Respected American journalists arrested at Republican Convention
Three TV news producers covering demonstration outside convention center arrested on "suspicion of rioting"
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Sept. 1— Minneapolis. Noted American radio and TV journalist, Amy Goodman was arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. today local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Goodman is the host of the Democracy Now! Cable TV channel, which is aired on more than 700 outlets across the U.S. and the world.
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two colleagues who were being unlawfully detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.
During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force, according to witnesses. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.
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.
Several other police actions have occurred in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, which is currently hosting the Republican National Convention. They have included home invasions by riot police of groups suspected of having “explosives and bomb-making equipment.” Interviews with those suspects revealed that no contraband or threatening substances or equipment were found. However, police refused to show a search warrant, forced the occupants of the homes to lie face down on the floor, then left without explanation.
Democracy Now! stated that the arrest of its Ms. Goodman and the other producers are part of a deliberate, excessive reaction and intimidation of independent media covering the Republican Convention.
View video of the arrest
