FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.democracynow.org
September 1, 2024
Contact:
Dennis Moynihan
Mike Burke
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.
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 Sherrif 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 Amenmdent 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.
Technorati Tags: Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Nicole Salazar, journalism, freedom of the press, police riot, excessive use of force, jackbooted thugs
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Peter (the Other) 09.02.08 at 12:50
It amazes me how well the press is managed these days. From here, visiting Japan, there is not a single peep about any kind of demonstrations going on at the GOP convention. Not on CNN, BBC or in the Herald Tribune (ersatz NYT).
Frank Paynter 09.02.08 at 9:46
More than 10,000 people were in the streets yesterday demonstrating peacefully. A couple of hundred chose confrontation and violence against property. The police encountered them with indiscriminate clubbing, tear gas, rubber bullets, and concussion grenades.
The number demonstrating was low for a combination of reasons including the Republicans’ on again/off again schedule and the intense heat. Up to 50,000 had been expected but most chose to lay low and watch the unfolding Palin soap opera indoors in air conditioning.
Peter (the other) 09.02.08 at 7:00
Man, if 10k protested in any East Bejesusstan, we would be hearing about it non-stop. Thanks for being there, Frank.