[DEBATE] : (Fwd) St Paul, Minnesota: 50 000 anti-McCain protesters, many arrests

[Patrick Bond]

EmailNation


Dear EmailNation Subscriber,

This morning in St. Paul, Minnesota, an estimated 50,000 antiwar 
protestors gathered for a big rally outside the state Capitol building 
originally planned to coincide with the start of the now-delayed 
Republican National Convention. In the face of this peaceful, permitted 
protest, as Ari Berman reports, were a phalanx of cops seemingly ready 
for the apocalypse, turning downtown St. Paul into a surreal scene 
featuring tear gas and dozens of arrests. Berman also got exclusive 
video of the aftermath of the violence.

Among the arrested, reports John Nichols, is radio host Amy Goodman, who 
was detained with two members of her staff.

Check TheNation.com all week for continuing coverage of the RNC, the 
protests and McCain's choice for veep.

Sarah Palin, Wrong Woman for the Job by Katha Pollit

Christian Cabal Vetted Palin by Max Blumenthal

VideoNation: Impressions from Denver. Cutting through the spin and the 
stagecraft, Nation correspondents on the scene in Denver report on their 
experiences at the Democratic convention. Watch this video by Brett 
Story now.

Finally, please visit The Nation online to read new Nation blogs, to 
view newsfeed links updated each day, to see when Nation writers are 
appearing on TV and radio, to get info on nationwide activist campaigns, 
and to read exclusive online reports and special weekly selections from 
The Nation magazine!

Best Regards,

Peter Rothberg The Nation

***

Code Pink surrounded by riot police

Coldsnaplegal twitter <http://twitter.com/coldsnaplegal> (they are reliable
and on the streets)

Code Pink is w/ Mothers Against the War. They're being pushed against
Wabasha Bridge by 150 riot cops now.

The police are out of control. Code Pink? Did someone throw a pink slip at a
cop?\

FYI: My blog RNC protests <http://polizeros.com/tag/rnc-protests/> tags.

***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.democracynow.org

September 1, 2008

Contact:
Denis Moynihan 917-549-5000
Mike Burke 646-552-5107, mike at 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