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800 RNC arrests, Jerry Doyle, Mike Paulhus and Liko Kenney prove the U.S. is a pure police state.

By Christopher King

The Boston Phoenix story, "Among the Republican Thugs." I didn?t realize that there were dozens of beatings and 800 arrests made at the Republican National Convention this year. The people were not even physically-taunting the police, all for verbal insults and questions. Journalists including Democracy Now?s Amy Goodman were arrested. YouTube video. A minor was arrested and detained and forgotten about. A man in a wheelchair was tear-gassed as police ordered folks to disperse but gave them no exists. Brand new Triple Chaser grenades, tasers, smoke bombs, 40mm direct impact rounds and Bruce McKay?s favorite Pepper Spray were all used. Did the Democrats say anything about it? Nope. Did the mainstream media say anything about it? Nope. Adam Reilly?s sidebar "Rolled," quotes Reporter?s Committee for Freedom of the Press? (RCFP?s) Lucy Dalglish as saying that Goodman ?went too far,? but in reality all she did was ask a cop about her arrested reporters, who too were probably arrested without Just Cause. She had full press credentials, of course.

Again, watch the video closely: The cop lets her walk past him initially so she has no idea that she is subject to arrest. Then she stands back from him with her hand up in a defensive position and tries to ask him a simple question. It takes him all of 4 seconds to put his hands on her and he never lets go, even as she is explaining her credentials and that she is simply trying to find her staff. Then without ever letting go of her even as they are heading toward the ?safe zone? he sua sponte drags her back the other direction and arrests her. She is not forcibly resisting him at all. At. All.

Implicit in Dalglish?s statement is the notion that you are supposed to get ready to be arrested for politely asking a police officer ?what?s up?? It?s absurd. A buddy of mine in Ohio resisted an Unlawful Arrest and told a cop to go to hell and that he was a real asshole and that is protected speech. See State v. Sansalone, 71 Ohio App. 3d 284 (1991).

Read the comments for an analysis of these cases and the NYC taser/suicide death tragedies, with citation to government policies and case law.

Full post as published by Chris King's 1st Amendment Page on October 03, 2008 (boomark / email).