Pacifica's Amy Goodman arrested in St. Paul

Amy Goodman, the host of Pacifica Radio's Democracy Now, was arrested Monday during a demonstration near the Republican National Convention. She was apparently trying to discuss with cops the arrest of two producers at the show, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, who may be charged with felony rioting. All three were later released, but complained of being manhandled by arresting officers. Goodman was charged with obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer, according to Alternet.

Democracy Now! forcefully rejects all of these charges as false and an attempt at intimidation of these journalists. We demand that the charges be immediately and completely dropped.

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities' law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists.

"Democracy Now" airs in Los Angeles on KPFK (90.7 FM.)