Monday, September 01, 2008

Journalist Amy Goodman Unlawfully Arrested At RNC

Posted by Media Release

ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen here. Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfully detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman’s crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.

Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar.  These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman’s office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists.

During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.

Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism’s top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation’s leading independent news outlet.

Democracy Now! is a nationally syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.

Video of Amy Goodman’s Arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

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Freedom Fighters says:
01 Sep 2008  at  08:39 pm | #

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Intimidation at it’s finest !

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That's Not all says:
02 Sep 2008  at  05:24 am | #

I found another link to this story about the MN police doing sweeps & raids in the days before & arresting the protesters before they even went to the event for “fire code violations”
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html


Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff’s department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than “fire code violations,” and early this morning, the Sheriff’s department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying.

As long as these folk were planning on peacefully protesting, I find these actions VERY disturbing.

says:
02 Sep 2008  at  10:11 am | #

I called the mayor’s office and their mailbox is full and they aren’t taking messages. Maybe if one or two mayors were taken out for employing Nazi goons that abuse the citizens, others might listen.

librariangrrl says:
02 Sep 2008  at  11:46 am | #

I read this article on my phone last night, but couldn’t get the video to work. Obviously the story alone is distrubing, but the video is really something else!!!!

Who would have thought you could get handcuffed / arrested for simply attempting to talk to a police officer?!?!

says:
02 Sep 2008  at  03:52 pm | #

#4 It even happens in Cincinnati.

librariangrrl says:
02 Sep 2008  at  06:21 pm | #

I really wanted to attend the “Open the Debates” rally at the RNC as well as help Planned Parenthood distribute condoms but after reading this:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02protest.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
I don’t think so…

Anon says:
03 Sep 2008  at  04:13 am | #

Intimidation at it’s finest !

worked on #6

Curt Braman says:
03 Sep 2008  at  07:00 am | #

Stop the Arrests of Journalists. Sign the Letter.

not suprised says:
03 Sep 2008  at  04:57 pm | #

when a police officer says “get the fuck out of here”, then do it.

Blame it on the unshowered, unshaved, filthy anarchists.  They started the shit, now the others pay for it.

says:
03 Sep 2008  at  08:50 pm | #

People should not let anyone trample on their rights. Freedom of the press is in the constitution and those police officers should be prosecuted when they break the law.