Is This Freedom Of The Press?
September 3, 2008 by Anne Wayman
Filed under Jobs
(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Even if you’re a liberal you may not be familiar with Amy Goodman, originator of Democracy Now. By any measure she’s a reporter, a journalist and so are members of her organization. They regularly report political news on the radio, in print and on the web.
In spite of her unquestionable credentials as a legitimate reporter, Goodman and members of her staff were arrested at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul Minnesota. The arrests, in which some of the arresting officers slammed some against a wall even though they wore proper and easily identifiable press badges and credentials. In some cases, the so-called police troops uniforms lacked identifying information – both the names of the officers and who they worked for. When asked, they refused to identify themselves.
Goodman and crew were arrested with over 300 people, some also were press and most were citizens who wanted to protest various policies of the current administration and the Republican party in general.
Goodman was charged with obstruction, largely because she tried to stop the police from interference with her reporters. Felony Riot Charges Pending are pending against her two reporters.
I’m horrified and not sure how or well to protest. I’m also hoping that if the Dems did the same thing to conservative reporters I’d be equally horrified.
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I find this appalling. One of the reasons is this whole idea of “conspiracy to riot” felony charge stuff. They weren’t rioting. They weren’t planning to riot. It’s easy to see where this sort of mentality moves on to “You helped plan a protest, so felony charges for you!”
There is a difference between protest and riot. And last time I checked, the First Amendment still gave us the right to peaceably assemble, as well as petition the government for redress of grievances.
I’m sure I’ll get a lot of flack about this comment, but it needs to be said:
1. This video is a very short clip that shows nothing of what the group may or may not have done to warrant the onslaught of law enforcement. With out this knowledge, we don’t know, based on that video clip, if the use of force was justified or not. Distinguished career or not, if a person threatens an officer they deserve to get pushed to the ground and screamed at.
If the group did not do anything to provoke the cops in riot gear, then why is it edited out of the video? Seems illogical, to me, to not include the part of a video that would back up your claim of having done nothing wrong.
2. The video does not show any of this, but if what you wrote is true (”…largely because she tried to stop the police from interference with her reporters. “), then, yes, she completely deserves to be charged with obstruction.
You’re foolish to expect that interfering with a law enforcement official, and keeping them from doing his or her job, will not result in yourself being arrested. No matter what her intentions were, it sounds like she did something which is against the law and got charged for it. As a journalist, she of all people should be well aware of the boundaries you do not cross in a time like that.
Again, these observations are based on the 19-second long video that was posted as the basis for this blog post.
Your last sentence <>
Am I to take that to mean that it is your opinion that evil Republicans did this to Democrats? All I saw in the video were police. Did someone ask what their party affiliation was and I just missed it?
This happens to conservatives all the time and even people with only a “perceived” affiliation. Like the Fox reporter at the DNC who was pushed, shoved and cussed at while trying to ask protesters questions.
Funny, but when THAT video hit the internet, it was commented on and seen as the reporter getting what he deserved.
You’ll never convince me there isn’t a double standard and a biased media.
If only we had an administration that agreed, or a populace who understood the power grab that has been going on… sigh
Daniel, you’re right, the video doesn’t show much… it’s a reporter taking pics. If, however, you read the article that’s linked and if you had heard the two interviews I also heard you might not be so sure the police were simply doing their routine jobs… or you might wonder why the Republicans seem to determined to suppress or hide protest. Bush and team have kept people with anti-war slogans on t-shirts out of Bush rallys – something I can’t fathom, not can I fathom why we all aren’t rioting in the streets, including me, when this sort of thing happens over and over again.
Ever since 9-11 there’s been so much fear in the air that the Bill of Rights seems to mean so little.
Jeff B. yes, based on the interviews I heard and the articles I read, I believe the Republicans did decide to suppress protest at their convention. Post the link to the video of the fox guy getting pushed… who pushed him… yes, I did miss that one.
Sure the media is biased… in favor of corporate owners and has been since news became entertainment rather than news, charged with making a profit… sigh. But Jeff, do post the link here and I will look, I promise.
Meanwhile, I’m off to kayak this evening.
I agree with you 100%, regarding how pathetic we Americans are when we’re not rioting in the streets over the President squashing our rights. I even blogged about it on the 4th of July (http://www.deguia.net/2008/07/04/independence-day-2/).
Admittedly, I haven’t had the time to listen to interviews or read up a lot on this issue but it definitely seems like something I’ll want to learn more about.
The claims that Goodman was interfering with polices officers are ridiculous. The “law enforcement” officers were just standing there, and she was just calmly pleading with them.
Nice post… you can listen to Democracy Now at http://www.democracynow.org/... I listen early when I’m doing things that I can do with split attention.
libhomo, couldn’t agree more… and I like your site ;)