Arrested at RNC, jailed for two days, photojournalist gives his account

[struggle4progress]

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
NEWS MEDIA UPDATE
Minnesota · September 4, 2008

... Jason Nicholas, a credentialed photographer who freelances for the international photo agency Atlas Press and the Post, was arrested in St. Paul on Monday afternoon with several other photographers and journalists, including Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman, Associated Press photographer Matt Rourke and journalism students Ed Matthews and Britney McIntosh ...

In a nearby intersection, the officers started using riot guns to shoot non-lethal projectiles into the crowd, Nicholas said, forcing the group toward him. He said he stayed with the crowd as the police herded the group of protesters between three adjacent buildings, creating a dead-end. As officers surrounded the group and continued to shoot projectiles, Nicholas said, he stood next to a building taking pictures.

"I was switching the camera from the long lens to the short lens, when a cop shot a projectile at me that blew the top part of my camera off and struck me in the chest," said Nicholas. He described the object that hit him as a fluorescent green ball.

Police then knocked Nicholas and his photo equipment to the ground, he said, and officers stepped on his arms and legs, poking at him with riot guns. Nicholas said he kept yelling, "Press!" but it didn't seem to matter ...

http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6965

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Total police state

[sakabatou]

2. Freedom is slavery

[stillcool]

3. Will we make it through an election?

[Wapsie B]

4. It would be great if the city of St. Paul had a gigantic lawsuit on their hands.

Goodman, Nicolas and all the rest need to sue the city and police department for this. It's obvious the gop is intimidating the press. File a personal suit against the arresting cops.

[DCKit]

5. At this rate, they're going to be holding the next GOP convention offshore...

GITMO would work for me. Convenient in so many ways. However, several countries in the Middle East already have the whole police state thing going and I'm sure they'd be willing to take their money too.

[glitch]

11. While still claiming to "win" at home. nt

[whopis01]

6. It is doubly bad for him because of his prior conviction

He may end up going to jail for years because of this arrest.

[RufusTFirefly]

7. I'm sure that photographer musta done something wrong:

Liked believed in the Constitution.

[G_j]

8. K&R

[ColbertWatcher]

9. What is the purpose of jailing journalists who aren't scared to speak?

Like Jason Nicholas?

And Amy Goodman?

I loved how the first person Goodman interviewed after she was freed was the guy who was responsible for her arrest and made him look like an ass.

[pleah]

10. K&R If the thugs steal this election there will be no freedom left in this country.