Please tell me you're just as outraged...

[marenpaisley]

If you haven't heard about the appalling use of police force against protesters and journalists in St. Paul outside of the Republican National Convention (and how would you? I was only able to hear about it from one news source today), go watch today's Democracy Now! edition. Why more media outlets have not reported on these atrocious events quite frankly astounds me.

Fair warning: some of the video shown is very disturbing, if you, like me, don't like to see officers in full riot gear shove to the ground a journalist with a video camera and arrest her with no just cause.

When did our country become China? I feel sick.

ETA:

And here is a link to the transcript and video download of the discussion between Amy Goodman and the two arrested Democracy Now! producers. This is the video which shows the disturbing image - through the POV of her video camera - of Nicole Salazar being knocked to the ground by police and screaming. It's hard to believe that this took place in St. Paul, Minnesota and not St. Petersburg, Russia. Absolutely appalling.

Comments

[seussian-logic.livejournal.com]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I remember seeing a news headline stating that Amy Goodman had been arrested, but it didn't really mean much to me at the time. What happened is outrageous, but sadly I can't say I'm at all surprised.

I intend to be a faithful watcher of Democracy Now! though. I also intend to link-farm this like crazy.

[marenpaisley.livejournal.com]

I intend to be a faithful watcher of Democracy Now! though. I also intend to link-farm this like crazy.

Ah, that makes me happy. I've been surprised at the number of negative comments I've seen directed toward Amy Goodman on YouTube and other pages; it seems some people are under the impression that she somehow was baiting the police and deserved to be arrested? My mind is really boggling over that one; all I can figure is that they didn't take the time to watch the news report and video evidence provided on the website.

Also causing some disbelief on my part is the idea that these "pre-emptive raids" on demonstrators and journalists before the convention started are somehow okay. No one will argue that legitimately (that is, with proper warrants) raiding those suspected of premeditated violence at a peaceful demonstration is wrong; that's the police's job, and anyone would commend their efforts. But this has gone far beyond the realm of acceptable. How many civil liberties are people willing to lose before they speak out about this, I wonder.

Hee, sorry - I'm preaching to the choir here. :D