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Jean Hudon wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:a0623090ac4e290141bbb@%5B209.169.137.75%5D"
type="cite">
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<title>Re: Democracy Now's Amy Goodman and Other
Journalists Arre</title>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="">Jean,</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="">If you didn't include this in the
mailing I JUST received from you, is there anyway you still
help? Thank you! Sunny</blockquote>
<div><br>
<br>
</div>
<div>Hi Sunny</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Fortunately they have
all be released and I'll include the following UPDATE in my next
compilation.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I believe this will backfire on the police/Republicans and come
back to haunt them...</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best regards</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Jean</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>From:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/1/update_democracy_now_s_amy_">http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/1/update_democracy_now_s_amy_</a><span></span>goodman_sharif_abdel_kouddous_and_nicole_salazar_released_after_ille<span></span>gal_arrest_at_rnc<br>
<br>
Update: Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and
Nicole Salazar Released After Illegal Arrest at RNC<br>
<br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<br>
September 1, 2008<br>
<br>
Contact: Mike Burke<br>
<br>
UPDATE<br>
<br>
Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole
Salazar Released After Illegal Arrest at RNC<br>
<br>
Goodman Charged with Obstruction; Felony Riot Charges Pending Against
Kouddous and Salazar<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
</div>
<div>On Tuesday, Democracy Now! will broadcast video of these
arrests,
as well as the broader police action. These will also be available on:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.democracynow.org">http://www.democracynow.org</a></div>
<div><br>
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.<br>
<br>
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."<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.</div>
<div><br>
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.<br>
<br>
Video of Amy Goodman's Arrest:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ</a></div>
<div><br>
---</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Note from Jean:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>For those who don't know about Amy's outspoken defense of
Democracy in America here is a short video that illustrates this
well...</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Brainwash?... Democracy Now Amy Goodman on Corporate Media
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q560s7cEv20">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q560s7cEv20</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Much more on her excellent independent and investigative
journalism work through <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.democracynow.org">http://www.democracynow.org</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite=""> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite=""><b>Subject:</b> Democracy Now's Amy
Goodman and Other Journalists Arrested!!...... PLEASE GET THIS ACROSS
THE PLANET & EXPOSE DARTH VADER!!<br>
<b>Importance:</b> High</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite=""> <br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="" align="center"><font size="+1"><b>SEPT
1st , 2008</b></font><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="" align="center"><font size="+1"><b>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!</b></font><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="" align="center">Amy Goodman and Two
Democracy Now! Producers Unlawfully Arrested At the RNC<br>
<br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.democracynow.org">www.democracynow.org</a><br>
<br>
September 1, 2008<br>
<br>
Contact:<br>
Denis Moynihan 917-549-5000<br>
Mike Burke 646-552-5107, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mike@democracynow.org">mike@democracynow.org</a><br>
<br>
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:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ</a><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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).<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="" align="center">Video of Amy Goodman's
Arrest: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ</a></blockquote>
<div><br>
</div>
</blockquote>
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