Comments on: The anatomy of a march: Veterans for Peace event ends in arrests

By: T. Kells

T. Kells — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:17:45 +0000

Great coverage! Incredible that as all this is going on, Wolf Blitzer on CNN is calmly reporting on the RNC without mentioning the breaking news outside.

Here is a growing list of information on the arrests, if there is anyone with something more to add please do.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/protesters-face-...

By: steven

steven — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:19:54 +0000

Democracy Now!
September 1, 2008.

ST. PAUL, MN — Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time.

Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly 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 Sheriff 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.

By: steven

steven — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:16:32 +0000

Katy, the problem with your comment is our men and women are not fighting to protect our 1st and 4th amendment rights, they are fighting for world domination, oil, and strategic control in a region that currently has the majority of natural reserves. These wars are not even about fighting terrorists, we are now fighting people who want their country back and us gone.

We no longer have rights in this country, so welcome to the 4th Reich. The Nazis and Corporations who supported built their new financial Reich. The Rise of the 4th Reich by Jim Maars will explain a lot if you want to know more how this country was taken over through a slow process before and since WWII. Wake up, the New World Order has arrived.

The left/right is a false paradigm used to divide the people, even the Nazis knew we were, and they have done so, while we argue over small issues, the Democrats and Republicans are carving up this country and selling us down the river.

By: Gust

Gust — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:02:36 +0000

Vets for Peace is an organization made up of veterans from W W II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and our current war in Iraq. I dropped out of college and joined the Marine Corps during the war in Vietnam. I served my country honorably in combat, and was not a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. I sacrificed my youth in a war that should never have happened.I did not oppose war until my oldest son was born 25 years ago. It was then I realized the loss involved in war. I returned to Vietnam 9 years ago. It is a beautiful country that continues to suffer after so many years as the result of war. I love my country. I am a member of Vets for Peace. There has to be a better way to live on this earth. I am not a cockroach.

By: katy zatsick

katy zatsick — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:15:54 +0000

My son served in Iraq loosing his eye and arm to protect our 1st and 4th amendment rights. Since coming to St paul I have seen nothing but violations of these rights.

I cannot believe the behaviors I have encountered. It is much worse than what we experienced when we marched against the Vietnam War

By: Raoul

Raoul — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:30:41 +0000

Veterans For Peace are really the Vietnam Veterans Against the War from the 60's but they are so despised by other veterans they have to hide under the VFP rock like the cockroaches they are.

By: Kevin Lee Hammond

Kevin Lee Hammond — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:07:09 +0000

I have all the respect in the world for the vets for peace. medea Benjamin however is not to be trusted for a single, solitary minute. especially when she takes large sums of money from the rockefeller and ford foundations the 2 largest organs of the military industrial compllex. and wont touch 9/11 with a ten foot pole. And it will behove anyone whoo REALLY wants "peace" to get seriously involved in the 9/11 Truth movement.
www.fightthenwo.org
www.wearechange.org
www.truthaction.org

By: c. wats

c. wats — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:18:44 +0000

to think these protesters are anything but the best americans is naive. in a world gone mad cops are now the bummer. so sad

thank God journalism taking on the system isn't completely dead
http://current.com/items/89225401_unconventiona...