Drop the Charges Against Independent Journalists

Outraged over recent arrests of journalists at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions? You should be!

"You won’t hear much about it in the tightly scripted primetime broadcasts from St. Paul, but local law enforcement is rounding up reporters in an aggressive – and sometimes violent – sweep outside the Republican National Convention. Their crime: committing journalism.

"Those arrested Monday while trying to cover street protests include Amy Goodman of the national radio and television program Democracy Now! and two producers from her show, as well as a photographer from the Associated Press. They’ve since been released, but the Democracy Now! team still faces serious charges.

"Other independent journalists have been pepper-sprayed and even held at gunpoint during “pre-emptive” raids aimed at disrupting protesters. Two videographers from Seattle’s Pepperspray Productions and several Kentucky journalism students remain behind bars as of this writing.

"Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, is calling on St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and local law enforcement officials to immediately release from custody and drop all charges against any journalists arrested while covering events surrounding the RNC. In less than 24 hours, more than 35,000 people from across the country have signed letters protesting this gross violation of free speech and freedom of the press."

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