Amy Goodman, one of four journalists arrested at an anti-RNC protest, tells her story

Amy Goodman, the host of the popular radio and television program "Democracy Now!" was at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on Monday, interviewing members of the Alaska delegation, when her phone rang with alarming news.

“I got a call that two of our producers had been bloodied by the police,” Goodman said. “I did not stop running until I got to where they were.”

The producers, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, had been reporting on the protest of the convention that was the unfolding several blocks away. Most of the estimated 10,000 people in the march were peaceful. But, according to police, a group of about 200 had fractured off and were breaking windows, slashing tires and harassing delegates.

Police arrested 286 people, according to the Associated Press. Kouddous and Salazar were among them. Matt Rourke, a photographer with the AP, was also arrested.

News gathering is a constitutionally protected activity in the United States. But although Kouddous, Salazar and Rourke were wearing credentials that identified them as members of the press, they were held on riot charges. Salazar suffered a bloody nose after being dragged, face-down on the ground, according a statement released by "Democracy Now!"

When Goodman arrived at the scene 20 minutes later, she asked the riot police if she could see her producers, who were being held in police vehicles. “I just said, 'I want to talk to a commander,' ” said Goodman, who had her own press badge slung around her neck. “They didn’t skip a beat; they just started arresting me.”

The scene was captured on video -- a clip that was one the most-viewed videos on YouTube.com on Tuesday. In it, Goodman is seen pleading with the police while her arms are twisted behind her back and into plastic handcuffs.

All four journalists were released hours after being arrested. Goodman was officially charged with obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer.

"Democracy Now!" plans to continue its coverage of the protests despite the police presence, which Goodman described as "overly aggressive."

"I was very angry. This was a violation of my rights," Goodman said. "But
it’s so much bigger than us. When the press is shut down, it's closing the eyes and ears of a critical watchdog in a democratic society."

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo of Amy Goodman by Michael Keel via Democracy Now!

Comments

[rural american]

I doubt this post will appear, as the hypocrites in the media will "handcuff" it.

Kate Linthicun's lamentation per Amy Goodman's appropriate arrest reveals the abject hypocrisy of the leftist media: Here have Goodman demanding accountability whilst in the process of perpetrating mischief herself. She says,"it's so much bigger than us..."

That's right, the corruption of journalistic integrity by the leftist propaganda cabal (CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Rueters, AP) is big news -- interesting that this glaring issue is somehow ignored while sexist bigots are allowed to unfairly harass Sarah Palin.

[Russ Miller, Ft. Worth, Tx.]

Why can't the liberals allow the Republican Convention to proceed without t heir disruptions? I don't recall the conservatives trying to disrupt the Democratic Convention. What are they afraid of? Freedom of speech , it appears, is only permitted to the liberals (at least in their minds).

[Jesse Tomblin]

Why is the Media if it is fair and unbiased calling Democracy Now a protest group? Any group who destroys property while doing so called protesting is not a protest group they are Terrorists plain and simple.Those who run with Terrorists should expect to get into trouble.I'll bet the video did not show those people destorying property or fighting with those who were trying to stop their rampage.If you so called reporters would call these slimeballs terrorists as you should them maybe people would stop these slimeballs from getting out of hand before they start.No one who is carrying out a peaceful protest needs the weapons that police rounded up prior to the convention start but you so called reporters did not report them as terrorist as you should have so it looks like you got the bloody nose you deserved.

[John]

Ummm...they told her to leave and she didn't leave. Goodwin is being disingenious when she says "they didn't skip a beat." The mistake the police made in arresting her colleagues was recongized and corrected later, which would have happened without her wading into the police line as she did.

Goodwin should apologize for her arrogance and distracting the police when they had more important things to worry about than aggravated journalists.

[C. Hammer]

I found it hard to believe that Amy Goodman would lie to the extent she did when being interviewed after her release. The widely available video of her arrest shows the police clearly ordering her to go to the side walk three times before she tried to push past the officer and was then arrested.

[Pete]

I couldn't be happier that four journalists were arrested as part of a police crackdown on violent protesters.

Tell me again why the police had to get involved in the first place?? Oh yeh, protesters started breaking windows and slashing tires. Last time I checked, those actions were against the law. And perpetrators should be arrested. The fact that four journalists were there, probably egging on the protesters with their cameras and giving protesters their 15 minutes of fame by making their films available to the evening news, should have consequences. And I don't think it's the job of the police, in the heat of "battle", to sort out the perpetrators. Let the judge do that.

Hope the four journalists spent a nice night in jail.

[John Crandell]

Amy, my fondest hope is that you become rich, beyond your wildest dreams!

[rural american]

Amy Goodman is an embarrassment to the journalism profession. Yes we are burdened with institutionalized ideology all through our college days, but when we graduate and go to work, there should be an ethical prerogative for our work. Goodman and most at the LA Times have abrogated ethics, much to the detriment of the LA Times bottom line. Won't you people ever learn -- honesty actually pays better than dishonesty.

[Larry Saltzman]

The arrest of the journalists was an outrage. The police were completely out of control. There were admittedly a small group of protesters wrongly using violence. But that was no reason to take it out on journalists, peaceful protesters, and innocent bystanders. The people of the Minneapolis St. Paul region should be ashamed of their police as they systematically shredded the Constitution.

[bimplebean]

This is not 'liberal disruption.' This is the arrest and imprisonment of reporters. It doesn't matter whether you perceive the media to be leftist, rightist or whatever. Their activities in gathering news are CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED.

[Thomas Ellis]

So now the Republikans, like those posting here, are rationalizing the arrest and jailing of journalists who disagree with them.

This is a criminal outrage in what used to be a democracy--and the fact that anyone who calls him/herself "American" would justify such an outrage against press freedom shows just how far we've fallen since Congress and a docile media allowed the Bush regime to hijack the White House with impunity back in 2000.

Welcome to the Fourth Reich!

[Fifi G in Northern MN]

To rural american: How is inquiring after her journalists and asking to see a commander "perpetrating mischief?" We MUST have freedom of the press! Since last week, dozens of independent journalists attempting to cover the RNC have been arrested and had their video equipment confiscated in "pre-emptive arrests" using conspiracy to riot as pretext. Further, these raids occurred in private dwellings with only a warrant. News-gathering organizations are protected by the Constitution (remember the Constitution?) and police must have a subpeona, not a warrant in order to confiscate equipment related to the jornalistic process. And Mr. Miller! Obviously you didn't watch the DNC! There WERE "conservative" (anti-abortion groups, anti- gay rights etc) protestors there! There were also much larger numbers of the folks you label "liberal" protesting the policies of the gutless, pandering Democrats we elected in 2006. By, the way some of them got arrested too, but the tactics being used at the RNC are much more heavy handed. People just like you are the reason Hitler went so far!

[UT Reader]

There was 'disruption' at the Democratic Convention....but there it was called 'REPORTING'.

[feloneouscat]

"Here have Goodman demanding accountability whilst in the process of perpetrating mischief herself."

What mischief? As a member of the press she asked to see the commander. Instead, she was arrested. What she did was reasonable, what the police did was unreasonable.

This was an arbitrary roundup of people without cause or warrant. Did she show probable cause? No. Did she attack anyone? No. All she did was ask a question.

Apparently, in St. Paul, it is illegal to ask questions. The law be damned!

[Dan]

Although I enjoy Ms. Goodman's show, (the more opinions voiced, the better) I must admit that she brought the arrest on herself.
The police were worried about a riot starting, and plainly ordered her to return to the sidewalk several times.
The officer even escorted her back to the sidewalk and let her go. She turned around and tried to pass him again. That is when she was arrested.
If she had returned to the sidewalk and calmed down, she would not have been arrested.
I understand her frustration and anger, but her press credentials do not allow her to push through a police line without consequences.
In a high stress situation, adding anger and tension will only worsen things.
She chose to ignore the warnings, and was arrested.
She will be fine, and the world will hear her story.

[DB]

Everyone keeps saying we are a democracy we are not. We are actually a republic because we elect representatives and the speak for us. So as much as we would like to think we are the leaders in democracy we are not. Arresting reporters for doing their job is wrong but interfering with the police doing their job is also wrong. I hope one day we will finanlly get down to the issues of our country and stop bad mouthing the candidates and find out what they are going to do to make our country safe, prosperous and regain the respect we once had in the world.

[Dave]

Dan -- you seem like a reasonable person, and you make a reasonable point about the substantial risk in crossing a police line. But why focus on Ms. Goodman's actions? Why not demand an explanation for the arrest of Goodman's producers? It was the police's initial abuse of force (some might say, an *illegal* use of force) that caused Ms. Goodman to engage in civil disobedience in the first place.

[Julian]

Wow. You folks who got the first posts in here are insane. Here's a little experiment: imagine you're cooking in your kitchen, your children playing outside, when you here one of them yell in fright. You run out and see police officers binding them in handcuffs and throwing them in the back of a van, your daughter being dragged across the street face down by the hair, leaving a trail of blood. You walk over and, calmly as you can, ask to speak to your children. The cop ignores you. You ask again, he turns to look at you severely then turns away pushing you lightly but saying nothing. You ask why they're being arrested and he tells you to stand away from him. You push past him to tell your children you'll get them out of this and three cops descend on and arrest you.

Does that sound like nothing? Does that seem like a fair scenario to you? That, except for her producers not being her children but her friends and colleagues, is what happened here. This was illegal. In every way that police action can be, this was illegal. This is as illegal as if they had shot her in the street. You people who posted that it was her fault, that the "liberal media" is criminal and deserves this treatment, you should be ashamed. I feel dirty just thinking that you are my countrymen. You don't deserve the rights you were born to and, apparently, you are too blinded by party loyalty to even jump to their defense. Your ancestors risked and bled and died to give you the freedom you live with everyday, and you spit on their sacrifice and mock your liberty for the cheap and empty a cohesive party message. You people are self-righteous, deluded twits, and when the day comes that some cop decides to piss on your feet for shits and giggles, I hope you have the good grace to be ashamed of what you wrote here today.

[jojo]

judging by the wingnut comments- far too many of you Rethuglicans still belong in fascist republics NOT healthy democracies.....
What is it about police states that fascinates you people anyway? Were you ALL beaten by your dads when you were kids?

[Libby]

If a "reporter" is disruptive and interfering with law enforcement in the midst of violent protest, the reporter has broken the law.

How about the rights of the thousands who were being terrorized by the anarchists. Let LE do their job and just report if that is what you claim is your job.

[Joe]

To all you whining about the "Liberal Media" and being happy about the police arresting journalists, well you would not even know about this incident if it weren't for journalists.

[Patrick]

I could not believe the behavior of this journalist, The police did what they were suppose to do, they gave her three repeated commands to get on the sidewalk, and she did not even care, and so what did she think they were not going to take action, boy has she done lost her mind? it was a very fragile situation there and the police are not going to take any chances, Amy stop crying and grow up, had you just left, you would have been just fine, you can't just do what you please, I can't believe the immaturity that these people are displaying.

[SimonKenton]

Someone else here said it best:

"...Press credentials do not allow her to push through a police line without consequences."

End. Of. Story.

She was not engaging in Constitutionally protected behavior. She was disobeying a reasonable, lawful order and distracting officers from their duty.

But honestly, I think she cracks a little smile when the officer finally grabs her. Like it was her plan all along anyway.

[Dan]

Dave,
I do not know the circumstances of the arrest of her producers. It seems like they were not charged with anything. It is likely that the police acted incorrectly in their arrest, but I do not know.
I am gusessing that when the police began arresting the destructive protesters, there was probably chaos, and the producers were mistakenly rounded up with the guilty parties. But once again, this is only conjecture.
Police are of course humans, and subject to the same adrenalin, fear, and anger that all people experience.
I am not excusing their actions, as I believe those with athority and weapons need to be held to a higher standard than others.
If misconduct occurred, which seems likely, then those officers involved should face the consequences, and should perhaps be removed from crowd control duties.
My comment was in response to Ms. Goodman's being "outraged" by her own arrest.
Let me add that I have alot of respect for Ms. Goodman. Her radio show is open and honest. And while I don't always agree with her positions, I am grateful that her show often publicizes facts and perspectives that are ignored by more mainstream "news" shows.
She did what she felt was right, and for that she deserves respect, even if I disagree somewhat with her methods.

[arvin]

There is no longer a liberal press in this country. A free press went out of the window when media conglomeration took over this country and the bottom dollar deconstructed freedom of the press and the first amendment. Where was the liberal press during the build up of the Iraq war? Absent. No where to be seen but heard through their drum beating for the war. With the close alignment of the media and the leadership of this country, both Democrats and Republican, we are fortunate to have people like Amy Goodman and shows like Democracy Now to stop the growing ignorance and complacency of this country. She is beyond the label, "PRESS". She speaks the truth and truth is becoming harder for people to swallow.