When Did Minneapolis Become a Chinese Police State?
Seriously, what the heck is going on up there?
The best summary of the action that I can find is McJoan’s on dKos.
Glenn Greenwald has been reporting furiously on these “pre-crime” arrests, as have folks at FireDogLake. And now the WaPo is actually reporting that Amy Goodman was arrested today.
Last week, during the DNC convention, it seemed that the whole world got (rightfully) indignant over a reporter being manhandled by a Colorado police officer. Here, it is almost the entirety of the police apparatus from the FBI to the locals who are tossing these left-wing groups and anarchists, this time almost entirely off of the media radar. So far, they aren’t finding anything that might indicate that these people were planning violence. Some are being held until Wednesday, when the city or state has to press charges to keep them off of the streets or to try to intimidate the rest.
This looks like the non-Steven Spielberg rendition of a PK Dick novel. This kinds of action seems to be totally out of proportion to the kind of protests that these folks pretty publicly (via their website) planned.
You know when the McCain campaign said they were appalled by the rumorn that had circulated on liberal blogs about Trig’s birth and falsely accused Obama to have something to do with and express outrage that it forced them to reveal Bristol’s prgnant ?
Well turns out they were revealing this because the National Enquirer was going to run with it (go see it at Fresh Intelligence).
So THEY brought the rumor up in order to play victims in a delicate moment. THEY were playing politics by attacking Obama to try to make the reveal less embarassing.
Could these people be any dirtier ?
Keith O will be all over this.
But all I can say is….WTF?!?
Amy Goodman and two producers were pepper sprayed and arrested. Articles coming out all day report that a “police state” mentality has taken over the Twin Cities.
Green Party members apartments and homes invaded. Peace/Anti war groups had battering rams busting down doors.
They claim 10,000 people marched and a rally held (televised on Cspan). Citizens for peace, and other nonviolent groups, unions etc marched until a few people left the group and began rock throwing and upsetting trash cans.
Those of us who have protested back in the 70’s know their tricks. The government infiltrates the peace groups and agent provateurs (often agents) start throwing stuff. The idea is to make the public think that these peaceful protestors did it. Its the oldest trick in the “crackdown playbook”.
The internet is filled with arrests, beatings of peaceful citizens “petitioning their government”. Some arrested for not carrying a drivers license, sounds like “your papers please” to me.
Keith didnt say a word! None of the arrests have been discussed on corporate media. Amy Goodman and two producers arrested with hundreds more.
Internet filled with stories coming out of the Twin cities. Green Party members had home invasions by police in the middle of the night. Anti war/peace groups were attacked with battering rams.
Does the RNC not understand it is consitutional for citizens to “petition their government”!
A story where they arrested several women because the driver didnt have her license on her. Sounds like “your papers please to me”.
Perhaps Pawlenty was afraid that he was to be embarrassed in front of his brethren…. It wouldn’t look good for a Vice Presidential pick to have ragamuffins in his state now, would it?
“Republicans will never, never tolerate those with differing opinions…”
Which out of nowhere reminds me of a Robin Williams one liner….
“What does a Republican do when he counters someone with a different opinion…..?
He arrests him.”
Arresting Amy Goodwin was a huge mistake. Watch this story grow over the next forty-eight hours.
I don’t know what could make this reaction be so draconian. I suspect that the wingnut politics of fear have finally taken hold. Of Republicans.
Jesus Fuck! Amy Goodman arrested?