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Why We Were Falsely Arrested
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Government crackdowns on journalists are a true threat to democracy. As the Republican National Convention meets in St. Paul, Minn., this week, police are systematically targeting journalists. I was arrested with my two colleagues, "Democracy Now!" producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, while reporting on the first day of the RNC. I have been wrongly charged with a misdemeanor. My co-workers, who were simply reporting, may be charged with felony riot.
The Democratic and Republican national conventions have become very expensive and protracted acts of political theater, essentially four-day-long advertisements for the major presidential candidates. Outside the fences, they have become major gatherings for grass-roots movements - for people to come, amidst the banners, bunting, flags and confetti, to express the rights enumerated in the Constitution's First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Behind all the patriotic hyperbole that accompanies the conventions, and the thousands of journalists and media workers who arrive to cover the staged events, there are serious violations of the basic right of freedom of the press. Here on the streets of St. Paul, the press is free to report on the official proceedings of the RNC, but not to report on the police violence and mass arrests directed at those who have come to petition their government, to protest.
It was Labor Day, and there was an anti-war march, with a huge turnout, with local families, students, veterans and people from around the country gathered to oppose the war. The protesters greatly outnumbered the Republican delegates.
There was a positive, festive feeling, coupled with a growing anxiety about the course that Hurricane Gustav was taking, and whether New Orleans would be devastated anew. Later in the day, there was a splinter march. The police-clad in full body armor, with helmets, face shields, batons and canisters of pepper spray-charged. They forced marchers, onlookers and working journalists into a nearby parking lot, then surrounded the people and began handcuffing them.
Nicole was videotaping. Her tape of her own violent arrest is chilling. Police in riot gear charged her, yelling, "Get down on your face." You hear her voice, clearly and repeatedly announcing "Press! Press! Where are we supposed to go?" She was trapped between parked cars. The camera drops to the pavement amidst Nicole's screams of pain. Her face was smashed into the pavement, and she was bleeding from the nose, with the heavy officer with a boot or knee on her back. Another officer was pulling on her leg. Sharif was thrown up against the wall and kicked in the chest, and he was bleeding from his arm.
I was at the Xcel Center on the convention floor, interviewing delegates. I had just made it to the Minnesota delegation when I got a call on my cell phone with news that Sharif and Nicole were being bloody arrested, in every sense. Filmmaker Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films and I raced on foot to the scene. Out of breath, we arrived at the parking lot. I went up to the line of riot police and asked to speak to a commanding officer, saying that they had arrested accredited journalists.
Within seconds, they grabbed me, pulled me behind the police line and forcibly twisted my arms behind my back and handcuffed me, the rigid plastic cuffs digging into my wrists. I saw Sharif, his arm bloody, his credentials hanging from his neck. I repeated we were accredited journalists, whereupon a Secret Service agent came over and ripped my convention credential from my neck. I was taken to the St. Paul police garage where cages were set up for protesters. I was charged with obstruction of a peace officer. Nicole and Sharif were taken to jail, facing riot charges.
The attack on and arrest of me and the "Democracy Now!" producers was not an isolated event. A video group called I-Witness Video was raided two days earlier. Another video documentary group, the Glass Bead Collective, was detained, with its computers and video cameras confiscated. On Wednesday, I-Witness Video was again raided, forced out of its office location. When I asked St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington how reporters are to operate in this atmosphere, he suggested, "By embedding reporters in our mobile field force."
On Monday night, hours after we were arrested, after much public outcry, Nicole, Sharif and I were released. That was our Labor Day. It's all in a day's work.
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284 Comments so far
Show AllWe need to talk with each other, even if we disagree. Heck, half the time I have two or more different opinions fighting it out within myself. Critical posts from others are very helpful.
BUT I have regretfully concluded that it is a total waste of time to respond to jakenewton.
Joe
WELCOME TO CHINA AMY GOODMAN!!! I guess when they bought our loans they also bought our freedom
Thank you Amy, for not letting anger, vile, or hatred overcome your reaction to the arrest. I watched the video, and, I could not believe this was happening!
I am now going to go in over my head financially, donating to any and all Democratic candidates who are running against this fascist government.
Here's local a local Twin City TV news story (NBC station KARE) about a cameraman being caught up in a demonstration of people who had no permit to march. He was arrested.
(ok I promise to reserve comment)
You make the call.
http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=81947
UNENDED & ENLIVEN: Good work taking the wind out of Jake's ill-placed sails.
Not a chance.
He's the N'eveready battery of abuse and assault.
( the suckered bunny says, NO funny )
Namaste
"He's the..."
Whatever. You always want to talk about me rather than the topic. You're better off just ignoring me if you don't want to address the issue.
Hang in there Jake. You have to simply disengage from the flamers. There's no winning with them. Engaging them gives them fuel, the signal that they are getting somewhere. Reasonable people will always support those who call for reasonableness. Trust that you've got that right. I don't know you, but I know that much about you.
A R B Y,
Usually it is appreciated ( by ALL ) for those willing to apply calming words, that often can edge the discussion back into productive discourse. Thank you for attempting to heal what you see as a problem, although the long history here is likely outside of your experience.
Nonetheless I'm truly sorry to observe that your comments miss the underlying point, especially about which direction the flames are more likely to be moving and why.
When you say "Reasonable people will always support those who call for reasonableness," that assumes a degree of authenticity on both parties. This is an excellent starting point, which time will tell if appropriate.
Superficial and plausible reasonableness is cut from a cloth of deceit and ulterior purpose, that you either have easy access to -- or are repelled by it.
I don't know you, but now have less reason to either ( it's not plausible you're new to the planet nor that above was the first you've ever read of JAKE ). Your subtle words have no power on me, not the falsely aggrandized associations of JAKE being on the side of the angels, or of his being reasonable NOR that there is any trust deserved.
"Reasonable" people do not AUTOMATICALLY assume that the police are fine, upstanding, courageous, and honorable in what ever they chose to do ( and that everyone gets what they deserved ) -- that is what fearful and terrorized subservient people feel ( w/o thinking ) about authority -- and the reason this thread is quite feisty.
Namaste
"Superficial and plausible reasonableness is cut from a cloth of deceit and ulterior purpose,"
Why would it be that the examination of the specific facts of a topic be superficial or deceitful?
""Reasonable" people do not AUTOMATICALLY assume that the police are fine, upstanding, courageous, and honorable in what ever they chose to do "
You can't possibly conclude from anything I have ever said that I assume the above. In fact, I think there are plenty of problems with police globally and on the individual level. I have not been discussing that here.
A carefully SELECTED deconstructed pattern of specific facts that overall PAINTS a false picture of REALITY, is deceitful -- and is an attempt to shift the weight of actual gov'tal blame upon the victims of abuse OR anywhere else other than where it belongs.
One cannot argue for thousands of specific facts that consistently paint a picture in justification for corpoRAPISM -- and escape the REALITY of the collective image being constructed and foisted here.
As far as my point about your ( implicit ) assumption of angelic predisposition of police, you consistently paint the opposite picture of the demonstrators themselves justifying the police abuse, which is essentially the same idea ( in reverse -- figure / ground reversal ) -- exactly as I have suggested is your favored stickt and method of madness.
Namaste
"A carefully SELECTED deconstructed pattern of specific facts that overall PAINTS a false picture of REALITY, is deceitful"
Regarding the current incident, as an example. Approaching 300 posts and no one has yet even disputed the fact that Goodman ignored several orders to move to the sidewalk. Only one suggestion that the orders were unlawful somehow that I was able to counter given that police are empowered to place certain areas of public property off limits from time to time. How are these facts, so very central to the article under discussion, constitute "carefully SELECTED deconstructed pattern of specific facts that overall PAINTS a false picture of REALITY"?
"you consistently paint the opposite picture of the demonstrators themselves justifying the police abuse,"
I have only commented on Goodman and some demonstrators that broke windows and slashed tires. Demonstrators who peacefully chant slogans or hold signs or whatever I have no problem with and I am sure there were thousands like these.
Thanks. I think it's reasonable to look at facts. That's basically all I do here. In this case, we have a video vs. claims made in an article.
¿ I always do … ( what ) with you ?
____ bu$h!t ____
Your pathetic exaggerations to play into your idea of a 'fair play', is out of bounds with reality. Your losing in dozens of detailed "reasonable" interchanges, where I have often disemboweled your "truth", can not be abused with your unreasonable memory of times past.
Your telling me how I'm better off by ignoring you is completely founded in the quicksand of your reality, which only temporarily holds any issue up for long.
As far as it being about your 'position on a topic', or about your caricature -- I've answered that on numerous occasions, which you too conveniently forget about -- to support your polished agenda and clever packaging of opinion.
Your even refer to it as "rather than the topic", as if your position and beliefs were explicitly stated, instead of corrosively exposed in the remnants of progressive thinking, being reduced to neoCON slogans.
You are absurdly deluded, if you continue to represent your view of "the issue" as if that were the only one possible, and that you control the proper manner of "addressing" it.
Namaste
"Your pathetic exaggerations to play into your idea of a 'fair play', is out of bounds with reality."
How can insisting that one stick to the facts associated with a topic be considered an exaggeration of any kind?
"Your losing in dozens of detailed "reasonable" interchanges, where I have often disemboweled your "truth","
You may not be surprised to hear that I can't think of a single case of this. In fact, I think *you* have learned a few modest things, such as what the term "molten" really means.
"Your telling me how I'm better off by ignoring you "
This is nothing more than what *you* have unreasonably urged others to do here. I am simply suggesting you take your own advice if you are going to avoid the topic under discussion with references instead to who or what you think the participants are.
"As far as it being about your 'position on a topic', or about your caricature -- I've answered that on numerous occasions,"
Yes yes, I am "paid by the Neocons".
"to support your polished agenda and clever packaging of opinion."
Yet again another attempt to mischaracterize the discussion of fact. Questioning the agenda or motive of a participant has no bearing whatsoever on the veracity of comments made by participants about a topic. This has got to be the tenth time I've had to explain this to you.
"progressive thinking, being reduced to neoCON slogans."
Examining a video for the factual evidence it provides and discussing that in the context of a topic has absolutely no resemblance to sloganeering. You are completely of base here. I "never" provide slogans in my posts.
"You are absurdly deluded, if you continue to represent your view of "the issue" as if that were the only one possible,"
This is comment would be much better directed at others here, who seem to think that if you even suggest that the police in St. Louis were anything other than armed thugs, or that the protesters there were anything other than angelic, righteous, and innocent in all ways, that you are a fascist. OTOH, I have specifically tempered some of my remarks here with phrases similar to "I could be wrong" or "it's impossible to know for sure".
You are a smart guy, how can you post stuff like this?
Perhaps the impressionable marks upon a pre-teen seeing heads being cracked open while being gassed at DNC in '68 ?
Having the jack-booted iron heel upon your own neck, or someone you love, just might change your point of view.
If fascism ( protecting US from illusionary FEARS of Muslim terrorism ) is the question, then LOVE is the answer -- not what we see in the conventions.
How are you personally going to adapt to the encroachment of your own rights, in our society's grave lock-step march toward a police state ? Denial isn't very effective.
Namaste
"Having the jack-booted iron heel upon your own neck, or someone you love, just might change your point of view."
Yes it might, and one could understand if as a result everything seen now resembles a jack-boot but that doesn't mean that point of view is right.
I agree, that what I see is likely only part of the story. What's potentially worse is that what we've been able to see and perceive :
__ is likely to be later shown to be a poor representation
__ of how bad it really is, underneath.
Namaste
"I agree, that what I see is likely only part of the story. "
Great, we agree on something. Same for me and everyone else.
"is likely to be later shown to be a poor representation "
Yes, of course that will sometimes be true.
The email of the police chief of St Paul is john.harrington@ci.stpaul.mn.us , in case anyone wants to complain.
Interesting arguments all around. And good passion evident in all your posts.
But some things in this country never change:
• King George and his Barons always want more power and poorer subjects to reign over.
• Redcoats only see things from an enforcement perspective, and defend their bloody massacres as "legal" and proper no matter how atrocious their fellow Beefeaters behave.
• The people will always have a substantial portion of the population remain "Loyalist" to the Crown; and actively inform on those damn "rebels" or troublemakers; so trolls are to be expected.
• Taxation without representation (only big corps are represented in today's gov) will result in "Boston Tea Party" events sooner or later. So don't put down those black-masked anarchists or those store rock-throwing urchins; because they are on the side of Liberty. They are on the side of Democracy. Even those gun wielding WACOs or those Oklahoma City nuts were on the side of Freedom from an oppressive, overbearing government with no hope of being reformed. They just ran into it sooner than the rest of us did. Each year the government gets bigger and meaner, and ultimately will have us all in irons if we don't do something about it.
In our ancestor's day, they boarded a Mayflower and fled to the developing world to escape mindless tyranny like in Minneapolis or Old England. I suggest you all do the same. Before property values crash any lower, dump your house and move out to the islands.
Yes, there is a life after the freeway and the shopping mall. In a country that has revolutions every ten years; where the government is afraid of the people; not like in the U.S. where the people are afraid of the government. Right now I'm watching the most gorgeous spectacular sunset over the ocean..... no cops, no nannystate, and who needs a car?
How did that go? "Tune in, Turn on and Drop out!" (The 1960's Boycott Battlecry!) Maybe there was something to all that hippie stuff after all. Walmart hasn't gotten any money from me in over three years. I eat strange tropical non-GMO fruit and vegetables grown in natural volcanic soil. And most of it is free. We can win the war against tyranny fueled by consumerism if we try.
Many of you, I fear, however, are still trapped in the Old World NeoCon Matrix. It is not the Matrix that must bend; it is you who must free yourselves from it's trappings. Impossible, you say?
If you say so.
The colonist had the same trouble convincing their neighbors to boycott not only tea, but all domestic things made in Britain, which was just about everything back then. John Adams wife found it particularly stressful to live without any common household items whatsoever.
Regardless of where we are, or what methods we deploy, we free men all have our role to play in defending the Bill of Rights.
Ben Franklin The First American
Quoting from the following article by Patrick Martin, entitled "McCain Launches Fall Campaign as Obama Embraces Iraq 'Surge'” --
"The most important factor propping up both the Bush administration and the Republican presidential campaign is the complicity and cowardice of the Democratic Party. McCain’s claim to be leading an insurgency against the government of his own party is undoubtedly preposterous, but he is able to adopt this posture with at least a fig leaf of credibility because the Democratic Party does not fulfill the role of an 'opposition' party in any serious sense.
"Obama’s performance Thursday on Fox television’s 'The O’Reilly Factor' was a case in point. After winning the Democratic nomination in large measure because of his purported opposition to the war in Iraq, Obama has sought repeatedly to demonstrate to the US political establishment that he can be a credible commander in chief for American imperialism.
"He told O’Reilly that he 'absolutely' believed that the United States was engaged in a worldwide war against terrorism, including not only Al Qaeda and the Taliban, but 'a whole host of networks that are bent on attacking America who have a distorted ideology.'
"Obama described Iran as a 'major threat,' and said it would be 'unacceptable' to an Obama administration for Iran to possess nuclear weapons. 'It would be a game-changer,' he said, adding, 'I would never take a military option off the table.' He called for a more aggressive military posture towards Pakistan, the day after a major US military strike within that country.
"But his starkest reversal came on Iraq, as O’Reilly pressed him to admit that the Bush administration’s troop 'surge,' the escalation of the war by the addition of some 30,000 US combat troops, had been a success. Obama has sought to dance around the issue for months, but he finally embraced the surge emphatically on Thursday.
"'I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated,' he said, adding, 'It’s succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.' This demonstrates not only Obama’s cringing submission to the pressure of the right wing, but a staggering degree of political blindness. Like Bush, Cheney, McCain and the rest of official Washington, Obama truly believes that US imperialism can, by military force alone, impose its will on the world. His only disagreement is with the Bush administration’s obsessive focus on Iraq, which Obama and many other spokesmen for the military and foreign policy establishment believe has undermined US interests in other parts of the globe.
"The Democratic Party is a capitalist party that defends the same social interests as the Republicans—the massive fortunes of the superrich financial aristocracy which is the real ruling force in American society. The Democrats play a specific role in the political division of labor: while the Republicans consistently and unabashedly uphold the rights of the wealthy, the Democrats pretend to represent working people, while ensuring that there is no challenge from below to the profit system.
"This division of labor explains the half-hearted and spineless performance of the Democrats in the current presidential campaign. Obama, Biden & Co. are at pains to demonstrate that they will make no appeal to mass discontent that goes beyond what is acceptable to the ruling elite. The Democrats offer their services to the financial oligarchy to win at least a certain degree of mass support for the reactionary program that both parties fundamentally share."
Click here for the entire article -- http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/sep2008/mcca-s06.shtml
enliven aka Namaste said:
"Perhaps we can agree on something here,"
I think we agree on more things than you know.
"There is a case where that is actually factually correct -- especially when the advance plans that the police know of, are of those of using violent agent provocateurs ( pretending to be demonstrators ) ."
I see very little utility in the use of such "provocateurs" and think it would be counter productive. OTOH, infiltration of groups in oredr to ascertain plans is different.
"It would be stupid to underestimate the politically fueled advantages of making good use of PUNISHING on camera such anarchists ( even of OOoopps, the ones you beat up are the real PEACEFUL demonstrators, while letting the truly violent agent provocateurs, get away scott free )."
Where footage would fail to show that strong methods against "real PEACEFUL demonstrators", I think the strategy backfires.
"There's just so little real justice these days for those that really abuse the public's trust"
I agree with this much.
The purpose that eludes you is that it self-JUSTIFIES the use of
___ extreme police violence against citizens, the
___ "progressive" militarization of local & state police, under fusion centers -- aligned with illegal federal policies
___ leap-frogging violations of "Posse Comitatus", use of National Guard troops against civilians.
___ use advancing use of unconstitutional spying, ( FISA ) search & seizure, and similarly
___ illegal preemptive raids -- to combat illegitimately branded "home grown terrorists".
___ illegal restraints & harassment targeted upon independent news reporters, to repress PROTECTED free speech expression not possible in corporate controlled jacka$$ sewer main stream media.
___ Conning Americans that the demonstrators are ( mostly ) violent anarchists, whose ACTUAL sacrifices are for protection of the public's Constitutional powers being egregiously eroded. The REALITY of protecting OUR collective freedom - is being propagandized and twisted to represent exactly the opposite - to further the trend toward FASCISM ( corpoRAPE profiteering & warmongering ).
__ This country implicitly & explicitly, has stood for protection of the innocence ( until PROVEN guilty ) and Soverign Inalienable human rights -- and to deconstruct that is CRIMINAL
__ the protected right of dissent and presenting the gov't with justified points needing REDRESS, is now progressively being precluded through a conspiracy of corpoRAPE control ( bribery + ) of most political candidates & media. This then leaves VISIBLE DEMONSTRATIONS in places where the media will of necessity be -- as the last strands left available for MANDATORY public power sharing and participatory democracy.
Namaste
"The purpose that eludes you..."
The use of planted provocateurs? I don't support it, and doubt if it necessarily leads to everything you list.
_ S.o.r.r.y _, but your taxpayer status says that
___ y.o.u _ d.o ( & _ d.i.d ) _ s.u.p.p.o.r.t _ i.t.
These are chinks in the illusion, that we can see through. Of course VERY significant & costly efforts have been made to cover up the crimes, which I'm sure that you do know is another crime in itself.
The ultimate truth and consistency of the facts is purposely misdirected and interspersed with much dubious propaganda, false information, and very carefully planting of divisive points of view to preoccupy conspiracy theorists galore.
Just look at __ J F K _ & _ M L K ' s __ assassinations, the later being a better indication of proven ( in a court of law ) gov't conspiracy ( false witnesses & evidence, paid by FBI … etc ).
The amount of evidence that now links Iran-Contra, to October surprise Repuke_lican Coup d'état ( delay of release of Iranian Banks funds, until after Raygun's S[tolen]_election ), when coupled to thievery of '00 & '04 elections is massive ( beyond a reasonable doubt ).
Namaste
"_ S.o.r.r.y _, but your taxpayer status says that
___ y.o.u _ d.o ( & _ d.i.d ) _ s.u.p.p.o.r.t _ i.t."
Your's too. Unless you are a tax scofflaw. I was speaking from a personal view of course.
Sloganeering opportunity: The government takes *your* money and spends it the way *they* wish.
Well this appears to be a breakthrough for you, to acknowledge this.
Of course the "they", really isn't the gov't'$ "free" choice -- as they spend that money exactly the way that the gobblist global bankers and boards of directors of corpoRAPE America figure is BEST, which will net them the highest profit, power, control, and longest chance to reign supreme.
I on the other hand, never had any doubts about what the collective and psychopathic criminals in gov't and globalist headquarters are capable of.
Even our centuries old Presidents like ( Thomas Jefferson ), and particularly Andrew Jackson -- considered his successful beating down the international bankers his most important life's work.
As similarly, Lincoln would likely gravely have said, had he also avoided the Rothschild's assassins ( as had Jackson ). No doubt the stark reality of JFK's assassination, for actually doing similar -- by disemboweling central banker's profiteering of MIC spending & deficits -- places the historical onus in perspective.
So if this is stipulated, why on Earth do you oppose aligning with the preponderance of evidence, which shows beyond any reasonabel doubt -- what happened nearly 7 years ago, on 9_!_! ?
It's way beyond a truth commission, it's way beyond simple treason -- the widespread illegalities are nearly impossible to fully characterize, and the graduations of culpability between war criminals murdering, and mere thieves and extortionists is astronomical.
If the global economy's heart must be ripped from the dying body of international bankers, I say it's about time, and we all will immediately begin to profit from it's demise -- even if at first there are some upsets along the way.
Doing as South Africans did, by granting blanket immunity to those confessing ( for a short amnesty period ) -- the balancing act of survival and justice can we orchestrated. Some criminals of lower rank would avoid the consequences of their acts, but that price is "priceless" towards the life sentence convictions, upon those higher ups.
Namaste
"Well this appears to be a breakthrough for you, to acknowledge this."
It never came up. I would expected that you would have given me the benifit of the doubt, having not discussed it.
"I on the other hand, never had any doubts about what the collective and psychopathic criminals in gov't and globalist headquarters are capable of."
And while you may or may not be right about that capability, it's different from what they actually have done.
"why on Earth do you oppose aligning with the preponderance of evidence, which shows beyond any reasonabel doubt -- what happened nearly 7 years ago, on 9_!_! ?"
First, I am "in denial" on much of that specific evidence offered. So much of it doesn't stand up to examination. Molten steel.
Second, The disturbing and annoying pattern of ignoring debunking arguments while just repeating the original debunked arguments.
Third, while the official story has some problems, the imaginative convolutions required for the alternates to be true make them much more difficult to believe.
This is all I intend to say about it in this thread.
Lets pass a law at our City, County, and State levels that require all elected officials to represent their constituents or be removed from office. Representation would be majority of the vote of those the elected official represents.
If the constituents felt they were not being properly represented, they would vote on the issue, and if the majority disagreed with the elected official the official would have to reverse their vote, or signing or whatever action they took to mis-represent their constituents.
A vote of no confidence by the constituents of the duly elected official would be used to remove them from office. No more "four more years" of waiting to vote them out.
No more corporate whores, no more wars of aggression, no more suppression of civil liberties, no more spying on Americans, no more torture, no more renditions, no more BS.