The police violence against peaceful exercising their First Amendment rights at the Republican convention in the Twin Cities is an eerie echo of the New York City police tactics agains protesters at the 2004 Republican convention.

 

What is it about Republicans?  They denigrate and defy the Constitution and human rights laws 

 

Like their president Dubya Bush and his regime, they think that the Constitution is "just a goddamned piece of paper!"

 

Law enforcement in the Twin Cities seemed out of control even targeting credentialed press members.

 

Democracy Now reports: "Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have all been released from police custody in St. Paul following their illegal arrest by Minneapolis Police on Monday afternoon.

"All three were violently manhandled by law enforcement officers. Abdel Kouddous was slammed against a wall and the ground, leaving his arms scraped and bloodied. He sustained other injuries to his chest and back. Salazar's violent arrest by baton-wielding officers, during which she was slammed to the ground while yelling, "I'm Press! Press!," resulted in her nose bleeding, as well as causing facial pain. Goodman's arm was violently yanked by police as she was arrested.

"On Tuesday, Democracy Now! will broadcast video of these arrests, as well as the broader police action. These will also be available on: www.democracynow.org

"Goodman was arrested while questioning police about the unlawful detention of Kouddous and Salazar who 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 arrested on suspicion of rioting, a felony. While the three have been released, they all still face charges stemming from their unlawful arrest. Kouddous and Salazar face pending charges of suspicion of felony riot, while Goodman has been officially charged with obstruction of a legal process and interference with a "peace officer."

"Democracy Now! forcefully rejects all of these charges as false and an attempt at intimidation of these journalists. We demand that the charges be immediately and completely dropped.

"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 Amendment rights of these journalists.

"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, including a photographer for the Associated Press.

"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 and the subsequent criminal charges and threat of charges are a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists.

"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 "

And the :Q_V_MPQLa7PYDUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">Minneapolis-St. Paul Tribune reported: "Bolstered by emergency help from the Minnesota National Guard, police in St. Paul arrested 284 people Monday after outbreaks of violence and road obstructions linked to rogue bands of demonstrators among an otherwise peaceful throng estimated at 10,000 people.

"The demonstrations, on a steamy first day of the Republican National Convention, began with block after block of marchers -- far fewer than the 50,000 some had predicted -- chanting and peacefully waving signs on downtown St. Paul's narrow streets. As the day wore on, the carnival atmosphere turned ugly.

"Late Monday, authorities said 130 of the 284 people arrested may face felony charges. Dozens were pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed. One police officer was punched in the back, and another suffered from heat exhaustion. St. Paul emergency rooms reported nine minor injuries and several heat-related cases.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said officers showed restraint as a small number of law-breaking demonstrators marred an otherwise peaceful day of free speech.

"Their efforts were nothing short of heroic," Coleman said. "They did not fail. They did not take the bait."

But observers from the National Lawyers Guild took issue with police action.

" 'We think it's unconscionable. We think it's out of control,' said Gina Berglund, an attorney and legal observer coordinator for the guild's Minnesota chapter. 'The response by the police was completely out of proportion with what they were faced with.' "

As I wrote yesterday: "The Republican national convention hasn't even officially begun and the Bushite police state has already sprung into action conducting anti-American, anti-constitutional, anti-human rights tactics that are typical of this right wing regime."