Journos File 1st A. Suit Re: GOP Convention Arrest

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In Goodman et al. v. City of St. Paul et al. (Case No. 0:10cv1966), filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, syndicated broadcast journalist Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, along with two of her producers, Nicole Salazar and Abdel Kouddous, allege their First Amendment rights were violated when they were arrested while covering the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The plaintiffs claim authorities interfered with their newsgathering and are seeking a permanent injunction against the defendants engaging in such conduct in the future, as well as unspecified compensatory and puntive money damages.  In all,  roughly 50 journalists and about 800 protestors and bystanders were arrested during the GOP convention.

Goodman's producers were arrested Sept. 1, 2008, the initial day of the GOP festivities that culminated with the nomination of the McCain/Palin ticket. The suit alleges the plaintiffs were conspicuously displaying press passes when they were arrested.  Named as defendants were the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul, along with their police chiefs, Ramsey County and its sheriff, and as-yet unidentified police officers.