Way to go, Saint Paul! Human Rights Violations!
And I criticize people for press release journalism.
PRESS STATEMENT
For immediate release:
Friday, September 5, 2008
Contact: AIUSA media office
x302
Use of Force Against RNC Protesters “Disproportionate,” Charges Amnesty
International
[London]--Amnesty International is concerned by allegations of excessive use of force and mass arrests by police at demonstrations in St. Paul, Minnesota during the Republican National Convention (RNC) from September 1-4, 2008. The human rights organization is calling on the city and county authorities to ensure that all allegations of ill-treatment and other abuses are impartially investigated, with a review of police tactics and weapons in the policing of demonstrations.
The organization’s concerns arise from media reports, video and photographic images which appear to show police officers deploying unnecessary and disproportionate use of non-lethal weapons on non-violent protestors marching through the streets or congregating outside the arena where the Convention was being held.
Arresting the press at the RNC
Here’s what happened to Democracy Now Host & producer Amy Goodman at the Republican Convention.
Here’s what Amy had to say about what happened in her own words:
When I was in Denver I found out that the two convention cities were given a 50 million dollar grant from homeland security for police at the conventions. The protests were minor in Denver compared to what we’ve seen in Minniapolis/St.Paul The police presence was very high in both cities. There was a feeling of intimidation that you could get “swept up” in mass arrests just by being in the general area of the protests. From what I am hearing now, some of those arrested have been given felony charges. These are not terrorists. These are fellow Americans exercising their constitutional right to assemble peacefully and address their grievances.
Jailing Journalists
Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested on Monday by St. Paul police while covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as press, Goodman was charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a 'peace officer.'" Two of her producers were arrested for "suspicion of felony riot." Goodman and her producers were released Monday night. AP photographer Matt Rourke was also arrested and released after police doused him with pepper spray and forced him to the ground, scraping up his elbows and knees. Charges are still pending against all of these journalists simply for trying to do their jobs. Here is the video of her arrest: Here is her report on Democracy now today:
democracynow.org. I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
Should Media Report on Police Brutality
The back of 17-year-old Keith Smith-Tourville after the police were finished with him.
In spite my best intentions, I have wound up liking resident Vivir Latino Troll, EYE OF TEXAS. Don't ask me why, maybe it's the name. I always did like all caps in a name. Announcing your presence with authority! Anyway, Eye makes an interesting argument in VL's post on Amy Goodman's arrest. S/he says:
There were also protesters and incidents at the DNC, but the leftist media chose not to cover it because of the bad image it would have given the squeaky clean Demoncraps. Go figure.
Now, seeing as VL did cover incidents of police brutality at the DNC, and really complicated the very privileged space of the convention to begin with, I know that EYE is not talking about VL. But s/he does point to an intriguing idea. Republicans are positive that the media didn't report on the violence at the DNC while reporting nonstop on violence at the RNC--and Democrats are fairly certain of the same thing.
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