Repub Raids: potential protesters SWATed
Mon, 2008-09-01 05:02
#1
Repub Raids: potential protesters SWATed
Mon, 2008-09-01 05:02
#2
"Published on Sunday, August 31, 2008 by Salon.com
"Massive Police Raids on Suspected Protestors in Minneapolis
by Glenn Greenwald
Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying..." [url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/08/31]Story with videos[/url]
Mon, 2008-09-01 16:18
#3
Amy Goodman has now been arrested:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[url=http://www.democracynow.org]www.democracynow.org[/url]
September 1, 2008
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.
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.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ]Video of Goodman's arrest[/url]
Mon, 2008-09-01 16:48
#4
remind
unfuckingbelievable! Arresting Amy Goodman for trying to seek release of her employees, And if the people in the USA do not yet realize they live in a fascist state they need look no further, for evidence.
I would say the mushy middle, are not going to be lining up for the Repubs after this! Unless they are too afraid not to.
Mon, 2008-09-01 17:00
#5
quote:
I would say the mushy middle, are not going to be lining up for the Repubs after this! Unless they are too afraid not to.
Not if they spin it and make Amy and the others seem more scary to the mushy middles confortable lifestyle
Mon, 2008-09-01 17:30
#6
Left Turn
Police Seize Sustainable Living Bus
[ 01 September 2008: Message edited by: Left Turn ]
Mon, 2008-09-01 17:42
#7
Frustrated Mess
So, Sven, this is a good example of free speech in the good ol' USA, no?
Mon, 2008-09-01 17:45
#8
Frustrated Mess
This video is a nice little sample of police brutality against a young woman armed with a ... [i][b]flower!!![/b][/i]
Watch for the streams of pepper spray. It is a wonder she wasn't tasered (and maybe she was).
*grrrr*
[url=http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20669.htm]Link[/url]
[ 01 September 2008: Message edited by: Frustrated Mess ]
Wed, 2008-09-03 20:43
#9
M. Spector
quote:
In the months leading up to the Republican National Convention, the FBI-led Minneapolis Joint Terrorist Task Force actively recruited people to infiltrate vegan groups and other leftist organizations and report back about their activities. On May 21, the Minneapolis City Pages ran a recruiting story called "Moles Wanted." Law enforcement sought to preempt lawful protest against the policies of the Bush administration during the convention.Since Friday, local police and sheriffs, working with the FBI, conducted preemptive searches, seizures and arrests. Glenn Greenwald described the targeting of protestors by "teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets." Journalists were detained at gunpoint and lawyers representing detainees were handcuffed at the scene.
"I was personally present and saw officers with riot gear and assault rifles, pump action shotguns," said Bruce Nestor, the President of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, who is representing several of the protestors. "The neighbor of one of the houses had a gun pointed in her face when she walked out on her back porch to see what was going on. There were children in all of these houses, and children were held at gunpoint."
The raids targeted members of "Food Not Bombs," an anti-war, anti-authoritarian protest group that provides free vegetarian meals every week in hundreds of cities all over the world. They served meals to rescue workers at the World Trade Center after 9/11 and to nearly 20 communities in the Gulf region following Hurricane Katrina.
[url=http://marjoriecohn.com/2008/09/preemptive-strikes-against-protest-at.ht... Cohn[/url]
Wed, 2008-09-03 21:35
#10
remind
quote:
Originally posted by Frustrated Mess:
[b]So, Sven, this is a good example of free speech in the good ol' USA, no?[/b]
Why would you bother addressing Sven in this regard? How could he possibly manage the message about children being held at gun point in their homes in the USA? The only thing he could possibly do, would be to ignore it and hope it falls from the radar.
I hope it doesn't, but the airwaves are quiet about it, which makes one go "hmmm"?!