Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, arrested
September 1st, 2008
Amazing coverage by folks on the ground. Here’s a link to the audio from Indybay of the arrest (there’s some dead air in the middle, be patient) and a producer describing the arrest:
And now we’ve got the video:
Keep up on what’s going on down there from afar by going here: Twin Cities Indymedia.
Here’s the press release on Goodman’s arrest:
September 1, 2008
Contact:
Denis Moynihan 917-549-5000
Mike Burke 646-552-5107ST. 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 [above].
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.
RNC: Dave Bicking interview about daughter Monica’s arrest
September 1st, 2008
As the Republican National Convention fades into the distance, likely canceled due to “weather,” the “grand march” is winding up, police are tailing the students leaving Macalester, helicopters overhead, and there’s a police blockade at Smith and Grand with a couple of arrests so far…
From Uptake (video reports here) and MinnPost, here’s an interview with Dave Bicking about his daughter’s arrest. Dave Bicking, Green Party, ran for City Council last election cycle and he was a crucial player in taking down Kandiyohi’s Midtown Burner, planned for the Phillips neighborhood.
And on MinnPost:
The good news is that there was a post in Twin Cities Indymedia that Monica Bicking had been released, but now that post has vanished…
And on a lighter note, from the STrib:
If they don’t break the law…
September 1st, 2008
Choice link with a video that sums it all up, from the Daily Planet, Vlad Teichberg, Glass Bead Collective, on the targeting of journalists and advice for the cops:
More from the Minnesota Independent:
National Lawyers Guild seeks to have judge review detentions of six activists by end of day
National Lawyers Guild: What police raids seized yesterday was not “weaponized” urine
… what a concept…
From the Daily Planet:
From the STrib about the Veterans for Peace march:
… and the good news – the convention seems to be cancelled…
So now everyone can go home and the RNC slides out of town without accountability…
RNC police state – more info
August 30th, 2008
The Republican National Convention – and the action isn’t at the Xcel Center. For firsthand reports, almost literally up to the minute, check out:
They’ve been raiding houses in south Minneapolis. They’ve closed the “Convergence Center” in St. Paul. They arrested a RNC WC member on the street, raided a house in St. Paul today, and pulled people over on their bicycles in St. Paul… and “they” is ???? Heavy federal influence, Ramsey County was leading the raids Friday it seemed, and today’s raid in St. Paul seems to be only St. Paul Police. Who knows…
On youtube, today’s St. Paul police raid at a house on Iglehart (search youtube, there’s more every minute):
National Lawyers Guild: Police Raid “Preventative Detention” Bruce Nestor, Lawyers Guild, addressing raids and arrests
Police bust through window to detain “Democracy Now” journalist
PUBLIC MEETING RIGHT NOW, 11:30 A.M. SATURDAY
POWDERHORN PARK
See Twin Cities Indymedia … that is, if they’re online. It was out for a while, and it’s up and running again. They’ve altered their server to handle the traffic, and lo and behold, today somebody knocked at the door claiming there were fire code violations. I hope they’ve packed up and moved to somewhere safe rather than wait for the door to be kicked in with guns drawn.
For help if arrested or if you witness arrests, call the Coldsnap Legal Hotline
651.356.8635
Here’s the Coldsnap site – information being updated regularly:
From that site, here’s a:
Send completed forms by certified mail to:
Berglund & Magnuson, PLLC
1595 Selby Ave, Suite 102
St. Paul, MN 55104
Arrests start in St. Paul
August 30th, 2008
ATTENTION MEDIA POLICE – THIS IS FROM THE UK – I wouldn’t want to get anyone in St. Paul into any more trouble by publishing photos of cops taken there — oh, but you’d have taken away their cameras so there wouldn’t be any photos…
The Republican National Convention hasn’t even started, but they’re arresting and harassing and terrorizing the public already.
In the St. PPP:
Perhaps because they couldn’t be shown up by Minneapolis’ finest:
And how about this bizarre headline from MPR:
“Caused?” “CAUSED!!!!”
Also from MPR (featuring Dave Bicking):
And the STrib:
Does anyone remember Charlie Stenvig’s tach squad raiding parties? Here we go again… can you spell “POLICE STATE?”