Street Medics at RNC Need Your Help

Arrested Street Medic Speaks
Street Medics Victimized by Police Brutality and Unjustified Arrests at RNC
September 06, 2008 08:40PM EDT
R. Westlund - the author of this Press Release - is one of the Portland Street Medics who were arrested in Minneapolis-St. Paul this week during the Republican National Convention; is also a trained Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and eyewitness to some of the abuses and atrocities.
This Press Release includes the names of some of the arrested Street Medics and describes some of the details of the incidents from the battle zones, including Police attitudes and behavior plus the level of violence and injuries sustained by peaceful demonstrators at the DNC who were engaged in activities entirely protected by the US Constitution.
How to help:
We need to raise funds for legal defence - our losses are already in the thousands of dollars. If you can, please give generously here:
http://www.portland-or.net/street-medics/Donations-Portland-Street-Medics.html
If you would like to donate by other means (check, cash, supplies, etc), please get in touch with us at this address
street.medix@portland-or.net
so that we can make arrangements.
Many, many thanks to all of you for all the love and support we've been receiving!
Portland Street Medics
http://street-medics.portland-or.net/
Press Release
by R. Westlund
Portland Street Medics Victims of Police Brutality and Unjustified Arrests at RNC
Four members of the Portland Street Medic Collective who had travelled to the RNC to provide medical care to the radical community were arrested on 9-1-2008. All are now released pending court dates in October.
Before the arrest, the medics were following an unpermitted march around the outskirts of the boundaries of the Excel Center. The march stayed mostly to sidewalks and utilized several pedestrian trails.
After heading nearly a mile down a bike trail with a river on one side and an unpassable bank on the other side of the road, protesters found themselves under fire from police chemical weapons, having never received an order to disperse. The protestors and the medics fled back up the bike path while the onslaught of chemical weapons and differently-lethal weapons continued behind and next to the fleeing crowd. Police in riot gear ran past the tail end of the running group, continuing to launch weapons into the crowd, forcing those at the back to run through the already dispensed weapons.
The four medics helped with the evacuation of at least five patients, including one with a broken hand from being hit with police weaponry, one with an injured ankle from being hit with police weaponry who needed physical support to walk, and one who was blinded by pepper spray. This assistance left the medics at the very back of the crowd and among the worst victims of chemical weapons as they fled the scene.
At the corner of Ontario and Shepard the crowd was trapped in a park by lines of riot police and all people in the park, including those holding tickets to a concert and attempting to utilize the pedestrian bridges to get to the concert, were arrested. Those with misdemeanors were released later that night, while those being held on felonies were in jail for 48 hours.
Three of the Portland Medics, David Drew, Jr, Tracy Maier, and R. Westlund are charged with Misdemeanors in the 1st degree of “presence at an unlawful assembly and refusing to leave.” They face 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. The fourth, A. Oliver Hayes, is charged with a Gross Misdemeanor in the 3rd degree of rioting, and faces one year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
Later in the week, a group of six medics, three of them from Portland, were again the targets of police misconduct. A group of 350 people were being detained and preparing to be arrested on a bridge. The group included some legal observers from the NLG and 12 Street Medics. Medic Dispatch received news that the legal observers in the group had been released prior to the arrest, so the six medics headed out to see if they could negotiate with the police for the release of the medics.
Upon arrival at the scene one of the Portland Medics spoke with an officer and received a phone number for “Watch Command” to begin negotiations. On the first phone call, the medic explained the job of the medics and explained that they were asking for the release of the medics detained on the bridge. The medic gave WC their full legal name and offered to provide proof of credentials as an EMT. WC offered to give the request to the commander at the scene and then call the medics back.
After a reasonable amount of time, the medic called WC back to check on the status. WC questioned the location of the medics, and the medic confirmed that they were at the scene of the arrest before ending the phone call to wait for further news.
The medic attempted to speak with two officers on scene, but neither would produce a supervisor to do the negotiations. Moments after the second attempt, while the Medic Liaison was making another call to WC, one of the Portland Medics was pulled out of the crowd of observers and drug into the street by four police officers. The medic’s pockets were searched while the medic stated, “I do not consent to this search.” While still searching this medic, the commanding officer led four more officers into the crowd and pulled out the Medic Liaison, who had been on the phone moments before. The first medic was released back into the crowd after their pockets were searched.
The second medic was questioned as to why they were carrying a backpack and hip pack. The medic explained their status as an EMT and allowed officers to take their registration card as proof. Officers explained, “You reached your hands in your pockets, and that makes us nervous, so now we have to check what you’re up to.” The medic repeatedly denied consent for the search but officers began opening the medic kits regardless. An officer asked, “Where did you get all this stuff? Did you steal it off the ambulance?” The medic responded, “I’m not going to answer any more of your questions until I speak to my lawyer.” The officer replied, “In that case, you can pick your own shit up off the ground,” and began opening ziplock bags and dumping medical supplies on the ground.
During the search, officers repeatedly made threats about possible criminal charges against the medic, including “medical terrorism.” Officers dumped the entire contents of both medical kits on the ground, purposefully stepped on the equipment, read all the aftercare flyers and made threats about “testing the pepper spray” on this medic, and searched the medic’s body and clothing three separate times in an extremely rough and inappropriate manner. After running the medic’s ID through the system, the officers ordered to medic to clean up all the supplies, and accused the medic of littering when a small packet of vitamins was overlooked on the ground. Once the supplies were repacked, the medic was free to go.
These police actions were not based on any reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. The police were targeting the medics who were attempting to liaise with commanding officers and harassing them in order to reduce their power and prevent further negotiating tactics.
R. Westlund
Friday, September 5, 2008
______________

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

Operation Torch = Brave New Subways

Good old CBS News gives us grinning, cheerful Magee Hickey to happily tell us that EVERYONE seems to like the idea. Oh, really? Or is Magee using her media power to persuade us it's okay, (maybe even terrific!) for cops to roam the subways armed for mass slaughter. The result of this money drain will be more intimidation, harassment and bullying of innocent civilians by the most frightened, paranoid members of the NYPD who will have, just like those pathetic murderers of Sean Bell, itchy trigger fingers. As far as liking the idea, EVERYONE I KNOW knows the terrorists are in the White House, and M4 carbine rifles in our subways won't stop terrorists because the war is on hard working people. Which side are you on?
Machine Gun-Toting Officers To Patrol NYC Subway M4 Carbine Rifles, MP5 Submachine Guns & Bomb Sniffing Dogs Part Of New "Torch Team" Anti-Terror Efforts
NEW YORK (CBS) ― The NYPD is pulling out all the stops to beef up safety of the subways. On Thursday it launched a new anti-terror effort called "Operation Torch," but the cost of the program is raising some eyebrows.
The NYPD's new firepower consists of cops with Mp5 submachine guns, rifles, body armor and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Starting Thursday, five or six teams a day will patrol the major transit hubs in the city in the new program, all thanks to a 50 percent increase in a Homeland Security grant.
"Times Square, Grand Central, Penn Station … the locations you would expect, but not only those locations. The assignments will vary and will be following no discernible pattern," NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
[...] Similarly equipped NYPD units known as "Hercules" teams have been patrolling the ground on Wall Street, the Empire State Building and other city landmarks.
Everyone seems to like the idea of an added police presence, particularly to fight terrorism on subway platforms, but then when you mention the price tag -- $151 million – then people aren't so sure.
[...] Of the $151 million in the federal grant, $30 million will be used for this underground anti-terrorist program for the next two years.[...]
http://wcbstv.com/local/machine.guns.subway.2.707398.html

Protest Injustice in New York

This is a very sad day for those of us who hold the rule of law dear. In a bureaucratic legal maneuver, the decision was made to protect cops, even when their behavior has been murderous. How can this be? When cops become lawless, no one is safe in New York City.

COPS ACQUITTED ON ALL COUNTS
IN THE MURDER OF SEAN BELL

RALLY TODAY, 5:30 PM
Queens DA's Office, 125-01 Queens Blvd.
(between Hoover Ave and 82nd Ave.)

E or F train to Union Turnpike.

Once again the justice system has failed to protect the rights of people of color. A message is once more sent that law enforcement officers can act with impunity. Sean Bell joins a tragic list of those victimized by police, who have been denied justice. The names sound through history like drumbeats in a funeral procession: Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, Eleanor Bumpers, Alberta Spruill, Ousmane Zongo, and on and on and on.
Meanwhile, racism is seeping through the presidential selection process like a poisonous stain. The two phenomena, the police acquittal in our city and the insidious reluctance to believe that a Black man is "ready" for the White House, are related. The readiness to commit violence against people of the Mid East is not unconnected to the disregard for the lives of people of color here and across our country.
As United for Peace and JUSTICE, we must always respond to injustice. We must affirm that all human life is worthy, that injustice must always be confronted. That is why we urge everyone who can to come out to the protest rally today.

Police Attack Activists in the USA

Let's not forget that ranting on the Internet is an illusion of freedom. It can be taken away in a New York minute, so as long as anyone can be arrested for thought crimes, we must all resist injustice.

JUSTICE FOR ACTIVIST LARRY HALES!
DROP ALL CHARGES!
FIGHT POLICE BRUTALITY!

Drop the Racist Frame-up Charges Against Larry Hales NOW!
On Nov. 30, 2007 African-American police brutality and anti-war activist Larry Hales was arrested after 10 cops illegally busted into his home without a warrant and without permission, physically attacked him and handcuffed his partner to a chair. He is facing frame-up charges of "interfering with the police" and faces extended jail time for being the victim of a police attack.
Hales has been a primary organizer of a number of anti-imperialist and anti-racist events in Denver. He is a leader of the youth group FIST--Fight Imperialism, Stand Together; a founder of Colorado United Communities Against Police Brutality; and an organizer with the International Action Center and the Troops Out Now Coalition.
Hales is also a principal organizer in the Recreate 68 Committee, which is planning protests to counter the Democratic National Convention to be held in Denver in August.
At the time of the police attack, Hales and his partner Melissa Kleinman were housing a survivor of police brutality who was on parole. The man had been shot in the back by police and had filed a civil case against the Aurora police department. Hales had previously agreed to house visits by the man's parole officer, but only when the man was home.
[...] Police brutality is rampant in Denver, and this attack is part of the ongoing attacks on Black youth, from the Jena 6 to Sean Bell and countless cases of police brutality and repression throughout the country.
In addition, the police violence against such a well-known activist can only be seen as part of a continuing attempt to stifle political dissent. At a press conference in the days following the attack, Denver police brutality activist and survivor Shareef Aleem noted that police were attempting to neutralize activists related to the DNC protests. He stated: "In the last couple of years many of us involved in police accountability work have been attacked by the police and we know that when it happens we all have to stand up."
Hales now faces a pretrial hearing on April 25 and trial on May 21 on police "interference" charges. For the City Attorney to continue to prosecute these charges would constitute a serious miscarriage of justice and state harassment, standing jutice on its head by blaming the victim of police misconduct and brutality. It could be seen as an illegal, politically motivated abuse of process to chill political protest both against police brutality and at the upcoming DNC.
We demand that ALL charges be dropped immediately against Larry Hales, and that there be an immediate investigation into the police misconduct and violation of Larry Hales’ and Melissa Kleinman’s rights.
What you can do:
Add your name to the petition to drop the charges, available at http://www.troopsoutnow.org/larryhales/petition.html.
Contact City Attormey David R. Fine, Judge Larry Bohning and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and tell them you want the charges against Larry Hales to be dropped.
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/larryhales

No Torch Support from Football Captain

India footballer in Tibet protest
India's football captain Baichung Bhutia has refused to carry the Olympic torch during its journey through the Indian capital Delhi later this month.
He told the authorities the move was in protest against China's crackdown on Tibetan demonstrators, officials said.
[...] "I sympathise with the Tibetan cause. This is my way of standing by the people of Tibet and their struggle. I abhor violence in any form," Bhutia told the Times of India newspaper.
Bhutia is a Buddhist who comes from the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim which has long been claimed by China as its own territory.
The footballer told the newspaper he had not been requested by any group to pull out of the torch run.
"This is an absolutely personal decision. I feel what is happening in Tibet is not right and in my small way I should show my solidarity," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7323803.stm

Out-of-Control NYPD Creates Havoc at UN Free Tibet Demo

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TONIGHT 6-9:00 AT UNION SQUARE

'I'll kill you!' - Cops caught on video at UN Tibet protest
BY MICHAEL WHITE AND TINA MOORE

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Updated Friday, March 28th 2008, 12:33 AM
Cops were caught on video apparently striking a man who was lying on the ground and [the cops] threaten[ed] to kill two people at a Free Tibet rally in front of the United Nations this month.
[...] The amateur video of the March 14 demonstration appears to show one cop striking a protester with a nightstick repeatedly as the man lies on the ground.
[...] The cameraman, who yells out the names of cops wielding nightsticks as demonstrators march toward the UN, also apparently recorded a cop threatening to kill two people.
"I'll kill you!" a cop can be heard in the video. "I'll f------ kill you! What did I tell you guys? What did I tell you?"
The cop then appears to push one of the men onto a sidewalk. Another cop can be seen shoving protesters.
"While the tape shows a chaotic scene, nothing on it remotely justifies a threat to kill protesters and nothing justifies repeated hitting," Christopher Dunn, the New York Civil Liberties Union's associate legal director, said. "This is a blatant example of excessive force and the NYPD should investigate."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/27/2008-03-27_ill_kill_you__cops_caught_on_video_at_un.html?print=1&page=all

290+ Taser Deaths, So Far

I first learned about tasers when they were used at the WTO protests in Miami, 2003. All the reassuring words about "safety" sounded like bullshit, just like "one size fits all." Every day some new medical alert comes out saying an over the counter drug has unexpected side effects and/or can be lethal. So why should we believe that we are all constructed with the same tolerance for electricity jolts to our bodies? One thing we citizens must do is to educate young people: tasers are not a joke.
Father wants answers in son's death following Taser jolt
Mark Backlund was en route to get his parents at the airport when he was "uncooperative" after an accident.
By JIM ADAMS and EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune
Last update: January 17, 2008 - 4:19 PM
Authorities are investigating the death of a 29-year-old Fridley man shot with a Taser by state troopers, who said he had become "uncooperative'' after a rush-hour crash Tuesday evening.
The victim was identified by his father as Mark C. Backlund. Gordon Backlund said his son was on his way to pick up his parents at the airport after they had taken a short trip to Florida.
[...] Gordon Backlund said he was told his son's heart stopped. A 1996 graduate of Fridley High School, he had no heart conditions, his father said.
[...] Lt. Mark Peterson of the State Patrol wouldn't describe the uncooperative behavior. [my bold] Five troopers at the scene were placed on routine administrative leave while the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates.
[...] In the United States, more than 290 people have died since June 2001 after being struck by police Tasers, according to the human rights group Amnesty International. It said in October that only 25 of the 290 were armed, and none had firearms.
The group has called for a moratorium on Taser use until more research is done.
"We believe that they should be used as an alternative to lethal force," said Dori Dinsmore, the group's Midwest director, "not as a tool to ensure routine compliance." [...]
http://www.startribune.com/13841301.html

Good Samaritans Need Our Support

Here is opportunity to put your feet in the street for justice for all, also referred via The International Action Center:
SUPPORT MICHAEL TARIF WARREN AND EVELYN WARREN IN COURT
Attorneys Michael Tarif Warren and Evelyn Warren will be in Criminal Court fighting the false criminal charges put upon them by the New York Police Department in Brooklyn. They were brutalized while speaking up about brutality by a cop against a young Black man.
Here's their web site for how this civil right attorney and his activist wife found themselves victimized for defending a helpless citizen against police brutality: http://www.justiceforwarrens.org/
NEXT COURT DATE
Monday, December 17
Michael Tarif & Evelyn - (both!)
9:00 a.m.
Criminal Court, AP2, 6th Floor
120 Schermerhorn Street, (corner of Smith Street)
Brooklyn, New York - Take the 2,3,4 or 5 train to Borough Hall or the A or F train to Jay St./Borough Hall.