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The last photo found on AP photographer Matt Rourke's camera before he was arrested. (Photo: Matt Rourke / AP)
St. Paul, Minnesota - Government crackdowns on journalists are a true threat to democracy. As the Republican National Convention meets in St. Paul, Minn., this week, police are systematically targeting journalists. I was arrested with my two colleagues, "Democracy Now!" producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, while reporting on the first day of the RNC. I have been wrongly charged with a misdemeanor. My co-workers, who were simply reporting, may be charged with felony riot.
The Democratic and Republican national conventions have become very expensive and protracted acts of political theater, essentially four-day-long advertisements for the major presidential candidates. Outside the fences, they have become major gatherings for grass-roots movements-for people to come, amidst the banners, bunting, flags and confetti, to express the rights enumerated in the Constitution's First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Behind all the patriotic hyperbole that accompanies the conventions, and the thousands of journalists and media workers who arrive to cover the staged events, there are serious violations of the basic right of freedom of the press. Here on the streets of St. Paul, the press is free to report on the official proceedings of the RNC, but not to report on the police violence and mass arrests directed at those who have come to petition their government, to protest.
It was Labor Day, and there was an anti-war march, with a huge turnout, with local families, students, veterans and people from around the country gathered to oppose the war. The protesters greatly outnumbered the Republican delegates.
There was a positive, festive feeling, coupled with a growing anxiety about the course that Hurricane Gustav was taking, and whether New Orleans would be devastated anew. Later in the day, there was a splinter march. The police-clad in full body armor, with helmets, face shields, batons and canisters of pepper spray-charged. They forced marchers, onlookers and working journalists into a nearby parking lot, then surrounded the people and began handcuffing them.
Nicole was videotaping. Her tape of her own violent arrest is chilling. Police in riot gear charged her, yelling, "Get down on your face." You hear her voice, clearly and repeatedly announcing "Press! Press! Where are we supposed to go?" She was trapped between parked cars. The camera drops to the pavement amidst Nicole's screams of pain. Her face was smashed into the pavement, and she was bleeding from the nose, with the heavy officer with a boot or knee on her back. Another officer was pulling on her leg. Sharif was thrown up against the wall and kicked in the chest, and he was bleeding from his arm.
I was at the Xcel Center on the convention floor, interviewing delegates. I had just made it to the Minnesota delegation when I got a call on my cell phone with news that Sharif and Nicole were being bloody arrested, in every sense. Filmmaker Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films and I raced on foot to the scene. Out of breath, we arrived at the parking lot. I went up to the line of riot police and asked to speak to a commanding officer, saying that they had arrested accredited journalists.
Within seconds, they grabbed me, pulled me behind the police line and forcibly twisted my arms behind my back and handcuffed me, the rigid plastic cuffs digging into my wrists. I saw Sharif, his arm bloody, his credentials hanging from his neck. I repeated we were accredited journalists, whereupon a Secret Service agent came over and ripped my convention credential from my neck. I was taken to the St. Paul police garage where cages were set up for protesters. I was charged with obstruction of a peace officer. Nicole and Sharif were taken to jail, facing riot charges.
The attack on and arrest of me and the "Democracy Now!" producers was not an isolated event. A video group called I-Witness Video was raided two days earlier. Another video documentary group, the Glass Bead Collective, was detained, with its computers and video cameras confiscated. On Wednesday, I-Witness Video was again raided, forced out of its office location. When I asked St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington how reporters are to operate in this atmosphere, he suggested, "By embedding reporters in our mobile field force."
On Monday night, hours after we were arrested, after much public outcry, Nicole, Sharif and I were released. That was our Labor Day. It's all in a day's work.
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Amy Goodman is the host of "Democracy Now!," a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 700 stations in North America.
As always, I'm sure there is more to the story than the writer is letting on...
That is such narrow minded thinking, don't be so blinded by your convictions to make everything around them fit in. Even I keep an open mind about such matters.
That is such narrow minded thinking, don't be so blinded by your convictions to make everything around them fit in. Even I keep an open mind about such matters.
My faith in the justice system, from the police on up to the courts, is about 7% on a good day. Considering shit like this happens every day, it's not surprising.
My faith in the justice system, from the police on up to the courts, is about 7% on a good day. Considering shit like this happens every day, it's not surprising.
they did fuck up alot of shit in downtown stpaul, and tried to in minneapolis after the rage concert (over 100 people arrested)... the security around downtown st.paul was insain. i work all of a mile from where the RNC was located. EVERY semi, box van, or other large cargo carrier was pulled over to be inspected. Police on every exit ramp / on ramp for the freeways in the area, and some all the way though minneapolis (6 - 7 miles away from the RNC) Tow trucks all over to tow any car that stalled on the freeway... any one that wanted to start shit got there chance... and they got what they deserved. protests where not broken up until they got violent. some of the "code pink" people didnt like my "I Support the war!" sign
I don't like this person's profession, so their rights as Americans should not count. All is well in this country, and anyone who thinks there is a problem should get out.
You do that shit by me, or near me, I'd beat your ass... Seriously...
Oh really. What laws were they breaking? You seems fairly certain of your physical superiority. You don't drive a Hummer by any chance? Maybe you and big Mike can get together and roid rage together. Putz.
Jeeeeezus - did I put the light on to attract all liberals...
Regarding your point about if laws were broken - how bout I post 5 threads on all the shit protesters did downtown St Paul or Minneapolis and ask you how it turned out...?
We understand you - you're a douche that props up someone like Commo because you think it is wrong...
I do not drive a Hummer - but I would beat your pale little 'blame america' first ass before anyone...
So yes, I just stepped to the front of the line...
Oh really. What laws were they breaking? You seems fairly certain of your physical superiority. You don't drive a Hummer by any chance? Maybe you and big Mike can get together and roid rage together. Putz.
lets see... the RNC WELCOMING COMMITE went around and tore up downtown St.Paul... Code pink broke into the Xcell Energy center (if you watched the RNC, you could have seen it) one police officer grabed a guy who was trashing st.paul, and his buddy came and slamed him to the ground so they could get away...
the police told people to leave a park at 7:30, where there permit expired... they didnt want to... so they got nailed with pepper spray...
lets list the "major" things that happend...
and see if the people are "innocent"...
monday
The delegation . . . numbering approximately 120 people - got off the buses and began to walk through the security perimeter into the Convention Hall when they encountered a large group of RNC protesters who formed a human chain to block the delegation from continuing and shouting epithets at the Nutmeggers.
. . .
Delegates were shoved and spat upon by the protestors.
When Chairman Healy’s mother Lila was spat upon by a protester, former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons stepped between the elder Healy and the crowd. He was doused with a liquid substance that was later determined to be a mix of clorox and water. At least 10 other delegates also were hit with liquid.
. . .
The St Paul police and the Secret Service are investigating how the protesters were able to get into the area unopposed.
.................................... protesters attacked delegates, smashed windows, punctured car tires and threw bottles Monday, a violent counterpoint to an otherwise peaceful anti-war march at the Republican National Convention.
Police wielding pepper spray arrested at least 283 people, of which 129 were felonies, 51 gross misdemeanors and 103 misdemeanor arrests.
The trouble happened not far from the Xcel Energy Center convention site, and many of those involved in the more violent protest were clad in black and identified themselves to reporters as anarchists. They wrought havoc by damaging property and setting at least one fire. Most of the trouble was in pockets of a neighborhood near downtown, several blocks from where the convention was taking place.
Tuesday
A group of about 4,000 protesters are trying to break down the security fences at 5th and 7th, near the northwest entrance to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
. . .
Near Mickey's Diner, protesters exploded three homemade bombs near police. officers responded with tear gas and smoke bombs.
....
A police spokesman declined to be specific about all the arrests Tuesday, but the three occurred during the march that ended near the Republican convention arena with police using tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse protesters they said were trying to get past security fences.
"There's a group that appears to be trying to breach the (Xcel Energy) Center," said Tom Walsh, a St. Paul police spokesman. Police successfully moved the protesters away, he said.
Police estimated about 2,000 people took part in the march, which lasted about three hours. They said the number of arrested might go higher.
...................
Minnesota delegates spent their day on the second day of Republican National Convention in meetings and at a reception in their honor.
The Minnesota delegates got a late start because someone slashed the tires on two of their buses.
Minnesota Republican Party Chair Ron Carey said, "It's a shame that people want to deny us a chance to exercise our 1st amendment rights."
Wednsday
Eight core members of a group that provided logistical support to anarchists wanting to disrupt the Republican National Convention were each charged Wednesday with a felony count of conspiracy to commit riot, following weekend police raids at some of their homes and work space.
According to a complaint in Ramsey County District Court, the eight are active members of the RNC Welcoming Committee, an anarchist and anti-authoritarian group that has a Web site advertising its plans to "Crash the Convention" by blocking traffic and immobilizing delegate buses.
Also Wednesday, federal authorities announced charges against another man accused of using Molotov cocktails to attack the main arena for the Republican National Convention.
According to the charges in Ramsey County, the eight RNC Welcoming Committee members are charged with conspiracy to commit riot in the second degree in furtherance of terrorism.
...........
Even though fans who attended Wednesday's Rage Against the Machine concert were asked not to cause trouble when they left Target Center, scores of people didn't comply with the request.
Trouble did break out on downtown Minneapolis streets and police arrested 102 people who had attended the concert, according to the Joint Information Center which is coordinating security in connection with the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
Of those arrested, 87 people were tagged with misdemeanor offenses and released, 13 were booked into the Hennepin County Jail on misdemeanor offenses and subsequently released, and two people were arrested on gross misdemeanor probable cause and were still in jail this morning, a Joint Information Center spokeswoman said.
... need more? theres plenty...
now... when the police are getting attacked while protectiing the convention... how would you react? just let everything go by? hell no. i would be clubbing the shit out of people...
drama queen...
Last edited by b3rndtt0ast : September 6th, 2008 at 05:06 AM.
A young Park Ranger made a short elderly gentleman delete all his photos while I was nearby taking photos with a big telephoto lens.
I talked with the elderly gentleman after the Park Ranger left and it was obvious that the Park Ranger was intimidating him because he was elderly and shorter than the Park Ranger. I was probably a foot taller than the elderly gentleman and at least 15 years younger than him.
The elderly gentleman's crime? He was taking photos of squadrons of F-15's taking shelter from the impending hurricane by landing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.
The landings were announced on TV and the newspaper this morning, September 4, 2008. They were also announced on the internet.
An elderly Park Ranger told me a year ago that I am welcome to come and photograph planes landing and taking off there.
Maybe I am the only one allowed to take photos there since the young Barney Fife Park Ranger saw me taking photos while he was berating the elderly gentleman.
Abuse of power like this makes me sick.
__________________ Kenny's Viper built and tuned right by Underground Racing 1,021 rwHP and 955 rwTorque using catalytic converters and 93 octane pump gas - 20.0 MPG HWY and a whole lot less driven normally!
Jeeeeezus - did I put the light on to attract all liberals...
Regarding your point about if laws were broken - how bout I post 5 threads on all the shit protesters did downtown St Paul or Minneapolis and ask you how it turned out...?
We understand you - you're a douche that props up someone like Commo because you think it is wrong...
I do not drive a Hummer - but I would beat your pale little 'blame america' first ass before anyone...
So yes, I just stepped to the front of the line...
