RNC Arrests Slammed as Goodman Arrest Video is Seen 500,000-Plus Times

[Seldona]

Source: Editor and Publisher

NEW YORK Another media group -- the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) -- has denounced the Monday arrest of four journalists at the Republican National Convention.

Meanwhile, a 49-second YouTube video showing the arrest of one of the four -- "Democracy Now!" host/King Features Syndicate columnist Amy Goodman -- has received more than 508,000 views.

In a statement released this afternoon, the NAHJ called on "police and local and federal officials to respect the First Amendment right to free speech and free press of journalists doing their job, especially as it relates to coverage of recent political conventions and the surrounding public protests. Reporters have a duty and a constitutional right to be present at sometimes volatile events and situations, and to inform the public."

The NAHJ noted that an ABC News producer had been arrested at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week, and that the four journalists arrested Monday also included an Associated Press photographer (Matt Rourke) as well as two "Democracy Now!" producers (Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar) Goodman was trying to help. They were released with charges that included suspicion of felony riot and misdemeanor interference with a police officer.



Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_di...

---

What a travesty. Don't forget to Digg please.

Video of arrest here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

[colorado thinker]

1. 622,000 views

[Seldona]

3. Wow!

That's another 100k hits since this afternoon.

I hope like hell this video, and the many others like it, turn the tide on these fascist bastards. Love how the title labels the raids 'RNC.'

[bjobotts]

17. They don't care. They still get away with it. Police were abusive and provoking.

[bjobotts]

18. Police say "big deal. Try and do something about it and you'll get the same"

[bjobotts]

19. They do not serve the public interests. They remain anonymous.

[bjobotts]

20. Amy won't even be able to learn the name of the cop that threw her back there.

[sabrina 1]

22. They should not be anonymous.

Last year in Canada, a protest turned into a riot. People became suspicious that the people who started the riot were 'agents provocateurs'. They were being arrested when someone noticed they were wearing the same kind of boots that the police wear. I don't remember the details, but it was proven, right there, that it was the police, posing as protestors, who started the riot.

I have heard that the Denver police are pretty decent. But that's hard to believe after last week, unless those weren't all Denver police. That's why we need to know their identities. They have no reason to be anonymous if they are acting within the law.

What happened at these two conventions is shameful. I hope journalists all over the world stage a huge protest over this.

[groovedaddy]

28. I remember reading the story about that instance in Canada. They've caught them

in the act here too. Their plants in local groups are always the ones suggesting violent/destructive actions.

[trthnd4jstc]

30. There are provocateurs in the FBI. It was common in the late 60' and 70's

For provocateurs to disrupt protests. I have seen it happen in the 90's. The fact is the manipulation of riots by agent provocateurs should be a Felony, with a 5 year mandatory sentance, and an up to $10,000 fine. That would help keep people away from that job.

[drm604]

38. Here you go

It didn't actually turn into a riot. But a few agents provocateurs apparently attempted to make it appear as such. The police eventually admitted that they were undercover police but claimed that they were not there to cause trouble, which is a very questionable assertion considering that at least one of them was carrying a large rock.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[sabrina 1]

55. Thank you, if they weren't there to cause trouble

why were they there? No need to answer, it was a rhetorical question, I'm sure they'll have an excuse.

I agree with the above post that says agents provocateuring ought to be considered a serious crime.

[Speciesamused]

47. Exactly.

What are you gonna do about it mentality.
Rampant abuses across the board not with just this.
The mass media itself is just as bad.

[candystrap]

2. Overkill

What happened to Goodman and those other journalists was an overkill. They were peacefully doing their thing and then to be treated like they were burning the place down was really disturbing.

[Zhade]

26. Indeed!

Welcome to DU.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

4. Digged (or Digg-ed or Dugged) and recommended ...

... over 3000 Diggs on the video now.

[Seldona]

5. Crazy.

People must be pissed! Good!

[L. Coyote]

6. NOW #11 - Most Responded (All Time) - News & Politics

Four hours ago these stats were for yesterday GMT.
= Honors for this video (71)
Here are a few of the #1's:
#1 - Top Rated (Today)
#1 - Most Discussed (Today)
#1 - Most Discussed (Today) - News & Politics
#1 - Most Responded (Today) - News & Politics
#1 - Most Responded (This Week) - News & Politics
#1 - Most Viewed (Today)
#3 - Top Favorites (Today)
....

CURRENTLY: Honors for this video (39)

#1 - Most Discussed (Today)
#10 - Most Discussed (This Week)
#82 - Most Discussed (This Month)
#3 - Most Responded (Today)
#8 - Most Responded (This Week)
#42 - Most Responded (This Month)
#30 - Most Viewed (This Week)
#78 - Top Favorites (This Week)
#20 - Top Rated (This Week)

#1 - Most Discussed (Today) - News & Politics
#3 - Most Discussed (This Week) - News & Politics
#12 - Most Discussed (This Month) - News & Politics
#1 - Most Responded (Today) - News & Politics
#1 - Most Responded (This Week) - News & Politics
#9 - Most Responded (This Month) - News & Politics
#11 - Most Responded (All Time) - News & Politics
#5 - Most Viewed (This Week) - News & Politics
#28 - Most Viewed (This Month) - News & Politics
#9 - Top Favorites (This Week) - News & Politics
#35 - Top Favorites (This Month) - News & Politics
#4 - Top Rated (This Week) - News & Politics
#11 - Top Rated (This Month) - News & Politics

[NMDemDist2]

7. Amy on her show this morning said the police department got over 1000 phone calls

I was ready to be one of them, had the phone in my hand (had already tried the Mayor's spokespersons office and got a full VM box) when I saw Amy had been released

[zanne]

29. I got the full voicemail box, so I called the jail.

They weren't picking up. tee hee

[NMDemDist2]

8. dupe, delete

DUer servers are straining tonight

[MadMaddie]

9. Another instance of Repuglicans methods backfiring!!

[Seldona]

11. I am going to be working on a compilation this weekend.

Will post it here first. I have seen so many videos that are shocking in the extreme. Today really brought this home to me when I found out someone I know and respect a great deal was beaten badly by the police, among other things.

http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/6952/youth-in-iconi...

As an ex pat from St Paul I have to say I am glad as hell I moved, but fear this kind of crap is just the beginning.

*Edited to add updated link on my friends injuries. Graphic warning. And the comments! Sickening.

http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/6997/boot-print-on-...

[trthnd4jstc]

36. I hope that the young man can receive a six figure or better settlement, and

continues the good work. Sorry to hear he was beaten. We live in a Fascist Nation. It is such an evil way that the police can behave. I can understand their frustration, but it is not their job to punish, and only their job to uphold the law, and protect the people. It should also be their job to uphold the constitution, hence illegal for them to beat up people.

[Pastiche423]

10. Digg #3073

[EFerrari]

12. I'm sorry, where is the link to digg? n/t

[Seldona]

13. Here is the link. Sorry about that.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Amy_Goodman_Arrested_...

[EFerrari]

14. #3079. Thanks!

[L. Coyote]

15. REC. Views: 645,713 Comments:7,000

#1 - Most Discussed (Today)

[Seldona]

16. Interesting to see the high foreign ratings as well.

There are a lot of countries where this is in the top 20. The world is watching.

[jeff30997]

21. K&R

Thanks for the video.The world is watching indeed and we're shocked to see your country

turning into a police state.

[Seldona]

60. Oh a certain element wants that.

But I believe an even larger element doesn't, and will reject this police state bs. At least I hope so...

[L. Coyote]

41. Before 0:00 GMT, there were 20 or so #1 most viewed countries!!

The first day, it hit the top in every major country, English-speaking or not! That is certainly a first.

[BB1]

52. I'm quite foreign

and I watched the clip as well. One question remains, however: Who is Amy Goodman (as in: what does she stand for? I've never heard about her, but then again, only the bad news is news)

[glitch]

57. Go to

http://www.democracynow.org /

[xchrom]

23. recommend

[snappyturtle]

24. K&R 649,992 views! nt

[Preening Fop]

25. U.S. police departments should have "No Problem" hiring mentally ill Iraq Invasion Military.

[saigon68]

39. They are actually hiring some of those thugs

The ones too dumb to qualify as $2000.00 a day Bilgewater mercenaries

[klook]

27. Call to Action on Behalf of DN! Journalists Facing Charges for Reporting on the RNC

from the Democracy Now web site - Today it is critical that you make your voice heard in the Ramsey County Attorney and St. Paul City Attorney offices. Demand that they drop all pending and current charges against journalists arrested while reporting on protests outside the Republican National Conventions.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s office is in the process of deciding whether or not to press felony P.C. (probable cause) riot charges against Democracy Now! Producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Please contact Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner by all means possible to demand that her office not press charges against Kouddous and Salazar.

See the story on the Democracy Now web site for more details, including contact info for the Ramsey County Attorney and St. Paul city attorney.

[Reader Rabbit]

31. Lot of Freeper comments at the YouTube video

Man, those guys have serious issues. If I ever go back to school, I'd love to research what environmental and/or genetic factors generate such an antisocial, hate-riddled mentality.

[llmart]

32. Maybe just look to their parents......

You'll probably find that's where they got the attitudes from.

[trthnd4jstc]

35. A common Freeper term is Librul Fascist.

As if being Liberal is evil. Which it is not. Liberalism is at the core of American Ideals. No King. No rule by Religion. Freedom of thought. Freedom of action. The ability to hold private property, and have rights. Oh yeah, exactly what Publicans are against. I see. That is why they hate liberals. Then the Freeper combines Liberal with Fascist, which is an oxymoron. I am not a fascist. I am a Democrat. I am the opposite of Fascist. I believe that there should be checks and balances, and the Gov. should not be hand to hand with corporations, the Military Industrial Complex, nor Big Oil, etcetera. Their Side Are The Fascists. Look at the joint task force in St. Paul, and their treatment of journalist, and others, on the trumpt up charge of Conspiracy to Commit Riot. What about a charge, Conspiracy to overturn the Constitution, oh there is such a charge, Sedition!

[Jackpine Radical]

40. A couple of books would get you off to a good start on that project.

Try Bob Altemeyer's freely available online book on authoritarianism, John Dean's Conservatives Without Conscience (based on largely Altemeyer's work) and Lakoff's Political Mind. Then, if you still have the energy, read Drew Westen's The Political Brain.

[LSK]

43. read John Dean's Conservatives without Conscience

That book is devoted to the authoritarian makeup of right wingers.

[Seldona]

61. All of Dean's books lately have been illuminating.

Here is an great, free, online book and resource describing the Authoritarian Mindset quite well for those with an interest. GREAT BOOK imo.

Bob Altemeyer's - The Authoritarians

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

[Seldona]

62. Delete Dupe

[pleah]

33. K&R!

[understandinglife]

34. Now over 656,000 YT views and over 3000 Diggs ... keep digging it!!!

[L. Coyote]

58. Views: 673,175 #8 - Most Responded (All Time) - News & Politics

[L. Coyote]

59. Views: 673,175 #8 - Most Responded (All Time) - News & Politics

[L. Coyote]

63. Views: 688,667 #4 - Most Viewed (This Week) - News & Politics

[L0oniX]

37. NY just had to pay $100,000,000 for the illegal arrest of protestors...

I can't wait to find out how much this is going to cost the pigs this time. I can only hope they pay dearly for there Nazi fascism.

[L. Coyote]

42. And Dept. of Homeland Security is in charge, so the US Treasury may be hit!

Bush has set this up so the US taxpayer will have to pay for the suppression of dissent at his political party's convention.

It is also set up so the chain-of-command is Bush/Cheney, Chertoff ......

[HEyHEY]

45. I don't want lawsuit money - I want charges, facist behavour can't just be fined.

[L0oniX]

46. Since the pigs were all without ID, I think that lawsuit money will be the only recourse.

In this imperial capitalist country loosing big money hurts. Unfortunately it is us tax payers who will end up paying for their fascist actions.

[HEyHEY]

49. Are there private prosecutions in the USA?

We have em up here. So you can take a government body to court criminally. If you win then they are charged formally.

[HEyHEY]

44. Hope she publishes the names of her arresting officers

[Blue_Tires]

48. no words...

[Buenaventura]

50. Neither the "rule of law" right wing nor their cop

lackies give a shit about the 1st amendment.

[bobd0]

51. Apparently, the Republicans want their convention to go off just like the Beijing Olympics

[navarth]

53. people should LOSE THEIR JOBS over this

there is now way this kind of horse shit should be tolerated.

[lonestarnot]

56. You are so right!

[YOY]

54. The YouTube Comments on that one are sickening and misinformed.

I wanted to vomit when I read the guy who rails against democracy using Aristotle's version of it as "mob rule." Sick f***Ers.