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 | | Citizen holding sign of journalist being spray with pepper spray |
This morning about a dozen journalists, including the Democracy Now! team, and some citizen advocates went to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's Office and County Attorney Susan Gaertner's office to deliver some 50,000 signatures collected to protest the arrests of journalists covering the Republic National Convention. The signature drive was organized by Free Press, a national media reform organization.
Reporters had the opportunity to ask questions about the arrested journalists, and policies regarding arresting journalists with credentials and who identify themselves as journalists prior to arrest. St. Paul City Attorney John Choi said it appeared there were no clear policies on the treatment of journalists in situations such as demonstrations but that he would investigate it. (The treatment of journalists is covered under the First Amendment, but rules have changed following passage of the Patriot Act.)
Reporters also focused attention on the most serious charges against journalists, the supposed felony charges for "probable cause for conspiracy to riot" against the two DN! producers and the misdemeanor charge against Amy Goodman, as well as the journalists detained prior to the start of the convention. The city attorney offered no specifics on the misdemeanor charge against Goodman and that more information would soon be available. He said that other charges against journalists had been filed by the county and that more information would be available in a few days. When the group went to Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner's office to deliver copies of the same petitions and ask about the felony charges, the attorney's assistant said they had no information to share since the city filed the charges. Those with pending felony charges left the offices without further details. Take action | | City attorney Choi |
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. Democracy Now! Host Amy Goodman was arrested while questioning police about the unlawful detention of Producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, who were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. 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 at co.ramsey.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
651-266-3222 Susan Gaertner for Governor
info at susangaertner.com (cc: dropthecharges at 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 at ci.stpaul.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org) (651) 266-8710 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[at]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.
 Kathlyn Stone is a Twin Cities, Minnesota-based independent journalist who has covered general news, and business, international trade, and health care news and policies for public and professional audiences since 1980.
Articles by Kathlyn Stone at MWC News http://mwcnews.net/KathlynStone |
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