Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Democracy or Hypocrisy?

What constitutional rights?

A free press is supposed to be a cornerstone of our democracy. But journalists are being arrested at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested by St. Paul police on Monday while covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as press, Goodman was charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a 'peace officer.'" Two of her producers were arrested for "suspicion of felony riot."

You won't believe how upsetting this arrest was until you see it. Click here to watch the video, then take action.

Goodman and her producers were released Monday night. AP photographer Matt Rourke was also arrested and released after police doused him with pepper spray and forced him to the ground, scraping up his elbows and knees.

Worse, charges are still pending against all of these journalists simply for trying to do their jobs.

Amazingly, this story has been virtually ignored by the mainstream press. The cable channels are providing extensive coverage of events related to the Republican National Convention, but there has been a virtual news blackout on the arrest of Amy Goodman and the "Democracy Now" team.

Americans deserve to know that journalists are being jailed for trying to do their jobs. We must demand that CNN and MSNBC include this story in their coverage of the RNC.

Click here to e-mail CNN President Jonathan Klein and NBC News President Steve Capus to demand coverage of this brutally important story.




1 comment:

Jaime said...

You should really just watch the E! channel like I do. It's better for your blood pressure. Or maybe get a dart board with McCain and Palin on it, drink some wine & slam arrows into their faces.