Wednesday, September 10, 2008

42 journalists arrested at the RNC

According to Anna Pratt of the Minnesota Independent, at least 42 journalists were bagged by the cops at the Republican National Convention:
Of the 800-plus people who were arrested or detained in conjunction with RNC protests, a good chunk of them — 42, by our count — were members of the news media. Media representatives in town to cover the events, from both big and small presses, were slapped with citations and pending charges ranging in severity, including unlawful assembly, obstructing the legal process, misdemeanor interference with a peace officer and felony to riot plus other riot pretenses.
Among them were the managing editor of Variety, two AP reporters and one AP photographer, several journalism students, and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, along with a host of other journalists. People are still trying to get their confiscated items back from the police.

2 comments:

Ishmael said...

The people of Saint Paul need to march on the capital and demand an investigation.

Alaskan Dave Down Under said...

Ish: If they march, they'll just get arrested :(

Of the 800-plus people who were arrested or detained in conjunction with RNC protests, a good chunk of them — 42, by our count — were members of the news media. Media representatives in town to cover the events, from both big and small presses, were slapped with citations and pending charges ranging in severity, including unlawful assembly, obstructing the legal process, misdemeanor interference with a peace officer and felony to riot plus other riot pretenses.

Like WTF!!??!!?! Isn't freedom of the press and the right to assemble in the Bill of Rights? Oh, wait a sec Patriot Act I, II, the Vp's office, and the SCOTUS pretty much did away with that ole useless, no longer relevant document.

Be afraid... be very afraid.