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No surprises here; more reports of heavy-handed police tactics are filtering in from the Twin Cities, where the NYPD has been consulting with local law enforcement on how to handle demonstrations during the Republican convention. Salon has a long story on police and federal officers ("in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn") raiding houses where protest organizers are suspected of staying, in some cases seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets.
The Times guesstimates over 250 people have been arrested in violent clashes with police, and the article features a terrific photo of an officer on his knees blasting pepper spray at demonstrators. Police are wielding long wooden sticks and have been firing “less lethal” 40-millimeter projectiles at crowds, beanbags, and concussion grenades. A prominent Democratic Party strategist, Donna Brazile, was hit by pepper spray while trying to circumvent protesters outside the convention hall. She tells the Times, “I got a strong whiff — just toxic — and my head and throat are still hurting." And members of the Republican delegation from Connecticut say they were shoved and spat upon by protesters near the convention hall.
Also among the arrested are two producers of Pacifica radio's Democracy Now!, which is broadcast from local affiliate WBAI. The two were swept up during a demonstration yesterday and charged with "suspicion of felony riot." When Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman tried to intervene in the arrests by explaining that they were press, she was also arrested, and charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer," according to Huffington Post. Video of Goodman's arrest after the jump.
Photo courtesy jcbehm and The Uptake.
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It's a battle of the fascists vs. the socialists!
Which inferior political system will win?
wow...this makes me really sad. maybe they arrested amy since she reps democracy now, not fascism now?
Sorry guys. As a life long democrat I have to say that all you are doing is making us look bad. In 2000 and 2004 at the start of the war these marches made sense but the republicans don't need any help failing this year. They are digging their own grave and these protests are fodder for the right wing talking heads who preach to millions of gullible americans every day. They will effectively link these demonstrations with Obama and peel away votes.
jeez. everybody expected a crackdown but the level and intensity of what's going on should make everybody ashamed of this police force, no matter what you think of the angle and messages of protesters. going after organizers, raiding media groups with submachine guns? that is some fearsome shit.
JGNY....you are very naive. DO your research. Agent Provocatuer. Many of those "protesters" are actually cops.
JGNY, there will always be violent protesters in the fringe, but protesting is an American tradition. You seem to be suggesting that all protesters should stop because republicans will spin it negatively?
The raids on houses of organizations that had planned protests prior to the protests or the breaking of any law at all is sad and should be treated as a serious breach in the personal freedoms of all citizens not the "necessary silencing" of a few fringe crazies.
Arresting reporters is a nice touch. Has anyone seen the USA lately? We appear to have lost it.
There is no legitimate purpose for public protests. Especially in the days of the internet where so much information and debate is easily accessible, public intimidation such as this should be illegal.
In my opinion, the police aren't doing enough to put a stop to this affront to our democracy. People should be free to make informed political decisions without an angry mob in their face.
Polemicist- do you not see the irony of calling protests an affront to our democracy? Since when it is it an affront to our democracy to have your voice heard on the street? Are you completely ignorant to the history of political change in America?
The only thing better than Polemicist's "comment" will be the string of people who will agree with it straight faced, and the even more hilarious string of people who'll miss the sarcasm.
Polemicist what the hell are you smokin?
Why is it that there are often protests at Republican gatherings and not at the Democratic gatherings?
Polemicist is obviously smoking McCain's cock.
Anybody who feels protesting should be squashed is welcome to move to China!!
The conventions should be done away with or at least make it one day. What's the point in having it for four days?
Is this going to turn out like the supposed "clashes" at the 2004 RNC, where almost 2,000 people were arrested and about 90% of the arrests were eventually thrown out? Where the police were not arresting people for things they had done, but as a preventive measure to get protesters out of the way? Where, according to a NYTimes article in 2005, at least one policeman incited violence to try to get more arrests to happen.
I can't help but wonder if the Republican National Committee gets assurances from the local police that they will overreact to make sure that protesters are portrayed as fringe elements, real justice and freedom of speech be damned.
hmmm. People should protest, of course. However protests are a tool that should be used wisely and when appropiate (when a tangible result can be measured). I really don't see this as an effecitve use of protest, it's results are negligable at best to counter-productive at worst.
As I said the republicans are going to self destruct and I feel that right now a better way to work against the the GOP is through the media and internet (see Palin's eventual withdrawal from race due to Daily Kos bloggers; much more effective then throwing up peace signs).
I've been reading that many of these people aren't being arrested, simply detained and that they can be held for 36 hours, thus taking the wind out of the potential protests. Idea being there would be no need to file false arrest warrants which would later be found to be outright lies.
"What's the point in having it for four days?"
Aren't most conventions four days long? Comic Con and the MLB fanfest were...
"Land of the Free Home of the Knave"
When the left act like a bunch of crazed asshats then they should be rounded up. Its part of the whole civil disorder thing. Deal with it or stay the fuck home.
last time I checked, lawful protest and anarchy are not the same thing. Vandalism and rioting are not protected by the Constitution, nor should they be. If these folks want change, why don't they roll up thier sleeves and make a difference by contributing their time, talent or money where it is needed most?
entropone, while there are credible reports of protesters resisting police aggression, i have not heard any reports of targeted property destruction or vandalism. it's the police who are rioting, and they're the ones with the deadly weapons.
a lot of these folks *are* spending their lives and their energy every day working for change in cities across America.
don't discredit them out of ignorance just because the newsmedia have been telling you bad things.
er, that was to Tgirl, but I, uh, addressed my comment to myself instead of her. (headslap).
wasn't everyone complaining about China's freedom of speech 2 weeks ago?
10,000 guilty criminal citizens (we,re all guilty until proven guilty) were arrested and tortured in 2004 in new york by the Fascist Security Forces(aka ny,s finest).
will you people forget about this 18th century "certain unalienable rights" bullshit? that's for pussies and faggots.
Amy deserved to be arrested. Come on! Look at the video. The cops told her to move and she was blatantly disregarding those instructions. Being a journalist does not give you a right to go wherever you want to go.
Actually, JMH - you have to comply with orders issued by the police when you are on public land. Ignore a lawful order on the street anywhere and you will be arrested.
but Polemicist, you're still assuming that the order was lawful. And I don't think the video gives us any indication either way.
So we get to go back to issue of, lawful or not, is it the right thing for the State to do, arresting journalists covering political issues?
Cause they can always find a justification to do so. Even if, after years of legal wrangling, they settle or admit fault or whatever.
entropone:
As you said, the video doesn't give enough information. I merely contested the notion that "being a cop does not give you a right to order people around".
Oooohh....are the poor wittle kids taking another beating from the police? Will they ever learn that if you fight the police, you will lose.
Seems like that shot of that douche running on top of the cop car summarizes what seems to be about 90% of the people who protest the RNC.
You expect to be taken seriously when doing stupid shit like that?
And trying to "hide" your identity?!? What's the point when your ass is going to get knocked flat anyway.
She is happy as a pig in shit. Now she has something to talk about for next 10 years on her radio program.
The Times' journalists are doing great job.
How long before we have our own Tiananman Square? I give it 3 years.