only parent escorted for disrupting the ceremony. She was the only one with the chutzpah to put this on MSN

I would expect parents/ family to be cheering & knowing it would be loud with 9000 people, besides I didn't need to hear a stranger say my childs name to be proud of her achievements. Guess there are those who need public recondition.

DKJ that spell check is the pits ain 't it...lol

More than likely, every person there was excited to see a friend or family member get the diploma. Most act as though they have some sense and decorum. Others act like idiots.

The speaker admonished the audience not to be disruptive. Idiots should be removed. That's what rightfully happened to her.

And if each family would have been given one minute to cheer and celebrate each graduate, then the handing out of the diplomas would have taken six hours and 47 minutes.

My Honors-Graduate daughter was definitly worth cheering for...but I kept my mouth shut and the next graduate's parents heard her name, too. The ceremony maintained it's proper decorum and dignity--and we got out of there in a reasonable amount of time and had a great party! And on top of it, I did not embarrass my daughter and make a spectacle of myself. And you know what--it wasn't that hard. Acting like a mature adult! Imagine!

OMG...several of the girls at my son's graduation had put rhinestones on their caps spelling out "2012" and various other things. One girl even blinged up her whole robe with stones. I guess they would have all been "escorted out" and had theor diplomas mailed. When did we all forget how to celebrate and have a little fun?

Michelle, Did any of the Mom's run up on the main stage??

txhorseman,

I just watched my son and niece graduate from high school and my daughter and church friends from junior high and the school officials encourages the parents to come to the stage and take pictures of the graduates and I did just that and so did many of the other parents. So, I do not see what your point here is.

And because of some woman who was screaming while running down the stairs and across the auditorium floor,

Michelle, Did any of the Mom's run up on the main stage??

according to the story neither of those things happened, the woman cheered to loud got told to leave and proceeded to walk to the exit quietly when she was arrested illegally.

nice to see people will lie about anything, even things that do not involve them.

Swagg you make your own point very nicely!!!

KC and that is fine where you are and it is encouraged. Great. They were told not to here. That I think is the point, beyond the fact that there were not one, not two, but 30 policemen at this event. Why??

No, in fact no one did run up on the stage. We did move closer so we could film my son's valedictorian speech, but we stayed off to the side and crouched down low so we weren't blocking anyone's view. But there were many who cheered and enjoyed the ceremony. But this story does not say that the woman ran up on the stage during the ceremony. It said she was arrested when she came down from the bleachers and started to cross the floor. But I thought the story was clear that that was AFTER the ceremony was concluded, not during. We all stormed the graduates after the recessional as well.

My daughter was the first in our family to ever graduate from college, and she graduated with honors. There were over three hundred graduates and we would never have gotten through them all if every single parent was whooping it up and woo-wooing to beat the band. The presenters would have to stop for the commotion to die down, and then you can be sure the next parent would have whooped and woo-wooed even louder until the place sounded like a roller derby. People who are whooping and woo-wooing usually don't stay in their seats, prventing people behind them from seeing their own kids. Not everyone appreciates what kind of behavior. There used to be a thing called good manners, but somewhere along the way the people with the biggest mouths have taken over this country, or at least are trying to, forcing us to accept everything from hollaring at dignified events to forcing us to accept gays on their say so. This country is supposed to be about our individual rights and freedoms, but the in-your-face people are trying to take over because their rights are more important than your rights. And I can't stand in-your-face people, and that's what this woman is.

It took two hours to get through 200 names in Central Falls, RI because of that trashy behavior, despite being asked to save it til the end they refused. And you're right, she wanted to make it about her not about "her very embarrassed baby"

... forcing us to accept gays on their say so. This country is supposed to be about our individual rights and freedoms,...

Interesting statement... comment not needed.

Church, you had some decent points in there, but why you added gays to it and negated all the rest of it I don't know.

churchmouse3 - Thank you. You summed it ujp very well. Respect and decorum are rapidly fading away and the "I can do what I want and don't care about you" syndrome is growing.

Yes, Hank - and we're paid to do that, too. What fun for us!!

churchmouse3 you do not even knwo this woman so how do you know she is a so called in your face kind of person because you choose to live your life as a unnoticed churchmouse don't mean everyone else has to

You people are real good at guessing what might have happened at the graduation, since you have NO KNOWLEDGE WHATSOEVER except what was reported in the story. You just make up stuff to confirm your preconceived notions of what happened at the graduation. Some of you insist this woman was arrested because she "broke the rules" because she was obviously committing "disorderly conduct". According to what rules and whose subjective definition of "disorderly conduct"?
The story said nothing about the mom shouting over the next name that was called. Some of you anally challenged people seem to be embellishing the story to make this woman's behavior look as bad as it could possibly be. Before long she'll be drunkenly shooting a pistol in the air to celebrate her daughter's graduation while shouting incoherently. My guess, just as everyone else's comment is a guess, is that she was somewhat more enthusiastic than others at the graduation, and she expressed her enthusiasm a few seconds more than was expected by anally challenged cops who found it necessary to have 30 of them on hand, just in case the parents of the grads became unduly unruley. To justify their overkill, they decided to humiliate a black woman by arresting her for celebrating a bit longer than they deemed appropriate. Had the woman been white, I assure you she would not have been humiliated and arrested for celebrating her daughter's graduation, and I doubt very much that the woman in question shouted over the name of the next grad. Just another unconfirmed take on how things went down at the event.

@KC: So you get Christmas(oops! I mean Winter Festival) cards from Al and Jessie?! And I'll bet you think Trayvon Martin was a saint,too...(If he was white, Al and Jessie, MSM, OBAMA WOULD HAVE BEEN "ABSENT" OR "NO COMMENT") Please put away the race card!!!!!!

You people are real good at guessing what might have happened at the graduation, since you have NO KNOWLEDGE WHATSOEVER except what was reported in the story.

Had the woman been white, I assure you she would not have been humiliated and arrested for celebrating her daughter's graduation, and I doubt very much that the woman in question shouted over the name of the next grad.

HYPOCRITE MUCH?????

Tell Me This.............Why?? are 30 police officers necessary at a graduation ceremony. Why even one??

Well, you see Jeremy, her skin is just a little too dark for most of these commenters.

They couldn't just politely have told her to please shush? Arrested? Ridiculous!

You ever tried to tell a woman like her to "politely shhhh!? Get ready for a lawsuit and Al and Jesse. If she is too immature to ressect others do yo think she is going to care what you think.

Proud, as much as you bring up Al and Jesse, I would be inclined to think you are the racist.

"proud" -

All you got to do is act crazier than that woman, and you have the 'Upper Hand'

I suspect that would be no problem for you....

Hard to understand the woman's logic who says Americans being "forced" to tolerate gays are haviing their own rights trampled upon? How dare those gays and taxpaying Americans of homosexual persuadiion dare to expect to be "tolerated?" Do you have to invite them into your home? I don't think so. Live and let live, why should you or any of these other right wing bigots ahve anythiing to say about the way other people live their lives in their own private bedrooms/homes? They aren't wasting their time worrying about whether you wash your hands before every meal. Get a life. Your attitude is un-American, although until you dredged up the gay and (undoubtedly ready to dredge up the racist)part of it you had some good points. I never can understand why so many people get outraged at the mere existence of others who are not like them. I don't think the government gives a damn whether any of you bigots hate others,just so you don't try to murder or trample on THEIR rights as Americans to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Why is that so hard to accept? You are the kind of people who burn witches.

I'm sure all there were proud. Most just didn't act like fools.

I have been to a lot of graduations, and there is always an element present who has to be loud and rude. It is disruptive and annoying, but most likely they act that way at other events as well. It is just who they are.

Verno you are correct, I have Seen "Proud Americans" posts on many other articles and he almost always has a racist element to them.

What about the next proud parent...don't they count?

I imagine all moms there were proud, and I'll bet many were black. She obviously got arrested because she was obnoxious and a fool.

We are the people who have suffered through these events because of obnoxious people like her.

No one here seems to have any problem with this. When exactly did public school administrators gain legislative powers? When exactly did being loud in a public arena become criminal? Why do your rights supersede those of others? How corrupt are these police that they've nothing better to do, think about that one the next time your asked to pay for increased police services, apparently this community has so much cash on hand that they can pay police to just hang-out, or maybe it's just easier to go arrest people for yelling and get your numbers up than it is to actually investigate crime. If I lived there I'd expect a tax rebate since there are clearly too many police in that department.

Creeping fascism is wrong with many of these posters who think the lady was rightfully arrested and sent to jail. For God's sake next thing it will become a capital crime to "disrupt:" a graduation. Since less than half of American high school students ever graduate you'd think there would be some tolerance of those parents who are pleased that their kid does get that diploma. I can see "esxcorting" anyone out who is seriously and prolongingly disrupting the ceremony for everyone else, but not jailing her. Don't the cops have any more serious crimes to solve in Florence, S.C?

Alright ckneeley, why don't you go to an orchestra, or a school band, or a piano recital, one of the large ones with thousands of people in the audience. Now, halfway through the recital, stand up and started loudly whooping and cheering! Then, rush down the aisle to join the stage, all while whooping and cheering as loudly as you can! Guess what will happen then. You'll be arrested for disorderly conduct. Same rules apply to a graduation, and they were told quite explicitly that that would happen. Law was followed by the letter here. If she didn't want to be arrested, she shouldn't have interrupted a ceremony set up for thousands of people (not just her) with her disorderly conduct in blatant violation of the ground rules laid out to all the parents there. She had no more of a right to disrupt that event than any of us would to disrupt a recital or symphony be screaming out cheers at our favorite clarinetist.

They are lemmings - and racists.

ThinkVoice, the famous racist comment.

If your jaded thinking is correct, why were all the blacks there not arrested??? Boy, when all else fails, lets scream racism.

to David Mora, I simply will not accept that disrupting an event in this manner is a criminal act. If I did as in your scenario then I would certainly expect to be removed from that event and barred from attending future events at that venue, I would not expect to be arrested. Disorderly conduct is the traditional charge for public drunkenness, for civil disobedience, for crazy people in the street disrupting traffic-I do not think this rises to the level of a criminal act. You may disagree with me but imagine following this line of logic to its conclusion, potentially any disagreement could be considered criminal, this may sound hyperbolic but remember at one time disagreement was illegal in this country (Alien and Sedition Act) and I don't think any of us would welcome a return to that.

Whether you accept it or not, it is. Disorderly conduct is a law on the books, and to disrupt an event in this manner can get you arrested. To compare this to the Alien and Sedition act is ludicrous. She was not arrested for having or voicing an opinion contrary to that of the country or popular sentiment, she was arrested for blatantly disrupting an event for thousands of people in a disorderly manner despite being warned not to. And Public drunkeness is not disorderly conduct, it is "public intoxication", which is a separate charge. The police followed the letter of the law in this case. Whether you "expect" to be arrested for breaking the law or not doesn't come into it. You break the law, you risk getting arrested.

@david mora

I have read the same article and shannon's own comments myself and her words are: "i was leaving anyways just as the other families" This to me, means she was leaving at the end of the ceremony otherwise, why would the rest of the families be leaving as well. Therefore all your coments about her disrupting the ceremoney by coming to the stage are moot. She came to the stage as she was leaving the ceremony after it was over not while it was going on and she aslo states that she finished her cheering before the next name was called, ppl you really need to learn to read before making comments that have no basis on the truth of the matter.

Why do your rights supersede those of others?

Why don't you ask the disruptive woman that question? That seems to be the entire issue.

ks1971: "i was leaving anyways just as the other families" <----- Where in the article does it say this? I just reread the entire article and she never said anything even remotely resembling what you are claiming here. She also never says anything int he article about "she aslo states that she finished her cheering before the next name was called" Where are you getting these from? It certainly isn't this article. Your entire argument here is based on a quote that is NOT in the article. You know what is in the article? "And as soon as they said 'Christin' I stood up, started praising, woohooing and cheering it up for my baby", followed by "“According to the report, she was disruptive during the ceremony and ceremonies are considered solemn occasions,” Shells said. “Everybody wants to hear their child’s name called and everyone was asked to be respectful and to be quiet.” (Emphasis placed is from me to point out that it is clearly happening during the ceremony, not at the end when everyone is leaving.)

There is no joy...only scrunched faced killjoys with their arms folded so tightly they could squeeze themselves into unconsciousness.

I agree, leave the stone faces for the funerals! There's too many things in this world to be upset about. Celebrate the good times and the accomplishments...life is too short! Unfortunately, there's some families in Ohio right now (my prayers are with them), who I'm sure wish they could be whooping it up for their kids' graduations, but can't!

The joy is rapidly evaporating as the Repugteapartians become ever louder and more vicious.

Damn those West Point Graduates for throwing their hats into the air on such solemn occasions, how dare they celebrate in such a open fashion!

Cheer for your kids, show them you are proud!

(FYI I have no kids but I am proud of my niece for her graduation from Kindergarten last week, Sorry I was out of th country...But its I had been there she would have gotten a cheer and a bouquet of balloons)

Oh and I got her something nice on my trip

The celebration and joy is reserved for YOUR home after the graduation for YOUR special graduate...I have been to lots of graduations at HS and colleges...every single time that one of the graduate's family screamed during their "walk" there was the one after them that's name was not heard...that is the height of rudeness and self-centeredness...YES, graduating is exciting and the culmination of a lot of hard work...BUT, that does not give ANYONE special priviledges to make it not so special for someone else and their family

It doesn't have to be a somber occassion to have dignity--whcih is what a graduation should have . It is NOT a party--it is a CEREMONY. Save the hollering and screaming for the party afterwards.

Yes, and if she was a WHITE mother carrying on the same way, she would have also been cuffed and taken away and we wouldn't have hard anything about it/no headlines!

Gee, artes1957, sounds like you are describing yourself. Jealous to a "t' of anyone who has any joy in life that you obviously cannot either tolerate or have for yourself. You are pathetic. Talk about self-centered behavior. Look nthe mirror. I hope you have a wife who is just like you, because no other person could tolerate daily existence with a personalityt such as yours. Or whoever your significant other may or may not be. My sympathies to them if they do have to endure you.

So he is self centered to want to be able to hear his son or daughter's name as they do their walk without it being completely drowned out and disrupted by the previous parent "whooping it up" with no regard for the fact that other people are graduating who are now having their moment eclipsed by that parent's disorderly conduct?

Because it is a solemn ceremony and the animal cheering is not appropriate. The school also has the right to dictate behavior during the ceremony. The animals who want to make noise wherever they are are a detriment to civilized society. Lock this idiot wench up! And you too!

The government LOVES Foxy - it will be easy for Foxy to fall in line when they take his/her freedoms away "because they have the right to".

Me too? Listen up foxyputz.... The attendees have the same right to "dictate behavior" as the school does. I wonder why the same people who are against "big government" are the first in line to dictate behavior to others.

I recently attended my nephew's graduation from Medical School and there was plenty of cheering. This school takes itself too seriously. They need to get over themselves and their "solemn ceremony" nonsense and let the people celebrate. If you want a solemn ceremony, go to church. Arresting a mom is outrageous by any standard of measurement.

Everyone on here who thinks it fine to do this still has not addressed the issue of time...please tell me that you are willing to sit through 5-8 hours of graduating all students whose families want to cheer for a minute of two...because that is how long any graduation would take if ALL families decided to make a spectacle of themselves...don't name-call...address the issue...or shut up

Portia is correct. At this graduation allowing one minute for each graduate would have meant 6 hours and 47 minutes of diploma dispensing.

FireAmerica--these kinds of rules are put into place so that a solemn ceremony will have appropriate dignity and decorum. A graduation is NOT a party. IF people woulod show some consideration on their own, these types of rules would not be needed, but, as this woman has demonstrated, common courtesy seems to have vanished!

They didn't ban cheering, they asked the parents to keep it civil and not turn it into a three ring circus. Everyone may applaud and cheer but not act like a baboon in heat.

@Jeanette:"act like a baboon in heat"... Better watch out,Jeanette! The" P.C./Race card police" are watching!(Big Brother liberals) "baboon" may be taken as a racial slur!

MUGTECH is correct!!! AND THAT is why they do it!!! This class only had 407. Many schools here will graduate over 900. Figure that up Mug........!!!!

They also don't want you to get up and leave after your child has graduated for obvious reasons!!

Small schools can get away with this, but large graduating classes have to have rules of behavior or it will never end.

Sorry, Fire them All, but I have to disagree with you on one point - attendees do NOT have the right to dictate behavior at an event the same as the people putting on the event do. That's like saying its perfectly alright for you to show up at a business conference in your flip flops and hawaiian shirt because you feel like expressing yourself even though proper business attire is expected and you have been sent a memo detailing what the company expects of you. The school hosted the event, the school has the right to expect certain behaviors.

That being said - I think arresting the mom was a bit much. Ask her to tone it down, escort her out if need be, but arresting her? I have a tough time seeing that as a viable solution.

Pig. I would fill up the page if I wrote everything I want to write so I'll just say pig. And I'll bet you didn't join the marines to fight for this country. I'll bet you joined so you could drink beer and wear a fancy uniform. At what point does "bodacious" behavior become "boorish" behavior? Your uniform gives you the right to determine that?

@ jarhead-921304 you are so right i am the daughter of this lady shannon cooper and my mother says she greatly appreciates your support! thanks to you also for serving our country and ensuring our freedom

Jarhead, actually I resent your talking about "Southern" nazis or stormtroopers. I hope you are realistic and honest enough to see that our entire country, including the Northeast, Midwest, and all other portions that usually think they are so superior to the "South" are sufferingn from the exact same dose of mean spiritedness, hatred of others unlike themselves, and loudmouth ignorant, smug assertions that they should be ashamed to have people know they harbor. It's not just the South, fellow. It's everywhere, including your little corner of the world which obviously isn't the South. And I'm a white southerner, but ai do have to woonder whether this lady was actually jailed because she is black instead of merely escorted off the floor as I could understand someone being made to leave if they were prolongingly disrupting the ceremony for everybody else. Talk about concern with minutae instead of the substance!!!That's aTea Party attribute and is already a Republican one and I dare you to coome up with any part of the USofA that isn't alraedy infected by this virus of pettiness and h ate.

Jarhead:

Greedy rich Nazi, southern racist Republicans. Did you lose your mind at Paris Island? Some bad DI?

Buddy, if you are an example of our Marines, we are in trouble.You need help.

What is solemn about a high school graduation? Are you kidding ? It is a CEREMONY, honoring a MILESTONE in a young person's life. Everyone should have the chance to hear everything that is said--and not have to listen to rude or obnoxious people who can't act like adults long enough to wait until afterwards to cheer for their kids. I would hope that the Marine fought for the rule of law--and not for obnoxious, rude, ignorant, selfish people.

@jarhead : just because you happened to serve in the military (as I ALSO DID) does not give you any special right to pre-judge demographics/geographiclocation(s) of people to be a "certain way" just because they were born/live in a certain area of the country,etc. God bless ALL of America!

They are southern nazis because a woman could not act her age and control herself?

They are racist because it happen to be a black woman who was acting like an animal?

The woman acted like an animal, her skin color did not matter, her childish actions did.

So what about the people's exuberance and excitement were ruined by the antics of this woman and those like her. Her kid was not the only one graduating. Before the event the audience is always askd to temper their chants and antics so that everyone can hear their child's name announced.

Want a party? Do it afterwards.

Really wish people like you ( and her) woulds stop being so selfish and think of others.

whats makes you wanting a solem moment to yourself and different than a proud parent. everyone should support thier kids and maybe their would be more graduating seniors than drop outs. she never said it was right what she did thats y she was leaving but it also wasnt right for her to be locked up. WAKE UP AMERICANS

Goofy: Please address what you think the school should do about this? Do you wait for them to settle down before saying the next student's name? Do you allow for whooping and cheering for X amount of minutes? What is YOUR plan? Graduating classes are usually between 250-450 students...if each family cheered for even just 1 minute...the entire graduation would last between 5-8 hours...are you up for that...would you allow the A-C families to further disrupt the ceremony to leave before the W-Z graduates...seriously...NO one on here who advocates this nonsense has given a good answer to the time issue...I would want to throttle this woman if she kept my daughter's name from being heard and further smack her if the ceremony ran for umpteen hours...

Portia: The schools could have two ceremonies. One for respectful parents who are educated and civilized, the other for parents who have no earthly idea how to conduct themselves in public.

The only racist is the one who calls this racist.

Yeah, Proud, like you continue to bring up Al and Jesse. Who's racist?? Get a clue you are overboard.

Agreed, Dingo. These people applauding her being arrested? They would have walked out of my granddaughter's preschool graduation...black and white parents were cheering, jumping up and clapping -- loudly -- when their 5 year old received a preschool certificate. Respect and decorum is one thing, but to justify arresting a proud mother is another. And, why did they wait until after the graduation to arrest her?

The tea drinkers got them drunk on ignorance and fear with all the talk of "The Browning of America." They were already racist, but now perceived they would lose their last vestige of white skin superiority. They walk around with bloodshot eyes, bag under the eyes, sleep deprivation, and total delusional fear. Hence, the race baiting!!!

As an enthusiastic parent as well -- the fact that she was arrested was way above and beyond craziness. In my opinion, that school should frickin' LOOSIN UP!! Seriously??? A memo? Me thinks there are some anal retentive people on the school board and/or principal's office. Everyone has the right to celebrate in his or her own manner. Please tell me that THAT woman's 5 sec of "whoopin" is THAT offensive, let alone THAT offensive to be arrested. I hope her daughter learns a great life lesson from this. She will have to deal with TIGHT ASSES the rest of her life. Those who have no emotion, no zest for life - TOTAL VANILLA lifestyles. Be happy she's out of that school/town. I hope she moves away. Surround yourself with those who LIVE life my dear, not stifle it.

How long should each family have to cheer and what should be the consequences for those who disrupt the ceremony?

I suppose this ladies right to scream stops at the next parents' right to hear. In the old days it was called courtesy by the way...

Maybe they need to turn up the PA system????

What only a few on here have been able to fathom is that most schools are graduating somewhere between 250-450 students...if it was allowed for each student's family to have even just 1 minute to cheer and act up, along with the other parts of the ceremony, it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of between 5-8 hours for all graduating...and, would all the A-C students and their families sit quietly and wait for 8 hours for those with the last name beginning with W-Z take the stage? All you who really think what this woman did was fine, especially AFTER it was clearly announced to wait until all students received their diplomas to clap are lying through your teeth...you just think that THIS woman should be let off the hook, BUT you wouldn't for one moment want to be the family of the next child to be called...WHY do some people think that THEIR child is the MOST special person in the world and therefore we all should just accept their specialness and allow them to change the rules and ruin it for others?

A simple solution. Have the graduates file through to receive their diplomas and handshakes without calling out the names. It's quick, people can cheer for all they want. I know I would prefer it.

I think you are right...it is coming to that or they will videotape them and send them home...I am stunned by those on here who think this type of behavior at a graduation ceremony is fine and should be tolerated...the mind boggles...where did MY country go?

The point of the matter is that everyone was asked to be courteous and hold all applause until the ending. These ceremonies are to be considered official and everyone should hear their child's name. It is not a ballgame or a cheering event. You can do that afterwards. It is a CEREMONY! This country has a problem when pure courtesy and following the rules brings out this type of comments from people. Maybe an arrest was overboard, but follow the rules. And following the rules apply to everyone. Don't know either why someone brought up the KKK. We are beyond color in this nation. No one is enslaved. Get over it. Courtesy was the issue and following the rules here. Plain and simple.

Really? So you don't see how cuffing a mom for being too boisterous at a ceremony is a wee bit overkill? Jesus, folks - wake up. The woman was getting excited about her kid graduating. Perhaps if some of the other parents had the same level of enthusiasm they would care less about "hearing their kid's name" and would be standing up and whooping right along side this poor woman. The calling of a name means absolutely nothing. Your kid certainly will never remember. But they will remember the human element - cheers for them when they walk on stage are a helluva lot more important than anything ANYONE has brought up in these comments to support the arrest of an innocent woman. Shame on you all. And for the person above who thinks this nation is above having a racial divide: you truly are living a sheltered life.

dcooph,

I would just like to say that I totally agree wth you!!

I agree with you, but she may have been the sole reason her daughter got up every morning to go to school, so in a way maybe she was patting herself on the back a little.

Uh, how can you tell that people do this want attention for themselves and not their child? Are you in their head? There is absolutely no basis for your statement.

usa - so that excuses her ruining it for the student who came next?

KamKam - when someone is making that big of a scene, it IS all about them.