Update: RNC Dispatch #4 + Cops Attack Anti-Capitalist Bloc + 17-year-old RNC protester
http://www.minnesotaindependent.com
By Paul Schmelzer 9/2/08 4:39 PM
Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police, according to his mother
The following is a comment left at the Minnesota Independent by Melissa Smith-Tourville, who is the mother of 17-year-old Keith Smith, shown above in a photograph taken yesterday by MnIndy’s Paul Demko and published later in the day. The comment came this afternoon in response to Demko’s story from earlier today, “St. Paul Police Chief Harrington: Cops ‘did heroic work yesterday’.
My seventeen-year-old son is the young man in the photo, peacefully sitting in the street in front of an entire force of swat officers. He was later brutally beaten by five St. Paul police officers. Police Chief Harrington, your officers beat my son instead of protecting him when he was apart from the protesters and doing nothing illegal, dangerous or inappropriate. If this was not an overreaction on the part of your officers, I fail to know what would be defined as an overreaction! This is his story:
Just five weeks ago our seventeen-year-old son Keith was being celebrated by our community and beyond as a hometown star. The regional press covered him repeatedly. He single handedly organized the Music for Peace Festival, in Menomonie, Wisconsin which was attended by about 400 people. The family-friendly event included booths, seven bands and entertainment for all ages. He coordinated the event to raise money for a charity near and dear to his heart; the Red Cedar Peace Initiative. We were very proud of our son then, as we are now.
[...]
see
RNC Dispatch #4 + Cops Attack Anti-Capitalist Bloc + 17-year-old RNC protester
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Filed under: Anti-war, Civil Rights, Dandelion Salad News or Politics, Family, Police, Police Brutality, Police State, Politics Tagged: | RNC - St Paul-Minneapolis MN
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
I read the article and beating a 17 year oild and then not mirandizing him, and leaving him miles from his home and not in the custody of his parents is down right terrible!! I’m sorry But that is not right at all
Police are not required to “protect and serve”, at least not us that is. The protect and serve motto is a fallacy. Due some research.
Something amiss in Lake Wobegon?
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
Lena, thanks for your comment. I’m so sorry to hear of this brutality by those who are paid by the citizens to “serve and protect”. It’s beyond shameful. Outrageous abuse of power.
Buffoon, please check out the photos of this young man after he was severely beaten by the police. Link to the pics are listed after the 3rd video on this post:
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/rnc-dispatch-4/
He was not being forced to move, he was being beating for not immeditly following directions. And, its not just his mothers’ word. I also knew Keith, and can confirn that he is a very peaceful young man.
[...] Youth in iconic RNC protest photo was later beaten by police [...]
Question: When a law enforcement officer tells you to move or leave and you don’t do it and then struggle when being forced to move, what should the cops response be?
I think you already know my answer.