Wednesday, May 5
Constitutional Call to Fight Fascist Repression of Indepedent Journalism
Here's an email I received today from CCR Director of Education and Outreach Annette Dickerson.
Dear CCR Supporter,Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) with co-counsel De Leon & Nestor and Weil and Gotshal & Manges filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota against Minneapolis and St. Paul law enforcement on behalf of renowned independent journalists Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. The lawsuit arises from the unlawful and unreasonable arrest and the use of force against journalists covering protests and dissent around the 2008 Republic National Convention (RNC). Authorities arrested Goodman, Kouddous, and Salazar even though they posed no threat and were carrying out their duties and exercising their rights as journalists to document events surrounding the RNC and the activities of law enforcement.
Learn more about our case Goodman v. St. Paul.
The policies, practices and actions of federal and local law enforcement at the RNC are part of a larger civil liberties crisis that has been intensifying at an alarming rate over the past decade. Peaceful police-protestor interactions across the country have been met with brutal force by law enforcement, all while domestic surveillance activities by the government have increased dramatically. Individuals and activists are also given overblown and draconian sentences for constitutionally protected, lawful and peaceful conduct. Watch Amy Goodman discuss the filing on her show, Democracy Now!
These severe and unconstitutional practices cannot go unchallenged. Thank you for continuing to stand with us.
Sincerely,
Annette Dickerson
Director of Education and Outreach
