[CitizensTruth] Goodman & Democracy Now Producers released but facing bogus charges

[Daniel Stafford]

Jean Hudon wrote:

>> Jean,

>> If you didn't include this in the mailing I JUST received from you, 

>> is there anyway you still help?   Thank you!  Sunny

>

>

> Hi Sunny

>

> Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Fortunately they have all be 

> released and I'll include the following UPDATE in my next compilation.

>

> I believe this will backfire on the police/Republicans and come back 

> to haunt them...

>

> Best regards

>

> Jean

>

> From: 

> http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/1/update_democracy_now_s_amy_goodman_sharif_abdel_kouddous_and_nicole_salazar_released_after_illegal_arrest_at_rnc

>

> Update: Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole 

> Salazar Released After Illegal Arrest at RNC

>

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

>

> September 1, 2008

>

> Contact: Mike Burke

>

> 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: 

> http://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

>

> ---

>

> Note from Jean:

>

> For those who don't know about Amy's outspoken defense of Democracy in 

> America here is a short video that illustrates this well...

>

> Brainwash?... Democracy Now Amy Goodman on Corporate Media 

> http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q560s7cEv20

>

> Much more on her excellent independent and investigative journalism 

> work through http://www.democracynow.org

>

>>  

>> *Subject:* Democracy Now's Amy Goodman and Other Journalists 

>> Arrested!!...... PLEASE GET THIS ACROSS THE PLANET & EXPOSE DARTH VADER!!

>> *Importance:* High

>>  

>> *SEPT 1st , 2008*

>> *Democracy Now's Amy Goodman and Other Journalists Arrested in Saint 

>> Paul, THE COPS ARE USING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS! Please Call Mayor 

>> Coleman, 651-266-8510 !! THIS WILL BE DEALT WITH AT THE HIGHEST 

>> LEVELS!! WE HAVE ALERTED THE KOS!*

>> 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 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

>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/citizenstruth/attachments/20080902/44fab475/attachment.htm>