When the Whole World *Isn't* Watching...

This isn't being reported on in the mainstream media which is both aggravating and terrifying.

It appears that members of the press (who were wearing their credentials in full view) were arrested along with protesters (both peaceful and violent) on the first day of the RNC. The journalists were covering the protest and were caught in the crowd when the police corralled them into one area using tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets.

In our country, the press is meant to be one of the checks and balances that keeps our government honest and transparent. Arresting members of the press is a violation of the first amendment and an abomination to our civil liberties. The fact that these arrests were violent just adds insult to injury. Below are some links to a story about what happened and to some footage taken by "Democracy Now!" producer Nicole Salazar’s footage of her own arrest and footage of "Democracy Now!" host Amy Goodman’s arrest.

It shouldn't matter who you're going to vote for or what you believe about the protesters and their methods and motives, our press must be free if our society is to thrive, our reporters must be able to tell the stories that they are seeing if our government is to be trusted. Librarians are one of the first lines of defense for the first amendment, it's one of the things I am most proud of about my job and I know that no matter which party you are a member of that you believe in our Constitution and especially the first amendment. If journalists, the people who are supposed to bring us the news and the truth about the events in our world, are being threatened, arrested or otherwise made unable to do their job, then how will we as citizens keep informed and aware?

Nicole Salazar is interviewed after her release;

Amy Goodman and Nicole Salazar are interviewed by the Boston Phoenix.

Yours,
-the bookish bluestocking