Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Aneristic Illusions => Topic started by: Roo on September 04, 2008, 12:16:27 AM

Title: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Roo on September 04, 2008, 12:16:27 AM
on protests happening outside of Republican convention.
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2 (http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2)



Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: hooplala on September 04, 2008, 12:25:47 AM
I LOVE THIS DECADE!!! [/TGRR]


Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: fomenter on September 04, 2008, 01:04:46 AM
its amazing how different it is from the democratic convention http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 01:11:41 AM
They arrested Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar?  :eek:

It still surprises me that people think that they are safe from arrest as long as they're not commiting a crime. I don't think that's been true for a while.

Ever, really.

I understand that there were windows being smashed, but 300 people is a lot of arrests. 
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 01:18:57 AM
Quote from: Roo on September 04, 2008, 12:16:27 AM
on protests happening outside of Republican convention.
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2 (http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2)





You still find this suprising?
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Roo on September 04, 2008, 01:31:20 AM
Quote from: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 01:11:41 AM
They arrested Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar?  :eek:

It still surprises me that people think that they are safe from arrest as long as they're not commiting a crime. I don't think that's been true for a while.

Ever, really.

I understand that there were windows being smashed, but 300 people is a lot of arrests. 
Perhaps not, but I think it's one of those things that you just don't imagine happening to you or anyone you know. It's like...I don't want to believe this is happening in my country, but when it's right there in front of my eyes, I have to believe. And it disturbs me on a very deep level.


Quote from: Requiem on September 04, 2008, 01:18:57 AM
Quote from: Roo on September 04, 2008, 12:16:27 AM
on protests happening outside of Republican convention.
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2 (http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2)





You still find this suprising?
Unfortunately, yes.

Someday I'll laugh, but for now, I just feel sick.

Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: wade on September 04, 2008, 01:37:54 AM
poor girl.
poor people...
:argh!:

   who gives those cops their marching orders?  Whoever they are shouldn't they be prosecuted for violating some kind of human right?   and who the fuck can enforce it?

   I wouldn't be suprised if some of those "cops" were actually military personel dressed as cops.  Shitheads like me would love to do soemthing new and exciting, dressing up in riot gear and dominating thousands of people at once would be one of those things.  the scary thing is, compared to me, some of the people i've met are sooooo fucking dense..  meat-heads... with strength, and authority....  ugh.

It looks like a fun game, my group of people are going to try and dominate your group, too bad it is not a fair one...

It looks like those "cops" are ready for war, taking on a bunch of civillians wearing tshirts and carrying signs, and cameras.   :argh!:

"shrugs.

Today I was listening in on some conversation some meat-heads were having, it was driving me insane, some of the troops here are sooo fucking stupid it scares me, it really scares/angers me that people are actually RLY SRSLY FUCKING STUPID.  they're so stupid i can feel it in my bones.    their obnoxious conversation was distracting me from my book...  (I started reading "The Prince" hahaha)  I really wish they would segregate my group of people from the rest of the trades here.  My trade at least has people with a proven capacity to learn pretty technical shit, we're gamers/geeks, we like to learn and read interesting things...   

Whereas the other fucks, are filthy fucking animals, that annoy the shit out of me, especially when they let their opinion about shit be heard, mainly because if I try to argue with them, they would get offended and want to hurt me, because THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY RIGHT AND KNOW BETTER....  I guess i might now know how some of you feel regarding myself.

*sighs..

I wonder how much more of this bullshit I will be able to handle, it kind of kills me a bit inside to laugh about this shit, but what else can i do?






Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 01:39:16 AM
Quote from: Roo on September 04, 2008, 01:31:20 AM


Quote from: Requiem on September 04, 2008, 01:18:57 AM
Quote from: Roo on September 04, 2008, 12:16:27 AM
on protests happening outside of Republican convention.
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2 (http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2)





You still find this suprising?
Unfortunately, yes.

Someday I'll laugh, but for now, I just feel sick.



Never lose this, even while you're laughing.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 01:50:26 AM
"Dear Penthouse: ..."

I'm not a fan of cynicism, but the line between what happens to other unfortunate people and what can happen to you is very thin. Every once in a while you get moments that bring this to light, but I try to keep it in the back of my mind just in case.

Yes, I CAN get into a car accident.
No, I am NOT immune to disease or poverty.
Yes, I CAN get arrested for no good reason. 
Yes, there IS a chance that my loved ones will turn Republican.

But, you know, I bet most of those people will be released eventually and not charged with anything substantial. So there is that.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 01:56:46 AM
QuoteBut, you know, I bet most of those people will be released eventually and not charged with anything substantial. So there is that.

Which only makes the assault on civil liberties even more blatant.  They were released because the law says they should never have been taken in the first place.  The cops can't even claim they were enforcing a bad law.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Roo on September 04, 2008, 02:42:23 AM
Quote from: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 01:50:26 AM
"Dear Penthouse: ..."

I'm not a fan of cynicism, but the line between what happens to other unfortunate people and what can happen to you is very thin. Every once in a while you get moments that bring this to light, but I try to keep it in the back of my mind just in case.

Yes, I CAN get into a car accident.
No, I am NOT immune to disease or poverty.
Yes, I CAN get arrested for no good reason. 
Yes, there IS a chance that my loved ones will turn Republican.

But, you know, I bet most of those people will be released eventually and not charged with anything substantial. So there is that.
AFAIK, most of them have already been released, but it's the fact that they were arrested in the first place that makes me feel sick.

My initial reaction to the news was "so much for the land of the free...let's see if this is still the home of the brave." I sure hope so.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 02:47:35 AM
Bravery had to be killed for them to do this shit in the first place.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Roo on September 04, 2008, 02:50:34 AM
eta: nevermind. stupid question
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: trillian on September 04, 2008, 03:07:35 AM
as far as I know, the only arrested protesters who broke off from where the main protest was being staged and were vandalizing shit.


as for the reporters, though, that shit's fucked up.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 03:18:51 AM
Quote from: trillian on September 04, 2008, 03:07:35 AM
as far as I know, the only arrested protesters who broke off from where the main protest was being staged and were vandalizing shit.


as for the reporters, though, that shit's fucked up.

Of course, we have no way of knowing if the cops are lying about vandalism, because they obstructed the press.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on September 04, 2008, 03:48:02 AM
Quote from: Requiem on September 04, 2008, 03:18:51 AM
Quote from: trillian on September 04, 2008, 03:07:35 AM
as far as I know, the only arrested protesters who broke off from where the main protest was being staged and were vandalizing shit.


as for the reporters, though, that shit's fucked up.

Of course, we have no way of knowing if the cops are lying about vandalism, because they obstructed the press.

Yeah, that's my thought as well.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Shibboleet The Annihilator on September 04, 2008, 05:11:33 AM
Quote from: Roo on September 04, 2008, 12:16:27 AM
on protests happening outside of Republican convention.
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2 (http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/9/2)

lol @ thinking this is something new

Same thing happened at the last RNC and the one before that IIRC, probably the one before that too.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Jenne on September 04, 2008, 05:20:31 AM
I think it's RNC tradish, Guys.

Hoshiko, nice to see you again!
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 05:30:22 AM
Obstruction of the press is a good point, but I don't think that it's the members of the press that are protected from obstruction but rather the reporting. I could be wrong...

Funnily enough, not 2 hours after I posted that last post I was pulled over for having a "dim" headlight. Entire contents of my stuff and car were searched (they didn't even ask), everyone pulled out of the car, and one of the passengers was taken into a campus police station and then released for the contents of their pockets. About $300, no receipt.

I vaguely remembered something about being careful what I posted here, but still...  Can't wait to get out of NY.  :sad:
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Shibboleet The Annihilator on September 04, 2008, 05:50:09 AM
If they didn't ask it's not a legal search, they could've found crack and it would be inadmissible in court as long as you could prove it was a warrantless search that you didn't give permission for.

You should call the ACLU and start passing out posters and whatnot.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 06:05:14 AM
Quote from: iPhone on September 04, 2008, 05:50:09 AM
If they didn't ask it's not a legal search, they could've found crack and it would be inadmissible in court as long as you could prove it was a warrantless search that you didn't give permission for.

You should call the ACLU and start passing out posters and whatnot.


My brother's been searched without cause repeatedly, even arrested for one of them, not once has a judge upheld the 4th amendment.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Shibboleet The Annihilator on September 04, 2008, 06:11:27 AM
Then your brother's lawyer sucks. Tell him to fire his lawyer and file an appeal. If that doesn't work, tell him to repeat the process.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Requia ☣ on September 04, 2008, 06:31:13 AM
I did, he was already broke from hiring the first one.  (My parents have convinced both of us to hire expensive lawyers that suck, instead of a free public defender that sucks).
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 07:36:32 AM
Quote from: iPhone on September 04, 2008, 05:50:09 AM
If they didn't ask it's not a legal search, they could've found crack and it would be inadmissible in court as long as you could prove it was a warrantless search that you didn't give permission for.

Good thing I hid all the crack before this happened.

My fortune cookie from earlier that I just now opened: "Human Rights: Know Them, Demand Them, Defend Them."

I am dead serious. Guess it's time to apply for that job at CNN.

There's footage of Nicole Slazar's arrest on youtube if you look around. Here's a small snippet. (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jreRSEQ_yg")

P.S. Thanks Jenne
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: LMNO on September 04, 2008, 01:13:27 PM
Quote from: Hoshiko on September 04, 2008, 07:36:32 AM
Quote from: iPhone on September 04, 2008, 05:50:09 AM
If they didn't ask it's not a legal search, they could've found crack and it would be inadmissible in court as long as you could prove it was a warrantless search that you didn't give permission for.

Good thing I hid all the crack before this happened.

My fortune cookie from earlier that I just now opened: "Human Rights: Know Them, Demand Them, Defend Them."

I am dead serious. Guess it's time to apply for that job at CNN.

There's footage of Nicole Slazar's arrest on youtube if you look around. Here's a small snippet. (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jreRSEQ_yg")

P.S. Thanks Jenne


HOSHIKO!

HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKO
HOSHIKO
HOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKOHOSHIKO
HOSHIKO
HOSHIKO
HOSHIKO


HOSHIKO!







uh... welcome back.





Also, it was Democracy Now, not CNN, or even a local news channel.  I bet they were fucking psyched to get arrested.  I heard some of their broadcast the next day after they got out.  It was like they were telling stories from camp about that time they saw a bear.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Cain on September 04, 2008, 01:23:58 PM
As far as I knew, many of the arrests came about because of pre-protest raids, which were used to rile the groups there and create a siege mentality.  Several reputable sites have mentioned the strong possibility of police provocateurs in the crowds.

The RNC have always played dirty though, especially when it comes to protests in recent years.  Going and not expecting to have everything in the book chucked at you would be foolish.  Hell, they spied on Quakers, so they're sure as fuck gonna give the beat down to anarchists and left wing activists.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Cain on September 04, 2008, 09:50:57 PM
I'm applying to an online magazine, so I penned this as a sample of my style of writing:


While the media pays attention to Palin, Minnesota police actions go unreported.

With politics being "more of the usual" and bad news about the economy on the home front, it is no surprise that the British public and media have taken to watching the US Presidential campaign, especially the speeches of the controversial Vice President pick by the Republican Party of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.

However, while attention has focused on the brash nature and the possible controversies of this newcomer to the Presidential race, it has taken attention off events outside the Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

Reports of problems started on the 31st of August, as internet connected protesters and bloggers reported that police were massing in central St Paul's, the city where the Convention was being held.  In pre-protest raids, Ramsey County Sheriffs Office arrested several dozen protesters, many without charge.  While not illegal under state law, which requires the police to bring charges 36 hours after an arrest is made (not including weekends and holidays), such measures are only normally used in order to secure more evidence before formally charging a suspect – not as a method of shutting down protests.  Probable cause is also required, and in this case the National Lawyers Guild argued this was absent from many of the arrests made.

Police had set out to intimidate activists with a show of force.  Not only were the local police involved, but the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, and Firearms had a strong presence in the city.  The police were apparently heavily armed with semi-automatic weapons, and also used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas against peaceful protesters.  Police did not only target activists, however, but also lawyers and reporters on the scene, presumably in order to minimize problems arising from their hardline tactics.

Of particular concern was the arrest of Amy Goodman, the veteran reporter and presenter of Democracy Now!, a nationally syndicated news program shown by over 700 media outlets in the USA.  Goodman, along with two producers and a film maker were arrested on charges of conspiracy to cause a riot.  Goodman was later released, however other members of the Democracy Now! team are still being held in custody.

Also a worry was the presence of the Minnesota National Guard.  The USA has a long history of resistance to soldiers being used for policing reasons and their appearance was considered highly unsettling by many observing the protests and police actions.  There were also reports of mistreatment of those arrested – several were denied medical attention and others went on hunger strike in order to protest this lack of care.

There was some violence from activists, but according to the organizers of the St Paul's protests, these were a small number of self-proclaimed anarchists, who smashed property and set up blockades.  However, even among the anarchist groups present, this was a minority of perhaps no more than 15 people.  All in all, arrests in St Paul's concerning the protests number over 300.

The conduct of the police during the Convention is worrying to those who have a keen interest in civil liberties, yet this concern has not been reflected in the national press, many who ignored the pre-convention raids and blamed all the violence on the protesters in St Paul's.  Whether the abuses of law enforcement agencies will ever get more press than the minutiae of Sarah Palin remains to be seen.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Jenne on September 04, 2008, 11:01:53 PM
Great synopsis...and as to the answer to the last paragraph--well, I think that's a forgone conclusion.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Tempest Virago on September 05, 2008, 04:46:25 AM
Quote from: Cain on September 04, 2008, 09:50:57 PM
I'm applying to an online magazine, so I penned this as a sample of my style of writing:


While the media pays attention to Palin, Minnesota police actions go unreported.

With politics being "more of the usual" and bad news about the economy on the home front, it is no surprise that the British public and media have taken to watching the US Presidential campaign, especially the speeches of the controversial Vice President pick by the Republican Party of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.

However, while attention has focused on the brash nature and the possible controversies of this newcomer to the Presidential race, it has taken attention off events outside the Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

Reports of problems started on the 31st of August, as internet connected protesters and bloggers reported that police were massing in central St Paul's, the city where the Convention was being held.  In pre-protest raids, Ramsey County Sheriffs Office arrested several dozen protesters, many without charge.  While not illegal under state law, which requires the police to bring charges 36 hours after an arrest is made (not including weekends and holidays), such measures are only normally used in order to secure more evidence before formally charging a suspect – not as a method of shutting down protests.  Probable cause is also required, and in this case the National Lawyers Guild argued this was absent from many of the arrests made.

Police had set out to intimidate activists with a show of force.  Not only were the local police involved, but the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, and Firearms had a strong presence in the city.  The police were apparently heavily armed with semi-automatic weapons, and also used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas against peaceful protesters.  Police did not only target activists, however, but also lawyers and reporters on the scene, presumably in order to minimize problems arising from their hardline tactics.

Of particular concern was the arrest of Amy Goodman, the veteran reporter and presenter of Democracy Now!, a nationally syndicated news program shown by over 700 media outlets in the USA.  Goodman, along with two producers and a film maker were arrested on charges of conspiracy to cause a riot.  Goodman was later released, however other members of the Democracy Now! team are still being held in custody.

Also a worry was the presence of the Minnesota National Guard.  The USA has a long history of resistance to soldiers being used for policing reasons and their appearance was considered highly unsettling by many observing the protests and police actions.  There were also reports of mistreatment of those arrested – several were denied medical attention and others went on hunger strike in order to protest this lack of care.

There was some violence from activists, but according to the organizers of the St Paul's protests, these were a small number of self-proclaimed anarchists, who smashed property and set up blockades.  However, even among the anarchist groups present, this was a minority of perhaps no more than 15 people.  All in all, arrests in St Paul's concerning the protests number over 300.

The conduct of the police during the Convention is worrying to those who have a keen interest in civil liberties, yet this concern has not been reflected in the national press, many who ignored the pre-convention raids and blamed all the violence on the protesters in St Paul's.  Whether the abuses of law enforcement agencies will ever get more press than the minutiae of Sarah Palin remains to be seen.

This is good. I like it.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Cain on September 05, 2008, 10:23:29 AM
Thanks.

I'm not sure what the tone of the magazine is, so I aimed at formal...though I did mention that if they wanted a more "gonzo" or personalized style of reporting, that was well within my means.  I sincerely hope it is the latter, it would be much easier to have headlines like

"The Beltway Establishment Are A Bunch Of Cockheads"

than the bland sort of one I served up there.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: LMNO on September 05, 2008, 01:00:56 PM
Your submission piece is well restrained... and well written, too.


I hope they let you go gonzo, however.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Cramulus on September 05, 2008, 04:03:02 PM
                      We can't stop here --
                       This is spag country!
                                 /
(http://goatmilk.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/gonzo1.jpg)






    That should be on the newsfeed.
                     /
:spag2:
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Voodoo on September 05, 2008, 05:31:53 PM
I posted a few pics earlier this week in the Pics thread, but here are a few more.  My brother-in-law is a freelance photographer and got caught up in the Minnesota shit.  Here are a couple pics he was taking of the police moving in about the time he realized he was on the wrong side and in danger.  Funny thing is, he is a life-long Republican but bearly got out before the police had the entire scene surrounded.

(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/zorakcat/RNC2/RNC032.jpg)
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/zorakcat/RNC2/RNC034.jpg)
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/zorakcat/RNC2/RNC035.jpg)

The way he described it, the police started surrounding the groups of protesters on two sides.  One side was temporarily open and the other side is the Mississippi river.  The last pic is as he was escaping. 

Also note, that while this was going on, no one was really doing anything and the vandalism had happened hours before.

Pic 2 is pretty instructive.  If you look, you can see lots of people on the buildings and the bridge watching the police move in.  I am not sure why this hasn't gotten much attention with all these witnesses, but maybe all these on-lookers were Republicans. Also, the one photographer appears to just be trying to get pics of those girls' bewbs.  He probably ended up getting maced.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: Cain on September 05, 2008, 05:36:05 PM
I read about the river.  It was apparently quite bad down there.
Title: Re: WTF? Journalists arrested for reporting...
Post by: wade on September 05, 2008, 05:42:09 PM
wow.

delayed reaction.     I wonder how many of those violent protesters ended up changing into riot gear after breaking shit?