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=oYjyvkR0bGQKevin Hayden of American Street has a warning of what comes next if we don't protest.
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly 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 Sherrif 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).
Update: Chet Scoville of The Vanity Press has the video of Goodman being released. Check out the experiences of several others and the warning by Glenn Greenwald on what has happened to our 'freedoms'.
2 comments:
hey thanks ellroon, I hadn't heard about that yet. thank goodness there is a cool indepehndent community-supported radio station up here which broadcasts Amy daily and I try to catch her. I took Mond the 1st off from all this madness and was seriously considering going on a "news fast". I may still. Appreciate your work, and the other blogs I touch, to clue me in quickly when I'm not . . .(clued-in)
Big hugs to you sagemarm!
Newsfasts are good for healthy living and physical well-being, but I'm too obsessed right now to stop.
Haven't kicked in tv screen nor ripped out the radio, but I do snarl at talking heads that predictably trot out the Republican talking points. My husband has to shut me up to hear the television.
I'll be interested to see what Goodman reports about her experience. Heard her talking on KTLK here in LA, haven't checked her website yet.
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