Police Bust Thru Attic To Detain "Democracy Now" Journalist

More at http://www.theuptake.org
A live stream from The UpTake's Chuck Olsen as police in St. Paul conduct preemptive raids on people planning to protest at the Republican National Convention this week.

Note: this is a recording of a live video stream.

Elizabeth Press is a producer with "Democracy Now" and is in St. Paul to help the group "iwitness Video" document any police abuses during the Republican National Convention.

She was staying in a house on Iglehart in St. Paul (949 Iglehart)
She says a Federal agent came to the door this morning and asked for someone named Fred who was involved with a bike ride a few months ago and they wanted to question him. He said it wasn't related to the Republican National Convention. He then left.
The iwitness video group decided then to move from the house because they felt their meeting wasn't safe.

Around 1pm about 20 St. Paul police officers surrounded the house. A few of the group went outside and were handcuffed. They had to wait for the search warrant to arrive. When the warrant arrived, it was not for their house. It was for the apartment next door. Police went into that other apartment and then busted through the attic into where the journalists were.

"They came in with pistols drawn" said Press " I was pointing my video camera back. They said 'St. Paul Police, put your hands on your head' and then we were all detained for the next several hours in the back yard.

Police then searched the journalists' belongings, unhandcuffed them and let them go.

"I feel like these are intimidation tactics. iwitness video has been in the news recently, in the New York Times and all over the internet. Their video work has gotten over 400 people's charges dropped from the National Republican Convention in New York City and they are going to be here today and through out the week to document police behaviors at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Three members of the group were biking away from the home at the time of the raid and were detained by police on the sidewalk. All of their belongings were searched. They went through their maps, their notes and wrote things down after viewing the notes. The police had riot gear and tasers.

One of the group members said she asked the St. Paul police how far they have to be away from somebody to shoot a taser. The police officer told her they can be any distance. She had heard that if you're too close they can be fatal or cause heart attacks.

She also said she doesn't know if they were targeted because they are with iwitness or because of the house they are staying in, or something totally different.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• RNC08
• Protest
• RNC
• DemocracyNow

[perazh]

Do you guys still have the illusion of having "Democracy" and "Freedom"?

[14rondy]

People Should study their constitution nowhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights is the word DEMOCRACY we are a REPUBLIC you DUMMIES our founding fathers FEARED Democracy thats why we have a Republic. and to the "Republic for which it stands"or was it supposed to be The Battle Hymn of the Democracy?

[wiseowlv]

In one sense of ancient Greek usage, in a "democracy" decisions are made by the voice of the majority without check; we are not that. In the sense in which the word is used by 95% of Americans, i.e., consent of the governed "by the people, for the people, of the people," we most certainly are a democracy, albeit one that has a way to go to realize what the Founding Fathers, including Hamilton and Jay, had in mind.

[brahmbhattbhavna]

Amy Goodman is a whore

[ramazone2]

@Research0digo Exactly. Let's stop fighting and recognize that we must unite, and take substantive action, in order to protect ourselves and each other.

[ramazone2]

@14rondy I understand what you're saying. However, the words republic and democracy, in the sense of government by the people, are interchangeable. Calling people dummies instead of focusing on the spirit of the U.S. constitution, is not helping anyone. I have also made the mistake of getting mad at people who don't understand certain semantics. Let's work on uniting, not dividing ourselves.

[14rondy]

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the Republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. Thanx Ron

[14rondy]

Have you heard of the Born Again American website?,,, type in your address and it finds all your state and federal representatives you can give your point of view in an email and they send it to all of them from the president on down. And I give my point of view on the most basic of things like the difference between a Democracy and a Republic. I believe I have done as much as I possibly can What have YOU DONE? 

[14rondy]

@solerso68

The difference between a Democracy and a Republic is in a Democracy if everybody voted to kill everyone with red hair everyone with red hair would DIE. In a Republic if everybody voted to kill everyone with red hair they would LIVE because no matter how many people voted to kill redheads it would still have to pass the test of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Our founding fathers wanted to protect the minority from the will of MOB rule. Thanx, Ron

[solerso68]

@14rondy wow rondy. thats a brilliant analysis. from a song title to the pledge of allegiance, which was invented in the 50's. wow rondy thats so deep, but with respect to america, what is the difference between a "republic" and a "democracy". thanks. im sure ill hear from you soon.

[Research0digo]

@AmericanDiaz

Yes, you and 14rondy have a valid point - however, while you argue which our country is, it is being forcibly taken from you!

How many letters have you written and phone calls have you made lately? Does your local polit know that when they are up for re-election we are holding them accountable for their Yes vote on the TARP giveaway?

The Wall Street bailout?

What have YOU both done, personally, lately to make things better for your grandkids?

[Research0digo]

Support Eyewitness Video and Democracy Now!, people!