Charges Dropped Against Reporters Arrested During RNC

MINNEAPOLIS — Charges will be dropped against journalists who were arrested during protests at the Republican National Convention and cited for unlawful assembly, St. Paul officials said Friday.

Mayor Chris Coleman said the city attorney's office recommended against prosecuting reporters for the misdemeanor charge.

"This decision reflects the values we have in St. Paul to protect and promote our First Amendment rights to freedom of the press," Coleman said in a prepared statement.

He added, "At the scene, the police did their duty in protecting public safety. In this decision, we are serving the public's interest to maintain the integrity of our democracy, system of justice and freedom of the press."

He said the city doesn't know yet how many cases the decision will affect, and he said the city will use a broad definition of journalists caught up in mass arrests.

City Attorney John Choi said it would take a while for his office to review each case, do the paperwork and notify everyone involved.

More than 800 people were arrested in St. Paul and Minneapolis during the convention. Journalists among them included Associated Press reporters Amy Forliti and Jon Krawczynski. City spokesman James Lockwood said charges against them will be dropped.

Dave Tomlin, associate general counsel for the AP, said, "It's always good to learn that a bogus charge against you has been dropped. We're still waiting for police to account for the unprovoked smackdowns of two of our photographers."

The AP has sent the Police Department a letter asking for an accounting of police treatment of photographers Matt Rourke and Evan Vucci while they were covering violent protests during the convention.

Amy Goodman, host of the syndicated radio and television program Democracy Now!, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the legal process during the protests. Two producers of the show were also arrested.

Choi said the city would also drop charges against the three of them.

Mike Buckso, executive officer of the Minnesota Newspaper Guild Typographical Union, said the dropped charges were welcome _ but he said elected officials must examine what happened in order to prevent "the needless detention and harassment of journalists" in the future.

Comments

[xargaw]

We all got to see Amy Goodman on video. I hope she and her two fellow reporters have the opportunity to sue, sue, sue. The police use this as a tactic. Arrest first, then drop the charges. But, the deed is accomplished and the arrestee has been prevented from reporting the story, the abuses and the violations against the Constitution.

[detached]

I agree there were a very few security incidents that were harsh, but in this time of car bombs and suicide attacks where do you draw the line? I truly believe the security forces around the RNC were trying their best to keep the peace with a very wary eye out for violence. So let's chill on this and move on and elect Barack Obama.

[MiddleRed]

Car bombs and suicide bombers in Minneapolis?

HUH??!?!

Yeah, what about all those raided and held by swat teams before they even protested?

[Nooneyouknow]

Um...you realize that those car bombs and suicide bombers are in the Middle East, not the Midwest, right?

[wm1066]

Well two idiots from Texax had molotov cocktails they were going to throw at somebody during the convention. Thier dad came up from Texas and tried to tell the judge"kids will be kids, and the really were good kids"!
I think the guys will be going away for awhile.

[MacnMary]

What a bloody Idiot. Just a typical troll. When all else fails play the "terrorist" card or "I was a collaborator for 5 1/2 years" card.

[SlinkyTWF]

Your user handle would seem adequately descriptive.

[evekendall]

You draw the line at this:

If someone does something against the law, then arrest that person. Until then, every citizen of this country is entitled to the freedom of speech and movement guaranteed under the U. S. Constitution. We are not a police state.

[doug108]

Coleman's comments at the beginning of this article are nothing short of Orwellian.

[mule66]

read the book we are there

[surfcitysteven]

This proves beyond a doubt, what their arrests were, harassment. Pure and simple police state scare tactics to keep reporters wary. And now on the Bolivar peninsula near Galveston, a press no-fly zone. Don't let the people see what is going on, they may get upset.

[MiddleRed]

Agreed.

[hirhodes]

This is all very scary. We are becoming the USSR in the height of the Cold War only worse.

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/dloads.htm

[Mysticalsister]

this is absolute bullsh*t. we're becoming a police state -- but it's all so polite and dignified. WTF's wrong with the media? They were affected by this -- where's their outrage? where are the stories and interviews with the people who were harmed by this? it's sickening.

[LesserOf2Evils]

This police state took control of the media first. It is so much easier to control the people if you control the media. Can you just imagine if this video of the RNC mass arrests (just released today) was given proper coverage by the mass media? This is not my America.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/99433/incredible_documentary_footage_of_mass_arrest_in_st._paul/

Do not count on the mass media for anything other than well crafted lies and distractions from the important stuff. But please check out that short video and share it around.

[MiddleRed]

There was little coverage of the press arrests, but even less of the "preemptive raids" done on people who were simply planning to protest. Excuse me? Raided for conspiracy to use your first amendment rights!?!?!

I would vigorously defend anyone in this position, regardless of what side of the political fence. Because if this continues unabated, we will all be BEHIND THE FENCE.

[Veri]

The new tactic of fascists in America. Arrest and release. How long before it becomes "arrest and hold". Then "arrest and disappear". A long, slow process that will surely come to fulfillment in tomorrow's America. Unless you have courage.

We do not need official Brown Shirts and Black Shirts. Especially government ones who can and will be protected by the millennium's old mantra, "I was only following orders." The greatest crimes in humanity have been perpetrated with this excuse.

[doug108]

This is why those arrested need to follow up with civil suits. Start taking a few cops' houses away, and there will be fewer of them willing to do this kind of crap.

[chocker21]

what a joke

[lovethesinner]

"There needs to be a full investigation of law enforcement activities during the convention.” -Democracy Now

http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/19/charges_against_dn_journalists_dropped_investigation_needed

I finally became a monthly donor to Democracy Now back in March, and I'm really glad I did. When Amy Goodman got arrested, I was broke and I really wanted to help, but couldn't. The pictures of the GESTAPO in full riot gear really got to me, this time. Especially that they raided the house where members of the Living History Project were staying, and arrested them WITHOUT WARRANTS.

This is how it happened in Germany in 1936.

We can't afford to let the destruction of our constitutional rights get destroyed any more, and its going to take a lot of work to get what we've lost put back into our laws.

Obama-Biden '08

[LeeCalif]

The exact purpose was accomplished, which was to take the reporters off the streets so they could not report. To me, this is unlawful arrest. The smug bast#*ds should get hit with demotions, not a city lawsuit. Hit 'em where it hurts. Mess with their careers since they feel they are above the law.

[MiddleRed]

Yes, of course they didn't charge them. They knew they wouldn't. The first amendment was squashed by jack booted thugs. And the high paid MSM sat in their comfy chairs, not being chased down by tear gas grenades.

Pathetic.

[MarcoEsquandolas]

Retroactive Freedom of Speech!

whoknew

[pbfishtaco]

Mission was accomplished. All efforts to suppress pretty much worked to plan.

The RNC agreed to pay for an insurance policy protecting St. Paul from lawsuits related to the KKKonvention. The police/FBI/Secret Service have learned well from past protest activity (Seattle '99, etc.), going with overwhelming force from the start, even before the convention, to disrupt any potential visible black eyes.

The Corporate Media deliberately avoided the messiest stories, sticking to the buffets, cocktail parties, and promises of lots and lots of advertising between now and the election.

Are we more like China, the Soviet Union, Germany, or are we our own unique kind of Police State?

[LeeCalif]

Where is a GOOD pb fish taco place? And yes, I agree 100%.

[pbfishtaco]

Fins, in La Jolla CA. I love their "Salsa Fintastic". Great food, casual.
Their motto is :

No Shirt
No Shoes
Service

[Mattie]

In MN we don't have a police state we arrest people who throw urine on people, slash tires, break windows, try to climb fences to enter a building illegally where the presidential candidate is speaking, throw bleach on people and other disgusting types of behavior. Thousands of peaceful protesters were left alone, but the ones who did harm to people and property were arrested. A few reporters were wrongly arrested, and a few more encouraged the police to arrest them by their behavior, so they could have a good story. I am curious, if you think that the police in Denver would let complete strangers approach Obama without any kind of security. If you don't mind having urine thrown on you, I guess you have no argument with these people, or if you have full coverage on your automobile, you wouldn't mind if they trashed it. I read here, all of you calling the police pigs, I hope you never need them when you have an emergency, and if you do, I wonder if you will call them that when they arrive.

[Veri]

Oh, most Americans do mind having urine thrown on them. However, arresting reporters and profiling innocents is the sign of a new, fascist America. You do mind pre-emptive arrests of innocent people? Get out your Brown Shirt.

The ones who harmed people and destroyed property should be and will be prosecuted. The peaceful marchers who were beaten and harrassed, should be held up as victims of a police state. And the police state must pay.

Are you in favor of Free Speech Zones, where even your speech is curtailed? As for encouraging their own arrests, I doubt that many reporters did so. They are there to report, and reporting inconveniences and provides evidence of wrongful behavior on behalf of the authorities.

The only "pigs" in police are ones who blindly follow illegal orders and abuse their position of power. And those that would protect them and the government that allows these abuses.

[Mysticalsister]

great. let's see how you feel when the anonymous jackbooted thugs in black riot gear complete with helmets and automatic weapons break into your house, handcuff you and leave you lying on the floor on your face for 45 minutes without telling you why they're in your house. and if you have the effrontery to ask for a search warrant, you're carted away to jail.

it doesn't matter that the people in that house were doing nothing wrong. they had NO RIGHTS. They are American citizens who were treated like animals by our own police.

wake up out of your candy colored dream Mattie -- you could be next.

[pbfishtaco]

So, did you watch the video of the Democracy Now people being arrested? Were they slashing tires, and throwing urine? They were thrown on the ground agressively (one was injured) and arrested simply because they were next to protesters.

Are you in favor of preemptive arrest of the press (who are the eyes of an informed electorate!) on the basis of potentially doing something wrong, like asserting OUR first amendment rights? I'm sure Minnesota is a wonderful place, but the tactics and actions by your law enforcement authorities were guided by federal officials, most likely. And they aren't talking. In a year or two after all the lawsuits are settled, I wonder if city officials will be proud to have had the convention there?

No one has the right to destroy property, and no, most of the people in St. Paul (and Denver) weren't destructive. But many weren't given any option to disperse. They were just arrested; let the lawyers sort it out later-- and I'll repeat; The RNC pre- paid for a liability policy of $10 million to pay for lawsuits arising from the protests. Maybe some of McCains "Trial Lawyers" will be done in Alaska by then, and can make some money from all the lawsuits!

[scrzbill]

Why was the FBI there. Mattie you are try to defend something that cannot be defended. People were arrested before any of the actions you cite were taken. People were held on terrorist charges. Does throwing urine on someone make you a terrorist. Since when is slashing a tire anything more than a citation. Unless it is of corse the RNC. FASCISM wrapped in the cross is christofascism. What do you call a fundamentalist christofascist with lipstick? Piglyn.

[wm1066]

The urine story was bogus. In the raid on the anarchists one guy was living in the building that didn't have facilities and he was using the buckets to peee in.The police said they were going to use it to throw on the police.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

How about that reporter who was arrested at the DNC?

[RadLeftVetPatriot]

I know, but I won't tell you. Go find out.

[jahzilla]

He wasn't a "credentialed reporter", but if you Busheep would ever do ANY of the work, you would have known that.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

Your ignorance is exceeded only by your stupidity...

[jnkekoa]

No, the decision is an attempt to limit future civil liability, since the goal of preventing/limiting (unfavorable) images of protest/protesters was successful.
Shameful.