i've just received the word that Amy Goodman and two producers from Democracy Now!, Nicole Salazar & Sharif Abdel Kouddous, have been arrested while doing their jobs as journalists, covering the RNC demonstrations. It is outrageous that journalists are being persecuted by the St. Paul police while simply doing what we need journalists to do: report on dissent, resistance, and the diversity of real Americans' politics! The video of Goodman's arrest, available here, should satisfy any doubt that this arrest was anything but an illegal repression tactic. She was clearly not "rioting", was treated quite roughly, and arrested by a crew of cops whose nametags/badges do not seem to be visible at all.
Please see the Democracy Now! release below for more info/numbers to call.
Numbers to call
Sep 01, 2008 10:00PM EDT
The following is a release from Democracy Now! (http://www.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.
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 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).
Tom Walsh, 651-266-5735
Their info line: (651) 677 5115
Chief John M. Harrington
367 Grove Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 266-5588
Assistant Chief Nancy DiPerna
Major Crimes Division
367 Grove Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 266-5500
Assistant Chief Matthew D. Bostrom
Support Services and Homeland Security Division
367 Grove Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 266-5545
Assistant Chief Tomas Smith
Operations Division
367 Grove Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 266-5545
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