Democracy Now!
http://www.democracynow.org/

UPDATE

Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous
and Nicole Salazar Released After Illegal Arrest at RNC

Goodman Charged with Obstruction; Felony Riot Charges
Pending Against Kouddous and Salazar

ST. PAUL--Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers
Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have all been
released from police custody in St. Paul following
their illegal arrest by Minneapolis Police on
Monday afternoon.

All three were violently manhandled by law enforcement
officers. Abdel Kouddous was slammed against a wall
and the ground, leaving his arms scraped and bloodied.
He sustained other injuries to his chest and back.
Salazar's violent arrest by baton-wielding officers,
during which she was slammed to the ground while
yelling, "I'm Press! Press!," resulted in her nose
bleeding, as well as causing facial pain. Goodman's
arm was violently yanked by police as she was arrested.

On Tuesday, Democracy Now! will broadcast video of
these arrests, as well as the broader police action.
These will also be available on: www.democracynow.org

Goodman was arrested while questioning police about
the unlawful detention of Kouddous and Salazar who
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 Sheriff Bob Fletcher told
Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar
were arrested on suspicion of rioting,
a felony. While the three have been released,
they all still face charges stemming from
their unlawful arrest. Kouddous and Salazar
face pending charges of suspicion of felony
riot, while Goodman has been officially
charged with obstruction of a legal process
and interference with a "peace officer."

Democracy Now! forcefully rejects all of
these charges as false and an attempt at
intimidation of these journalists.
We demand that the charges be immediately
and completely dropped.

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous
and Salazar and condemns this action by
Twin Cities' law enforcement as a clear
violation of the freedom of the press and
the First Amendment rights of
these journalists.

During the demonstration in which the
Democracy Now! team was arrested, law enforcement
officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets,
concussion grenades and excessive force against
protesters and journalists. Several dozen
demonstrators were also arrested during this
action, including a photographer for
the Associated Press.

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. The arrest of Goodman,
Kouddous and Salazar and the subsequent
criminal charges and threat of charges are
a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists.

Democracy Now! is a nationally-syndicated
public TV and radio program that airs on
over 700 radio and TV stations across the
US and the globe.

Video of Amy Goodman's Arrest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

Video of Nicole Salazar's Arrest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jreRSEQ_yg

http://www.democracynow.org/