Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department. Charged with conspiracy to riot. Footage from Rick Rowley and Brandon Jourdan.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.democracynow.org
September 1, 2008
Contact:
Dennis Moynihan
Mike Burke
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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
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.
Hopefully they bit off much more than they can chew here. Just bear in mind, police have done far worse things during both conventions than this – just not to someone as well known.
Also, just as an fyi, Glenn Greenwald is doing an exceptional job covering these events.
It just frustrates me that much of the best reporting in America is no longer done by print or MSM journalists.
-AA
@AA: one would imagine that the Republicans would try to look humane and reasonable (something like “Fascism with a human face”) at least until the elections, but in this case there clearly appears to be a rise in policy and military (what is the military police doing in the streets?!) violence and abuse of power even *before* the possible election of McCain. Will that hurt the Republicans? I bet you it will not at all as the kind of folks who could vote for a McCain actually *like* the idea of a journalist like Amy Goodman being arrested and a little roughed up.
Thanks for the info AA!
Police using stun grenades @ 2:00 minute mark in this video
-AA
Amy Goodman Free From Jail — And Tell Us About It (Video)
“She was freed Monday night and we caught up with her. Here’s her story”
can’t wait to see what happens with this on the show.
yeah, “Fascism with a human face”, alright. approaching critical mass