by Deb Cupples | This is the third time within a week that I've felt inspired to use my photo of our Constitution's First Amendment, which is etched in stone outside the Newseum building in Washington, DC. I figured I'd get some usage out of it, but this is beyond my wildest dreams.
That said, Democracy Now reports:
"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 unlawfuly 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 Sherrif Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting....
"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." (DN)
Below is a short video of Ms. Goodman's arrest, apparently taken by one of her co-workers. Unlike the violent protesters who attacked a busload of delegates, Ms. Goodman was not wearing a mask:
Some lawyers out there are going to be awfully busy, either calculating billable hours or scrambling to make time to do some pro-bono work.
Over the weekend -- before the Republican National Convention even began -- Minnesota police raided multiple homes, occupied by people who were suspect of planning protests. Salon's Glenn Greenwald and Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher were on the scene and interviewing people on video. (See here and here).
To some minds, I suppose an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Such minds likely weren't focusing on the First Amendment "right of the people to peaceably assemble."
During the Democratic National Convention in Denver, an ABC News producer was roughly arrested for trying to videotape (from a public sidewalk) Democratic senators arriving at or leaving a secret meeting with lobbyists or donors. (ABC)
At least the Democrats' convention organizers don't appear to have arranged for preemptive arrests -- though they did reportedly create "Free Speech Zones": designated spots not too near the convention center where people could wave signs and chant slogans without getting much notice.
Yes, we've heard of that before: the current President Bush is known for setting up "Free Speech Zones," because either he (personally) perfers to not see people say unpleasant things about him -- or he prefers that TV cameras don't capture such moments.
Has our First Amendment been falling out of fashion -- following the fate of bustles, corsets, and hatpins?
Say what you will about Bill Clinton (and I do have policy-related complaints), but when he was President, he seemed pretty good at respecting American citizens' constitutional right to openly disagree with -- or even insult -- him.
Memeorandum has commentary.
Other Buck Naked Politics Posts:
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Just a reminder that Amy Goodman can be heard daily at 1pm and 8pm on WGOT-LP, 94.7fm in Gainesville. Today's show is especially intriguing in consideration of recent events, of course...
Posted by: Fred Sowder | September 02, 2008 at 04:45 PM