- BIG NEWS:
- CNN
- |
- Newspapers
- |
- CBS
- |
- Oprah
- |
Amy Goodman Violently Arrested Today at RNC
Story from Democracy Now site:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 1, 2008
Contact:
Dennis Moynihan
Mike BurkeST. 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 unlawfuly 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 Sherrif 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 Amenmdent 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.
THIS IS FROM ALLISON KILKENNY'S
UPDATE:
Goodman was arrested along with Democracy Now producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. As of 9:15 PM EST, the Ramsey County jail has charged Goodman with "conspiracy to riot" and released her, but is still detaining Kouddous and Salazar. No charges have been pressed against them.
Laurie, the phone operator at the County Jail says she "hopes charges will be presented within the hour." As of right now, Kouddous and Salazar are being held without charges.9:50 PM EST: Kouddous and Salazar are still being held without charges. Laurie, the operator, now expects a few hours to expire before they are officially charged with a crime. She claims the slow process is due to an unusually high number of arrests coupled with many detainees using pseudonyms. More than 100 people were arrested along with Goodman and her producers.
Early reports indicate Kouddous and Salazar were originally arrested on suspicion of rioting .
11:00PM EST: The Ramsey County Jail redirected me to something called the "Joint Information Center." Under a little pressure, the operator finally revealed his name (Sgt. William Palmer,) though he asked for my name (had me spell it twice) and asked for my phone number in exchange. Friendly stuff.
Palmer informed me that Kouddous and Salazar will be held in jail overnight until they are taken to court tomorrow. No one knows what they are being charged with, but Palmer attributes their arrest to "suspicious behavior."
Kouddous and Salazar are still being held without any formal charges.
11:33PM: Kouddous and Salazar have been released. Sgt. William Palmer called me back and said they have been released with "Pending complaints," which essentially means they were not charged while in custody, but may yet be charged with some felony at a later date.
12:00AM: Democracy Now! has posted this update:
Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar Released After Illegal Arrest at RNC
Goodman Charged with Obstruction; Felony Riot Charges Pending Against Kouddous and Salazar
ST. PAUL--Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have all been released from police custody in St. Paul following their illegal arrest by Minneapolis Police on Monday afternoon.
All three were violently manhandled by law enforcement officers. Abdel Kouddous was slammed against a wall and the ground, leaving his arms scraped and bloodied. He sustained other injuries to his chest and back. Salazar's violent arrest by baton-wielding officers, during which she was slammed to the ground while yelling, "I'm Press! Press!," resulted in her nose bleeding, as well as causing facial pain. Goodman's arm was violently yanked by police as she was arrested.
On Tuesday, Democracy Now! will broadcast video of these arrests, as well as the broader police action. These will also be available on: www.democracynow.org
Goodman was arrested while questioning police about the unlawful detention of Kouddous and Salazar who 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 arrested on suspicion of rioting, a felony. While the three have been released, they all still face charges stemming from their unlawful arrest. Kouddous and Salazar face pending charges of suspicion of felony riot, while Goodman has been officially charged with obstruction of a legal process and interference with a "peace officer."
Democracy Now! forcefully rejects all of these charges as false and an attempt at intimidation of these journalists. We demand that the charges be immediately and completely dropped.
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 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.
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 and the subsequent criminal charges and threat of charges are a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists.
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.
Mayor Chris Coleman can be contacted at: 651-266-8510 or e-mailed at: https://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/forms.asp?FID=69
Governor Tim Pawlenty can be reached at: (651) 296-3391 or e-mailed at tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
Ramsey County Jail: 651-266-9350
Loading comments…
Most Popular on HuffingtonPost
d%2FU%2BVeghNNJ18NRIvCCEL5Hg1HZhE3nbVgnSiQO8YJpsC9kioJiWk5lf3cWpyCcIip%2Bg0z4Tuak9lPl04I9zmg%3D%3D
2e0elfoUp3NNam66C3KjVknHiXy88SPQeVeh%2BIi8%2BlgAUEp0xhxc2o6hmPAyzyxHgcrIZKNrHbU%3D
1 of 2
Don't Miss HuffPost Bloggers
1 of 3
Huffington Post Apps and Feeds
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
There is a another video of the woman reporter who was originally arrested and given a bloody nose is on democracy now's site. Its much better than the video posted here.
Hopefully Huffpost will continue to follow this story and post the other video
Yes, this arrest is another example of the freedom loving Republican party. Their idea of freedom is what others label as conformity.
It's the St. Paul police, not the Republicans.
No, the Secret Service are running the show. The cops are from all over the Twin Cities and elsewhere.
Not to say St. Paul police aren't a problem, the jurisidiction is also Ramsey County--I don't know how that territory jurisdiction works out, but we locals have been hearing that the feds took over Convention stuff a year ago.
Yes, but this kind of thing always happens around Republican rallies. Many people were arrested for just carry signs of dissent near Bush speeches or his motorcade. People had to sign loyalty oaths to attend Bush campaign stops during the last election. Dissenters are placed blocks away where they can not be heard or seen. It makes a sham of democracy.
A separate, militant contingent of the planned RNC protest Monday commandeered intersections, broke windows and turned riotous in downtown St. Paul.
A mob of 200 anarchists marched through the streets of downtown St. Paul shouting, “Whose streets? Our streets.”
By the time they were through with their impromptu protest Monday afternoon, they were right.
A Minneapolis police car sat gutted after protesters smashed its windows as a horde of police finally caught up with them nearly two hours after the melee began.
Sorry, arrest the anarchists who rioted.
Amy Goodman and the two reporters from Democracy Now! are guilty only of asking questions.
Do you know they were not breaking the law?
Why is this not the LEAD story here? WTF?
After watching the video of Amy being arrested, it is obvious that officers were trying to move her to the sidewalk. She tried to turn back around and go back against the officers instructions. Disregarding her motives, she is guilty of failing to comply with the officers orders. The video does not show abusive force being used by the officer, only the force necessary to direct her while she was resisting their efforts. These officers have to determine in a split second whether or not any particular protester's actions are going to escalate to a violent level. In recent days, protesters have violently attacked people on buses, set fires, broken car windows, slashed tires and more. Most of you posters are viewing this incident from an "America's always wrong" delusional haze. Perhaps if it were you that had YOUR car window smashed or were attacked on a bus your viewpoint would be different.
She wasn't a protester. She had PRESS CREDENTIALS around her neck. What part of PRESS credentials hanging from her neck did you miss in this story?
I don't give a hang for rioters who destroyed property and attacked people, arrest them. Tell me where in the video you saw Miss Goodman "set fires, break car windows, slash tires.." all she was doing was exercising her PRESS responsibilities and ASKING QUESTIONS. Since when is asking questions equal to violent rioting? I know precisely what my viewpoint is, why do you insist upon lying about what Miss Goodman was doing to protect the overreaction of the officers involved. PRESS CREDENTIALS PRESS CREDENTIALS PRESS CREDENTIAL.
Perhaps your emotions have diminished your ability to correctly interpret what I thought to be a fairly coherent posting. I said that "in recent days, protesters (not specifically Ms. Goodman) have violently attacked people on buses, set fires, broken car windows, slashed tires and more. This is the frame of reference that those who are charged with keeping order at this convention must base their actions on. Nowhere in my posting did I state or imply that Ms. Goodman had participated in any of those events. By turning back on the police officer when he was trying to escort her away from what was going on, she made an unwise, emotion based choice to disregard the officers directive. The fact that she was trying to intervene on behalf of her co-workers only compounds the issue and could, in fact, lead to charges of obstruction of justice. Press credentials are not a free pass to disregard a policeman's directive. They serve only to allow access to reporters to cover an event, not to interfere with law enforcement officials. Take a step back, take a deep breath and try viewing the video of Ms. Goodman again. Ms. Goodman clearly turned around and tried to push past the officer, who obviously decided to continue in that direction right to the bus that took her to the jail. As an "experienced journalist" she used extremely poor judgment in that situation.
"Perhaps, if it were you that.."
What if you had nothing to do with the violence? And, indeed, you were only exercising your right of 'peaceful assembly and free speech' in protesting against those things that demonstrate, NOT that "America's always wrong..." but what IS WRONG in America,
" Your viewpoint would be different"
As far as having "..to determine in a split second whether or not any particular protester's actions are going to escalate to a violent level"..Am
Remember the Hispanic drive that was done by the LA cops but was captured on UNO Vision as one of their reporters got run down. This is the new America.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
GOD BLESS REPUBLICAN AMERICA!
God bless those who would stand up against these communist infiltrators and protect our American way of life!
The constitution was meant for republican voting Christians, not for unwashed sign waving malcontents. If putting them in jail shuts them up, then it is the American thing to do!
(If you don't get the sarcasm then go back to sleep.)
The St. Paul police are run by the city not the GOP . . . which are huge liberals.
Liberals and conservatives are both american in my opinion, no need to distinguish the two
Unbias-- HA HA--- Tucson Police Officers are there working the RNC as I suppose police from other cities are there, It is NOT just St. Paul police working the RNC. And if you don't know the strong arm tactics of our police officers --- Tucson is VERY REPUG--- Dude you better hope you never find out. I would not be one bit surprised if the officers who did this to Amy were from Tucson.
That was the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department there, run by Bob Fletcher, a Republican from Maplewood.
Any other questions? Look them up yourself on the Google. It's easy.
Wow, if you did not have "unbiased" in your very name, I would doubt the sincerity and believability of your comments.
This is OUTRAGEOUS!!!! This is so infuriating. This needs to be the number one story on this site and every other site.
This I agree with. The police state is coming and we should all be aware of what is happening here. America is no longer America when you can't stand up to the powers that be. The police are on their side and will always be pawns for the big guys. They don't want to lose their job so they go along with whatever they are told to do, not ever thinking for themselves whether its right or not. This can only get worse with the leadership we have now. And the democrats didn't seem to be any better at their convention.
http://www
Very disturbing trend.
Time to send away for our "V for Vendetta" masks, yet?
Gee, no one here mentioned the ABC reporter arrested for trying to take photos at the DNC in Denver. Oh, and how about all of the violent attacks by protesters and anarchist at the RNC? Hypocrites!!
"Just Say NO to B.O."
I just did.
What does your comment have to do with three journalists being unjustly arrested while covering the convention and protests or are you just trying to change the subject?
OBTW, I checked that ABC producer story and there are 338 comments so I don't see how you can say "no one here mentioned" it.
I'm sorry, did I miss something? As I write this reply, there are only 451 postings, and you say there are 338 comments about the ABC journalist? Hmm... Perhaps when I said "no one HERE" I meant this particular thread of conversation. Focus, please...
you're right, Just say no to Big Oil !
Perhaps the ABC reporter in Denver was pickpocketing someone when arrested?
Lesson learned in the 60's. Police have a badge and a gun. Whatever they tell you to do, do. Don't argue, don't resist. A courtroom is the place to make your case. Why was she arrested? It's the first line in the second paragraph.
" Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly detained"
Don't ever try to "free" someone from police custody.
I agree about "don't argue or resist". It doesn't matter if you are right, the cops have the clubs and especially in the heat of anger and if you are a person of color are more than happy to use them. However, at the same time your comment sounds a little like blame the victim. Amy Goodman is a very experienced journalist who has had many interactions with police and the military. She is not some hot head. If you view the story and video on Democracy Now! http://www
Even when they are arrested for no reason. Go along with them. When people start disappearing don't worry, they're just real terrorists, that's all. Trust the police. They NEVER lie.
http://www
Yeah when people start disappearing, by all means. These two didn't disappear, they were arrested. It is all over the news.
She was not trying to free anyone. She was trying to talk to the officers. Lesson from the 1960's: America is not a police state- Yet!!!
if you watch democracy now today, you can hear the whole story. the comic relief was a washington post reporter was roughed up and arrested too. he yelled out "i'm with a republican publication for gods sake"
She was asked to move - they all were! THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THERE!
So they refused to yield there Constitutional rights and lived to tell their story!
Thank's Amy for your tenacity to be free!
No.
If you are instructed by a police officer to move you must move.
Otherwise you are Breaking the law!
Correct, unless that is her private property.
Its quite possible that the police officer is breaking the law. The law applies to them too you know. Or at least it used to.
And if a police officer instructs you to shoot somebody in the head?
My friend, bills are not made by the opening of a police officer's mouth. In other words, what police officers say is not the law. Will they arrest you for exercising your constitutional rights? Sure, almost certainly, given the attitude of people like you who let them think they are the law and get away with it. But those of us left who still have at least a shred of a feeling in favor of liberty will never condone it.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
No. If a police officer tells you to move (even if you are in a designated area) and you do not move you are breaking the law!
Are there no lawyers on this site or just reactionary’s?
Are you sure?
You have no rights other than those given to you...get over it.
Hmmm I thought some of our rights were unalienable.
So where were YOUR ancestors during the start of the great American revolution? Apparently not among those brave original American patriots who stood up to those who decided what rights would be "given" to them. I shudder to think of a future with people who think like you.
This is a big story, Huffington Post. This needs visibility. Please help to get this information out. We must track how the use of force is being applied as we move ahead in this election. Tempers are going to flare, and the media needs to hold bad behavior to account.
Ummm isn't the Mayor of Minneapolis a Democrat? (As is the Chief of Police.)
This actually occurred in St. Paul.
A very different city than Minneapolis.
Absoluely!
Thanks HuffPo... and all the freedom fighters who know the importance of freedom by standing up for their, (and our) rights.!
Why isnt this story in headlines at the top of the page?Im outraged at the St Paul police and officials for allowing this to happen.
Do you KNOW not feel that she was not interfering with the arrest?
I agree. This, along with all the other arrests, searches and intimidation. I witnessed this type of thing firsthand in NYC in 2004, and I cannot believe it is happening again in TOTAL MEDIA SILENCE!!
The media is feasting their viewer needs on a 17 year old kid right now. They'll come back around when things slow up. Please be patient.
"Hear no evil; see no evil; and speak no evil" is the mantra of ignorance. It is perpeturated by those who deem truth to be the enemy of (in this case) the US government. Fear of reprisal keeps good people silent and in their homes where they become one of the complicit monkeys.
However, the great force of love of country and humanity drive the brave journalists like Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar to bring us, the People, the truth about our government's brutality against law abiding citizens. And they live another day to tell their stories. They chronicle the brutality against those law-abiding and peaceful dissidents whose efforts to be heard and seen are not to be made in vain. Their duty as journalists is taken seriously and apparently they will not be cowered into silence by the tacit and real threats posed by a police state whose goal is to quell free speech and truth. Goodman, et al, know free speech is critcal to a free society.
From the bottom of my heart and soul, I commend Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and thank all journalists and patriots who see, speak, assemble and petition our govenment in peace and yet, become witnesses for those whose eyes, ears and mouths of good people who yet thirst to know truth so that they CAN muster the strength to overcome their fears by walking Earth in calm and peace.
Bless the peace-make
Do you KNOW not feel that they were not breaking the law?
St Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (not to be confused with rabid right winger Sen Norm Coleman) is a lefty; definitely call/email him regarding this outrageous illegal arrest of Amy and her crew.
Don't bother calling or emailing Gov Pawlenty; being a yes-man for the Shrub and all of his policies, Paw-lessly will only take personal delight in the anger and outrage expressed by true patriotic Americans who believe in free speech.
Calling Chris might not help since it appears these arrests were mandated from the federal govt. Why didn't they arrest them in Denver when they were there?
Link to this lady being mandated to be arrested from the feds?
On the contrary, Gov Pawlenty must here our outrage!
From a flaming liberal on a situation that he has no control over?
there was nothing illegal about it, we the law here in Minnesota, we listen to the police when they instruct us to do something, we respect them, we don't call them vile names like I've read here. Hope change and Unity, sure is mean and ugly!
Chris Coleman lefty? Are you local? Moderate Dem is the accurate description.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
