September 4, 2008

Independent Journalists Targeted at RNC. ACT NOW!

Dear Friends,
You may or may not know that independent journalists have been targeted by police at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis/St.Paul. You may read about what is going on at Free Speech TV - Action Alert.

It is critical that we contact the officials in Minnesota to drop the charges against independent journalists attempting to cover the convention and protests. This is an issue of protecting our right to know.

Send emails to the following people and copy them to dropthecharges@democracynow.com. DemocracyNow will print out all the emails and deliver them to provide documentation.

ACT NOW!

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.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
RCA@co.ramsey.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org)
651-266-3222

Susan Gaertner for Governor
info@susangaertner.com (cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org)
(612) 978-8625
(612) 804-6156

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.


St. Paul City Attorney John Choi
john.choi@ci.stpaul.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org)
(651) 266-8710

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.
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.

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@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.

Posted by rowan at September 4, 2008 12:39 PM | [eMail this article!] |
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Crd Lorraine Denicourt