cimorene

If there's anyone who doesn't actually know yet, a few days ago the FBI was directing local government in the Twin Cities in performing random machine-gun raids on private residences where people were planning to take part in peaceful protest against the Republican National Convention. They cuffed, threatened, threw in jail, seized computers, refused to present their search warrants, and then eventually, among others, arrested a lawyer who showed up to represent the victims, as well as a tv journalist and two producers who were filming with press passes outside the convention.

I mention this mainly because the mainstream news coverage of it all has been bizarrely low, although there were mentions in the Washington Post. There was a charming and iconic video of a woman standing motionless at the side of the road holding a single flower who got pepper-sprayed by marching SWAT-garbed ranks of police, which you can no doubt see on youtube.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/dont_arrest_journalists/?r_by=803-1581057-bj_bB3x&rc=paste

"Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested by St. Paul police 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."

To tell you that this arrest was brutal and upsetting simply doesn't do it justice. Watch this video to see for yourself. Then take action."

If I made decorative tags I'm sure it would say things like "fascism", "police state", "wtf?", and "1984".