Why We Were Falsely Arrested - Amy Goodman

[BridgeTheGap]

St. Paul, Minnesota - 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.

http://www.truthout.org/article/why-we-were-falsely-arrested

[raccoon]

1. Rec'd and

:kick:

[Locrian]

2. shock doctrine

The enevitable result of a corporate/fascist society FORCING their people to behave. The legacy of S. America, China, Poland, Russia is that totaly "free capitalism" is not democratic. It is rule by the rich at the expense of the rest.

It ALWAYS leads to brutallity as it is INCOMPATIBLE with freedom and democracy.



Read Naomi Klen's Disater Capitalism / Shock Doctrine. It is happening here right now.

[yurbud]

4. the result is always the same though: collapse of fascism when people realize they've been screwed

[Blue_Tires]

3. k+r

[uppityperson]

5. k&r, just read this in my local paper. Incredible.

[groovedaddy]

6. What went on OUTSIDE the g.o.p. convention was far more important than what

went on inside. Shades of fascism.