Updated: Video of Amy after release and added another video of a protester abused by cops
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2008
Contact: Mike Burke
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.
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Amy Goodman Speaks
by rechelon on Tue, 09/02/2008 – 01:09
unavailable
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RNC Protests, II
see also:
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! Talks About Her Arrest
see
Hot Day in St. Paul + Press Conference On Amy Goodman’s Arrest
RNC Mole, attorney David Anderson, Outed by Twin Cities Indymedia
Amy Goodman’s Arrest + Following the RNC Protesters + Tear Gassing the Protesters
Police, National Guard fire tear gas at Black Bloc protesters (vid) + Mass Arrests (Amy Goodman)
Federal government involved in raids on protesters by Glenn Greenwald + Police Seize Bus
Space For Democracy Declines + Live video of police raid on anti-RNC activists + stimulator #2
Dandelion Salad 
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Sorry, but I found all of this hilarious, that’s what happens when you don’t act like a civilized human being, strange how its never shown what they did to get themselves in that situation
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y/w. she said that two people from pepperspray were arrested, but in Stim’s last RNC update he only mentioned one. hope he wasn’t the second. still waiting for today’s DN! to be posted. I watched the stream earlier and Nicole’s film was unreal.
In a sad sort of way this is the best thing that could have happened at the RNC. This focuses attention on the abuses of power of the Bush Regime and Corporacy more than any other event could possibly hope to.
That said, it is a constitutional and criminal outrage.
Pingback: Amy Goodman’s Arrest + Following the RNC Protesters + Tear Gassing the Protesters « Dandelion Salad
Thanks, mudshark, you’re the best! I added the video to the end of this post.
here’s the Twin City’s video.
[edited: see above video]
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