Proud mother Shannon Cooper was arrested at a high school graduation ceremony in South Carolina. She stood and cheered her daughter when she walked across the stage. She was then handcuffed and taken to jail., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
South Carolina Mom Arrested for Cheering at Daughter’s Graduation
By Sarah B. Weir
WPDE News
A Myrtle Beach teen's high school graduation on Saturday was ruined when her excited mom, Shannon Cooper, was arrested for cheering.
Although parents were reportedly warned that they would be asked to leave the auditorium where the ceremony was held if they applauded for individual students receiving their diplomas, Cooper disagreed with the policy. She told WPDE NewsChannel 15 that she decided, "I'm going to cheer, because…I've gone through too much to get her to this point." She added incredulously, "I can't let her know 'I'm so proud of you?'"
When her daughter Iesha crossed the stage, Cooper claims that, "I got up and I said: 'Yay, my baby made it! Just a regular cheer.'" That's when police handcuffed her, escorted her to a van outside of the venue, and charged her with disorderly conduct.
After the ceremony, her daughter broke down in tears when she spotted her mom being held in the van. "Are ya'll serious? Are ya'll for real? I mean, that's what I'm thinking in my mind," says Cooper. "I didn't say anything. I was just like okay, I can't fight the law."
She challenges the validity of the disorderly conduct charge since she says she fully cooperated with police. She and her daughter also assert that others were cheering and avoided arrest.
Cooper was moved to a detention center where she spent several hours. Ultimately, she was able to post a $225 bond and return home. Iesha says what should have been the best day of her life turned into the worst. "Yesterday [graduation day] can't be replaced," says the teen. "I'm going to remember…she's going to remember for the rest of her life. My mama went to jail on my graduation day."
Dear Editor,
ReplyDeleteTalk about George Orwell and 1984! You know the same genes of people who burned witches in Salem, Mass, hundreds of years ago, are alive and well at Myrtle Beach.
As much as I despise the ACLU, this is a time and place when they should show their ugly faces. I wasn't there, but it would appear that Shannon Cooper's arrest for an emotional outburst at her daughter's high school graduation is way over the top. I'm surprised that the police did not use a taser gun on her in the process. Any good lawyers out there?