Arrested at the RNC

Amy Goodman and others like her are one of our last defenses against a total Matrix, a total Orwellian Police State in America and this week the Beast briefly dragged her into its belly. After thousands of phone calls and emails of protest, she was back out, thank God. Listen carefully to what she has to say and then go to http://www.democracynow.org/ if you want to support her directly.

Amy Goodman Released But Needs Support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2008

Contact:
Mike Burke: mike@democracynow.org

**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:
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

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Police Brutality Caught on Tape!

Angela Garbarino gets the Hell beat out of her while handcuffed. (source)












Angie before and after she "fell". (source)


It just doesn't stop! Police brutality is becoming epidemic in America. This Louisiana cop didn't like this woman's combativeness and wailed on her after turning off the camera. Watch this and weep for how far the new quasi-religion of sadism that Bush has ushered into America has embedded itself in our culture. Glorify mass-murder and torture at the top, all cloaked in clever lies and rationalizations, and see what happens more and more down the line: this kind of sordid behavior, also cloaked in a fog of denials. On its own you could say this incident is an anomoly, but we are seeing new incidents weekly, sometimes daily that make you stand up and shout, "What the Hell is going on!"

And then there are the scores of people dying from being Tasered because these massive jolts of electricity disrupt their hearts. Speak up before you yourself get Tasered, beaten to a pulp or framed by cops who have no ethics.

There is an emotional plague gripping America, and it is unleashing our most perverted, sick drives. Where it stops I don't know, but imagine the kind of danger we will all face if we become an actual police state.

Why Did John Kerry Not Speak Up and Defend Free Speech?

I was shocked that John Kerry did not ask them to allow this fellow to stay in the room if he was willing to "listen" while Kerry answered his questions.

But for Kerry not to speak up when six police officers held him down and tasered him....now that is reprehensible.

I expect anyone that I vote for to allow free speech and protest police brutality.