The good news is respected journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and her two producers have been released from jail, but the harassment, arrest and censoring of journalists continues at the RNC convention in Minnesota gets underway.
The three were interviewed on the Thom Hartman Show broadcasting live from the convention, and they explained their illegal arrest that took place Monday afternoon. Goodman said she was on the convention floor interviewing delegates when she received word the two had been arrested.
The female camera operator, Nicole Salazar, was arrested as they were filming the anti-war protests taking place. Her press credentials were clearly visible, and she identified herself as press. She was still thrown to the ground face first and the battery was removed from hr camera. The male producer, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, was thrown into the wall and handcuffed.
When Goodman arrived to help her colleagues, she asked to speak to the police commander, and she was immediately arrested.
Democracy Now is documenting preemptive raids on videographers and other press people, including raids of private homes.
"This is setting up a climate of fear," Goodman said.
A press release announcing her release said during the demonstration in which the Democracy Now! team was arrested; law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force against protesters and journalists. Several dozen demonstrators were also arrested during this action, including a photographer for the Associated Press.
"They are taking their cameras and computers," Goodman said. "These are their dangerous weapons."
6 comments:
You neglected to say what they were charged with when they were arrested.
You also neglected to say that the female, Nicole Salazar, asked a cop to get her out of there, when she was arrested. Apparently, the crowd had become unruly. The police moved into the crowd to arrest those that were creating the riot and the two were in the midst of it.
The Goodman lady, when hearing that her friends had been arrested didn't do what most people do and get a lawyer. Instead she chose to insert herself in the situation amidst the protestors.
You also neglected to mention that she was released three hours later. Was she charged? Or was she arrested because she was in the middle of a protest were protestors were being arrested and then when it was sorted out she was released?
Running into the middle of a protest where police were arresting those creating the disturbance, is foolhardy. She really could be charged with obstruction for interfering with an officer of the law in the performance of his/her duty.
You're presenting one side of the coin and not the other. By your story of what happened, you'd think that the police were Republican police sent out by Republicans to eliminate all semblance of those that disagree with them. That's not the case.
She interfered with a policeman in the performance of their duty. To agree with you means that we should be afraid of all police everywhere.
Brett
conservativelifestyle.blogspot.com
All Hail The StormTroopers (what brett secretly wants to be).
I said what she was charged with in the first post yesterday, that's linked to from this post. But the truth of the matter is it doesn't really matter.
Any proof of your statements about Salazar? And if what you say it true, doubtful but possible, she was there doing her job. My first reaction to hearing a journalist I work with was arrested for doing their job would be to go the scene too. It's so outrageous, that it has to be a mistake. I guess lawyering up would only occur if after trying to reason with police failed.
It doesn't matter how long she was held, she never should have been arrested. Yes, she was charged. If you used the link I provided you would know that. Goodman was charged with obstruction, and felony riot charges are pending against the other two. I guess you're just not getting it. She is a journalist with the proper credentials, as were all three journalists.
What other side are you talking about? Journalists are being arrested and harassed. Now, I have no idea or on whose orders they are acting on. But it's not just those three who were targeted. An AP journalist was arrested with them at the same time, and raids are being conducted by police on journalists.
Again, I have no information on whose authority the police are acting on, but it's clear what they are doing is unnecessary and unlawful. No, she did not interfere with a policeman. How is asking to speak to an officer's supervisor interfering?
As for "the other side of the coin," be my guest to present it. As for being afraid of the police, well, all I can say is perhaps you should take into account how the Bush Administration has shredded the Constitution, eroded personal freedoms and rights and thumbed its nose at the law and rules.
IOKIYAR
Don't you realize that CG? ;-)
Read below:
The Democrats are just plain scumbags:
BREAKING: Democrats Release Sarah Palin's Social Security Number
The Politico has received an opposition research file from the Alaska Democrats. You can read it in PDF here.
In the file, the Democrats have released Sarah Palin's social security number minus the last four digits. Also tied to the information are her various home addresses.
Back in 2005, Democrats used Michael Steele's social security number to get his credit record.
It is atrocious that the Democrats would not only seek out Sarah Palin's social security number, but release it in opposition research to the press.
We need to know who did this. We also need to know what happened. We also need to know if it was used to bolster the Democrats' opposition research.
When it happened to Michael Steele, it turns out the Democrats knew about it and did nothing.
They cannot not take action now.
That’s a pretty crappy name. I know you are but what am I?
The only place I can find this “story” is on rightwing blogs. I can’t find it on The Politico site. If they did something illegal, prosecute, if not shut up.
Where’s the PDF file you referenced?
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