Twin Cities RNC: Don’t Watch, Don’t Tell

Massive, warrantless raids on peace protesters in Minneapolis, ahead of RNC. – Boing Boing

Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com reports that protesters in Minneapolis, where the Republican National Convention will soon begin, have been subjected to massive, pre-emtpive police raids. Those arrested include members of Food not Bombs, the “RNC Welcoming Committee,” and a group that uses video to protect civil liberties by documenting police activity at first amendment events.

See also: Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis (Salon.com)

The post at Boing Boing ends with an as-it-happened report from an I-Witness Video staff person describing the bullying tactics of St. Paul police and the probably reason why:

“For those that don’t know, I-Witness Video was remarkably successful in exposing police misconduct and outright perjury by police during the 2004 RNC. Out of 1800 arrests, at least 400 were overturned based solely on video evidence which contradicted sworn statements which were fabricated by police officers. It seems that the house arrest we are now under and the possible threat of the seizure of our computers and video cameras is a result of the 2004 success.”

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Fred First holds masters degrees in Vertebrate Zoology and physical therapy, and has been a biology teacher and physical therapist by profession. He moved to southwest Virginia in 1975 and to Floyd County in 1997. He maintains a daily photo-blog, broadcasts essays on the Roanoke NPR station, and contributes regular columns for the Floyd Press and Roanoke's Star Sentinel. His two non-fiction books, Slow Road Home and his recent What We Hold in Our Hands, celebrate the riches that we possess in our families and communities, our natural bounty, social capital and Appalachian cultures old and new. He has served on the Jacksonville Center Board of Directors and is newly active in the Sustain Floyd organization. He lives in northeastern Floyd County on the headwaters of the Roanoke River.

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  1. It appears that due to the violence now happening outside the RNC by the “RNC Welcoming committee”, breaking windows, truning over trash, smashing car windows, that maybe the police were justified. I’m sure you do not condone this type of behavior by socalled peaceful citizens.

  2. There are many instances documented to date when those arrested were peaceful and within the law, but they don’t put those arrests (or pressures barely short of arrest) on national television on some stations. Those who use aggression and destruction to make their point harm their cause. And there is one to be made visible and heard at the RNC. And as I understand it, peaceful protest is within our rights and obligations as citizens.

  3. 09-03-2008 520PM
    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
    http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/1/amy_goodman_and_two_democracy_now_producers_unlawfully_arrested_at_the_rnc

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