Posts tagged “American police state”

Why the RNC police actions require coverage

Well, based on the comments I’m getting here and over on the YouTube channel, it is clear that a lot of people don’t really understand why freedom of the press is important and why cops should think before they arrest everyone in sight.

Free Speech TV: Amy Goodman on checks and balances


Back by popular demand, Amy Goodman explains (shortly after being let out of jail) why we need the checks and balances of a free press in our society. Those of you that were dozing during high school civics class or are too far removed to remember this, please pay attention.

Note: the producers mentioned in this video have since been released from jail thanks to Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN).

Pps: You could still call the numbers listed to let them know that this behavior is unacceptable

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280 people, including Amy Goodman, arrested at RNC

Amy Goodman being arrested at the RNC

Tell NBC and CNN that they need to be covering this!

Well, the fun just keeps on coming up in Minneapolis-St. Paul. By fun, I of course mean the evisceration of any notion of freedom of assembly in the United States of America. 280 people were arrested yesterday during a police action outside the Republican National Convention that included the use of rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray. Among them were prominent independent journalist Amy Goodman, host of the radio program Democracy Now!, two of her producers and an Associated Press photographer, who were all covering the melee. All were released last night. Watch the video of Amy Goodman being arrested above. You can watch a clip of Democracy Now!’s coverage of their own arrests below.

Democracy Now! coverage of their own arrests


Tellingly, 120 charges are now pending following 280 arrests. This showcases the favorite tactic of the police: make an illegal arrest, remove unsightly protesters from the area for “security” purposes, and then release those people when they are safely out of earshot of anyone watching/listening. If that doesn’t stifle free speech, I don’t know what does.

Here is the transcript of the video above:

DENIS MOYNIHAN: Release the accredited journalists!

AMY GOODMAN: Where’s the reporters? Sir?

POLICE OFFICER: Ma’am, get back to the sidewalk.

DENIS MOYNIHAN: Release the accredited journalists now!

AMY GOODMAN: Sir, just one second. I was just running from the convention floor.

DENIS MOYNIHAN: You are violating my constitutional rights. You are violating their constitutional rights.

POLICE OFFICER: Sidewalk now!

AMY GOODMAN: Sir, I want to talk to your superior—

POLICE OFFICER: Arrest her?

AMY GOODMAN: Do not arrest me!

POLICE OFFICER: You’re under arrest.

POLICE OFFICER: Hold it right there. You’re under arrest. Stay right there. Back up. Back up.

POLICE OFFICER: Everybody, you cross this line, you’ll be under arrest, so don’t do it.

CROWD: Let her go!

DENIS MOYNIHAN: Amy, we are going to get you out of here very soon.

AMY GOODMAN: This is outrageous.

DENIS MOYNIHAN: Yes, we have people working on it.

AMY GOODMAN: Nicole has a bloody nose. And I think that Sergeant McKinty said he—they won’t put me on [inaudible] if Nicole’s not there.

Tell St. Paul and RNC officials that this oppression will not be tolerated!

I’m also happy to see that the storm troopers up north are keeping hydrated with their camouflage camelbaks. I wonder if those are police issued or if they were provided by the RNC? I’m sure it gets pretty sweaty in all that swat team gear and they have been running all over the city oppressing free thinkers.

Just think, this is all happening at a convention that is barely even occurring. What would have happened if Herr Bush and Herr Cheney had actually made their scheduled appearances? I shudder to think.

So, what else can I say? You must watch the video above, but better yet, watch all the footage (and read a full transcript) from this and the other unconstitutional arrests of these journalists over at Democracy Now! (permalink)

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The day thoughtcrime came to Minnesota

Peace groups preparing to protest the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis are being subjected to grotesque abuse of power by the police there. Honestly, I don’t know how many times this is going to happen before you hear about it on the evening news. I’m not sure you ever will. That’s why I have to pass this on to you, in the hopes that it might cause you to recognize the police as what they are: thugs. Don’t believe the hype that they sold you during your D.A.R.E. classes in elementary school. The policeman is not your friend. Just ask the “peaceful kids” who live in the “hippie house” that was raided:

In the house that had just been raided, those inside described how a team of roughly 25 officers had barged into their homes with masks and black swat gear, holding large semi-automatic rifles, and ordered them to lie on the floor, where they were handcuffed and ordered not to move. The officers refused to state why they were there and, until the very end, refused to show whether they had a search warrant. They were forced to remain on the floor for 45 minutes while the officers took away the laptops, computers, individual journals, and political materials kept in the house.Glenn Greenwald
Salon.com reporter

Peace protestors pre-emptively raided in Minneapolis before RNC.


As you sit at home on this national holiday, do yourself a favor and take a moment to read the full coverage over at BoingBoing. This is happening in our land of the free, our home of the brave. Excessive police action was taken at both major political party conventions in the last week. Our police state is so pervasive that I had to add a new category to this site called just that. The acceptance of police oppression must stop, but it cannot be stopped until you and me, Mr. and Mrs. America, demand that it stop.

Why haven’t we seen this in the mainstream media, specifically television news? Why haven’t we heard about this from the candidates? These are the questions you should be asking yourself and your elected representatives each and every day.

Happy Labor Day!

Salon.com coverage

I-Witness Video coverage

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