Monday, September 01, 2008
Update: Amy Goodman and Two Democracy Now! Producers Unlawfully Arrested At the RNC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.democracynow.org
September 1, 2008
Contact:
Denis Moynihan 917-549-5000
Mike Burke 646-552-5107, mike@democracynow.org
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 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.
Video of Amy Goodman's Arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
* UPDATE*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2008
Contact:
Mike Burke: mike@democracynow.org
**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.
Video of Amy Goodman's Arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
Comments:
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Got DN!'s note about an hour ago when I finally lay down to circle toward sleep's landing strip. Now I'm seething. This is the stuff that nightmares are made of.
Too seethy to sleep, so I've phoned into stuffed voicemailboxes, fidgeted, and checked the newsblogs in unsettled unwanted wakefulness.
I guess they're all out at last.
http://www.democracynow.org/
Sleep in freedom (while we may)
xo
- A
Too seethy to sleep, so I've phoned into stuffed voicemailboxes, fidgeted, and checked the newsblogs in unsettled unwanted wakefulness.
I guess they're all out at last.
http://www.democracynow.org/
Sleep in freedom (while we may)
xo
- A
And Amy makes the Hall of Fame on atlargely. Larisa's awake and alert as usual.
http://www.atlargely.com/2008/09/freedom-of-the.html
http://www.atlargely.com/2008/09/freedom-of-the.html
-Too seethy-
I hear you...that is nutzo what they did to them....! We'll see if the charges are dropped or not.
On the positive side, this may change Amy in ways the can only help humanity more than she (and they) do now...
She rules...
Hope you and T are in happy, comfy candyland sleepville...
Love,
-Alice
I hear you...that is nutzo what they did to them....! We'll see if the charges are dropped or not.
On the positive side, this may change Amy in ways the can only help humanity more than she (and they) do now...
She rules...
Hope you and T are in happy, comfy candyland sleepville...
Love,
-Alice
Evening ellwort!
I like that last line in the comments section about being able to compete now...of the atlargely link...
How are you, besides seethy....?
I like that last line in the comments section about being able to compete now...of the atlargely link...
How are you, besides seethy....?
Good late evening to you, Alice -
Letting go of the seethe, which is what I had to do to get to sleep when i was clapped (one night - big deal!) in cast ironcold jail cell. Glad Amy's out tonight.
I'm alone in Vermont tonight (T's back in New York - work beckons her tomorrow morning; i miss her) because I have to meet an attorney (no dozen gray gurneys I hope) up here tomorrow morning in connection with a stupid traffic infraction last spring.
It's really quiet up here. Corcovado.
Peace to you among the library data
Bon nuit
- A
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Letting go of the seethe, which is what I had to do to get to sleep when i was clapped (one night - big deal!) in cast ironcold jail cell. Glad Amy's out tonight.
I'm alone in Vermont tonight (T's back in New York - work beckons her tomorrow morning; i miss her) because I have to meet an attorney (no dozen gray gurneys I hope) up here tomorrow morning in connection with a stupid traffic infraction last spring.
It's really quiet up here. Corcovado.
Peace to you among the library data
Bon nuit
- A
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