Democracy Now! Amy Goodman arrested in St Paul

Democracy Now! Amy Goodman and two producers arrested at Republican National Convention

For update, go to: Amy Goodman grills St Paul police chief about arrests

ST PAUL -- Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and two Democracy Now! producers were arrested late Monday at the Republican National Convention, as journalists, filmmakers and bicyclists were roughly arrested prior to and during the first day of the convention. AP photographer Matt Rourke was also arrested while covering a protest.

Democracy Now! announced Tuesday that 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," Democracy Now! said in statement.

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," Democracy Now! said.

"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! said.

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.

The video of Amy Goodman's Arrest is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

Washington Post reporter Holly Watt interviewed Goodman after her arrest late Monday. Goodman was released after being held for over three hours, but is still waiting to hear when two other Democracy Now! producers, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, would be released.

"I was down on the convention floor interviewing delegates when I heard that two of our producers had been arrested," said Goodman. "I ran down to Jackson and 7th Street, where the police had moved in."

Goodman told the Washington Post that when she ran up to find out what was going on, she was also arrested.  "They seriously manhandled me and handcuffed my hands behind my back. The top ID [at the convention] is to get on the floor and the Secret Service ripped that off me. I had my Democracy Now! ID too. I was clearly a reporter."

Goodman, who was released after being charged with a misdemeanor, said that Salazar had been hurt in the face, while Kouddous had been thrown up against a wall and hurt his elbow.

"Nicole told me that as they moved in on three sides, she asked them 'How do I get away from this?' and they jumped on her."

Both Kouddous and Salazar could be held for up to 36 hours.

"One of the police kept shouting at me 'Shut up, shut up," she said. "It was extremely threatening."

In other arrests, Associated Press photographer Matt Rourke was arrested. Rourke was swept up as police moved in on a group of protesters in downtown St. Paul. Rourke was being held on a gross misdemeanor riot charge, according to St Paul police. David Ake, an AP assistant chief of bureau in Washington, said he was concerned by the arrest of Rourke, a Philadelphia-based photographer.

"Covering news is a constitutionally protected activity, and covering a riot is part of that coverage," Ake said. "Photographers should not be detained for covering breaking news."