Mom arrested for cheering at graduation

8:23 AM, Jun 6, 2012   |    comments
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Florence, SC - A few words landed Shannon Cooper in handcuffs.

"I got up and I said 'yay my baby made it. Yes!' Just a regular cheer," said Shannon Cooper.

Police charged her with disorderly conduct at her daughter, Iesha's, graduation this past weekend at the Florence Civic Center. 

Parents were warned not to cheer for the graduates or they would be thrown out. 

When Iesha walked across the stage to get her diploma, Shannon did it anyway.

"Don't scream, don't cheer. No, I'm thinking in my mind. No, I'mma cheer because, you know, I went through too much to get her to this point. I can't show my excitement? I can't cheer? I can't applaud her letting her know yes, I'm so proud of you, like all the other years when people graduate. How can I not cheer for my child?"

Shannon said the officers took her to a police van outside the civic center and she sat there for 45 minutes.  Iesha came outside and saw her mother inside that van.

"That's all I can picture, me crying, looking at the police van knowing my momma in there."  I couldn't talk to her or nothing. Nothing at all. Just look from in the van in handcuffs for cheering."

Shannon says she stayed in jail for several hours before paying $225 to get out.

WPDE via CNN Newssource