DEMOCRACY NOW! ACTION ALERT

=== DROP THE CHARGES - DEMOCRACY NOW!

ACTION ALERT - FORWARD WIDELY ===

On the web: http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/3/call_to_action

*Call to Action on Behalf of DN! Journalists Facing Charges for Reporting on the Republican National Convention*

Today it is critical that you make your voice heard in the Ramsey County Attorney and St. Paul City Attorney offices. Demand that they drop all pending and current charges against journalists arrested while reporting on protests outside the Republican National Conventions.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s office is in the process of deciding whether or not to press felony P.C. (probable cause) riot charges against Democracy Now! Producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Please contact Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner by all means possible to demand that her office not press charges against Kouddous and Salazar.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner

RCA@co.ramsey.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org) 651-266-3222

Susan Gaertner for Governor

info@susangaertner.com (cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org) (612) 978-8625 (612) 804-6156

The St. Paul City Attorney's office has already charged Amy Goodman with misdemeanor obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer. Contact St. Paul City Attorney John Choi by all means possible to demand that the charges against Goodman be dropped immediately.

St. Paul City Attorney John Choi

john.choi@ci.stpaul.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org) (651) 266-8710

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.

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, as was a photographer for the Associated Press.

*IMPORTANT*

Be sure to cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org on all emails so that our team can deliver print outs of your messages to the St. Paul City Attorney and Ramsey County Attorney offices.

*RELATED*

Amy Goodman Arrest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

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

Media coverage of RNC arrests: http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/3/media

Free Press campaign: http://www.freepress.net/

Amy Goodman Arrested at RNC

There is no way these police actions are legal. They seem to be on a wilding as they storm through houses looking for ... leaflets? Among the victims, Amy Goodman of DemocracyNow! and you can see the brief video below:

ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St.
Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfully detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar 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 being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.
Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to:
Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman's office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).
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 they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. 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. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation's leading independent news outlet.
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