"Democracy Now!" host Amy Goodman questioned St. Paul's police chief this morning about why police arrested her and two of her program's producers Monday.

Goodman described how two producers, reporting on arrests Monday, were also arrested. Goodman said she was on the convention floor, interviewing the Minnesota and Alaska delegations, when she heard that her producers had been arrested and were bloodied.

Goodman said she immediately ran from the Xcel Energy Center to the site of the arrests, in a parking lot at Seventh and Jackson streets.

"I went up the riot police line," Goodman said. "I said, 'I'd like to talk to a commanding officer.' "

She said tried to ask why the producers were under arrest.

"They took me, handcuffed me immediately, said, 'You're under arrest,' " Goodman said. "They pushed me to the ground. I said, 'You can clearly see I have all the proper credentials, I have my security clearance for the (convention) floor.' "

Goodman was cited for obstructing legal process, a misdemeanor. The producers, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, were arrested on suspicion of felony riot. Goodman said she was released after about three hours, and the producers after about five hours. Kouddous and Salazar have not been charged.

Kouddous said he and Salazar had just returned from covering Monday's peace march and were going through footage when they saw, from the window of their Jackson Street office, riot police on the street. Salazar grabbed a camera and he got a microphone.

"Police kept saying, 'Move back, move back' and so we're moving back with the protesters and filming the entire time," Kouddous said. "They basically corralled everyone into a parking lot."

Salazar, who said she and Kouddous were wearing press passes, said she asked police, "Where can I go? I'm trying to move through these cars." She said she shouted at police that she was with the press.

"They just knocked me to the ground, grabbed my arms," Salazar said. An officer put his boot between her shoulder blades and someone grabbed her leg, she said. They ordered her to put her face on the ground.

When Kouddous saw what was happening, he said he told police, "I'm media, she's my colleague, please release her."

Kouddous said two or three officers then grabbed him. He said they threw him against a wall and to the ground. An officer kicked him twice in chest, Kouddous said.

All three said they were arrested by Minneapolis police officers, who are among the officers from other agencies assisting St. Paul police with RNC security.

Goodman asked Harrington during this morning's press briefing, "What is your policy with the press? How is the press to operate in this kind of environment?"

"Reporters have rights," Harrington said. He said "if there's an unlawful assembly or we're in the midst of a riot," police announce loudly that people need to leave the area.

"If reporters fail to do that, if they are in the midst of the riot, we can't protect them," Harrington said. "It would be very difficult for us in a moment of that kind of chaos to be able to make those kind of fine distinctions."

If journalists are arrested, Harrington said police try to review their cases quickly and get them released, pending further investigation.

"The fact that a person is a reporter or has a credential doesn't give them additional rights to commit any crimes, though," Harrington said. "I don't know your case, I haven't seen your video, so I really can't respond to what you're saying happened."

Goodman asked Harrington, "What is the crime that the reporters committed by reporting on what is happening?"

Harrington responded, "I can't answer that question because I haven't seen your video." He told Goodman she could file a complaint with police if she felt officers acted inappropriately.

After the press conference, Goodman said: "This is unacceptable. What is the policy they have for the press when they're clearly marked, clearly identified? ... We were there to document what was taking place, not to be arrested."

Associated Press photographer Matt Rourke, who was photographing the arrests, was also arrested. He has been released and the Ramsey County attorney's office said no charges were expected.

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