Mom Arrested For Cheering Too Loudly at Daughter’s High School Graduation

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by BMWK Staff | on June 6th, 2012 | 22 comments

You are at your daughters high school graduation. You’ve been waiting for this moment for years and as the program begins they make an initial announcement. All parents and attendees are asked to refrain from clapping or cheering until all of the graduates have crossed the stage. What do you do next? If you’re Shannon Cooper you cheer anyway. What happens after that may or may not surprise you. Ms. Cooper was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Was this a case of, you should have followed the rules or were the officials and law enforcement officers in attendance taking this way too seriously? Check out the video below and let us know.

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Comments (22)

Daysha Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

Yes she needed to be arrested, because the rule was to refrain from cheering while the students names are being called her child was not the only one graduating other parents had a right to hear their children's names being called also, the same thing happened at my high school graduation back in '08, and the police then escorted that person out. The rules are the rules, she was wrong the rule was that you cannot cheer, not to cheer while they were calling the names. Her mother RUINED her graduation day because she was to stupid to follow the rules and felt obligated to disrespect other people, everyone else followed the rules why couldn't she? All the other parents cheered for their children after the ceremony, everybody had worked hard to get their children to that point, I'm sure she wasn't the only one. She just has an excuse for embarrassing her child and ruining her day, because that's all she did, shame on her mother.
- Charita Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply
  
  It is so unfortunate that the school would go to these extremes to keep a graduation ceremony "in order." By doing this, they are taking away from the spirit of the occasion- to celebrate the graduates' accomplishments. I know that even if I had agreed to hold my own applause until the end, once I heard my child's name, I may have just instinctively applauded, out of sheer excitement for them. She should have been escorted out, at most. I think that whoever was announcing the graduates's names is smart enough (hopefully) to pause if someone should happen to clap for ten seconds. Also, to your comment "Her mother RUINED her graduation day because she was to stupid to follow the rules...," it would be "TOO stupid," with two 'o's...I guess she's not the only one.
- nicole Saturday - 09 / 06 / 2012 Reply
  
  who ever wrote this about this lady way wrong... She didn't deserved to go to Jail. You are a cold hearted i am not going to even call you a person.
Pam Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I think she should have been arrested. When you decied that you are not going to follow the rules there ARE consequences. What she failed to explain is that you CAN applaud AT THE END. They are not saying that you cannot applaud, but please hold it to the end. What type of example are you setting for your child when you say I am going to go against what the authories say because of what I went through. There are others who suffer just as much maybe more and they can do what is asked of them. Why didn't she????
Alexis Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

No she should not have been arrested. Made to leave out, yes but arrested..... That's extreme. Guess in Amerikkka u get arrested faster for celebrating black childrens accomplishments than you do for killing them
- Charita Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply
  
  Exactly!
  - nicole Saturday - 09 / 06 / 2012 Reply
    
    yes that's what it looks like . That's what it is now that is the truth
Adams Amantama Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

Please, What the excitement cant hide it self inside of her she need too am sure it was unconscious that she did that.............
Charita Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I must say, if I had been warned that I'd be thrown out, I would have done more to restrain myself. But I also still feel that they should have stuck to just throwing her out.
T-BABY Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

If you been waiting to see your child make an achievement like this for 12 years you are going to be excited and very proud of your child at least they are doing something positive well move over cause my day is coming up in two days
Fromcletodal Wednesday - 06 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I understand she broke the rules and all, but to send this woman to jail for something minor like this is a travesty. That's just like saying that if I get pulled over for speeding they are going to take me to jail for the offense. The punishment didn't fit the crime in my opinion. There are more pressing issues than someone cheering for their daughter graduating high school.
sexy coco Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

Yes there should have been some kinda of punishment ,for her actions,but being arrested was just too too much,she could have been pulled to the side ,and warned about her actions
lebo Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I'm so shocked at our fellow Americans.. I recently completed my degree in a Medical University in South Africa and my whole family was clapping and cheering just like all the other families as well... I guess in America they are more concerned about people's celebrations than their sufferings! As the police there are so bored at work that they feel a need to arrest someone from being happy for her child's achievement! I'm disgusted
Annette Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I think the punishment was too severe. If she was that unruly then being escorted out should have been the punishment. I am sure arresting her caused more of a spectacle than the cheers. I think schools should rethink the request to wait until the end. Many parents sacrifice and struggle to get to that day with their kids and should be allowed to celebrate. The announcer can wait a few seconds before calling the next name and allow that student and family to enjoy their 5 seconds of recognition
Mary Ann Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I think arresting her was extreme and I hope the charges will be dropped. I don't think this qualifies as disorderly conduct. It's actually the natural spontaneous reaction you would expect at graduation. I think it may be appropriate to request that friends and family refrain from appluading and cheering until the end but when this mother couldn't, they should just ignore her and repeat a name if her cheering drowned out the name. If it results in others cheering, just interrupt the calling the names if necessary and remind parents. It's too bad they can't just have a little pause between names to allow a a little show of excitement. How large are these graduating classes. It's just once a year?
Mary Ann Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I also have to say it was not a "rule" but a "request" and even if it was a rule, she did not break any laws.
Shawn Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

We may not have the full story. I believe it began as her being simply thrown out, and later came the disorderly conduct. She clearly stated that she had decided not to follow the rules. They request this at most graduations, the ones that I've attended had many rule breakers including myself, the police would have thrown out hundreds of people. I think the presenter should pause between the names allotting families time to cheer! It often becomes a contest as to which family can cheer the loudest which can get our of control, thankfully we have gotten through many graduations with nobody being thrown out poor arrested!
- Shawn Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply
  
  I meant or arrested..
Jaelma Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

It seems to me that this Mother was think more abt self than her daughter and now wants everyone to pity her for her inability to exhibit self control.. Yes it does seem harsh that the school requested no cheering but that was the rule. Why would an adult ruin this important and beautiful occasion for her child b/c she just could not control herself.....what is she 5?? We are all face with situations that we feel are unfair or extreme but we must know how to conduct ourselves. There were options to express her displeasure....a letter to the principal, superintendent or school board would be appropriate. There was plenty of time to yell after the ceremony ....she could have cheered the child's name all the way to the car and all the way home. Her actions suggest she wanted the focus on herself and not her daughter....a truly selfish act. Showing love sometimes requires self discipline...guess this lady just doesn't get it!
Person Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

This is totally my opinion but I think something may be missing from the story. When asked to leave for applauding, how did she react? If she acted like a fool then yes, she should have been arrested on such a dignified occasion. If she left without making a scene then no she should have not been arrested.
Lydia Makelele Thursday - 07 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I feel sorry for the daughter. Her memory of this day will be tarnished. Her mother is an adult. As adults, we all have the ability to exercise self restraint....for a few minutes. It's not that hard! Surely she could have kept quiet out of respect and courtesy to ALL of the graduating students. She could have cheered, expressed her excitement as loudly as she wanted to...AT HOME. As for the police, they could have cautioned her outside. She did not need to be arrested. That is way too extreme.
Jason Tuesday - 12 / 06 / 2012 Reply

How about the cops focus on the murders and rapists a d leave good citizens alone.