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  Date / Time: 9/7/2008 4:48 AM UTC

  Amnesty International On The 2008 RNC
  

  Amnesty International statement on events in Saint Paul
  
  Link here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20080905001〈=e
  Rueters Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS203618+05-Sep-2008+PRN20080905
  
  Use of Force Against RNC Protesters “Disproportionate,” Charges Amnesty
  International
  
  [London]--Amnesty International is concerned by allegations of excessive use of
  force and mass arrests by police at demonstrations in St. Paul, Minnesota
  during the Republican National Convention (RNC) from September 1-4, 2008. The
  human rights organization is calling on the city and county authorities to
  ensure that all allegations of ill-treatment and other abuses are impartially
  investigated, with a review of police tactics and weapons in the policing of
  demonstrations.
  
  The organization’s concerns arise from media reports, video and photographic
  images which appear to show police officers deploying unnecessary and
  disproportionate use of non-lethal weapons on non-violent protestors marching
  through the streets or congregating outside the arena where the Convention was
  being held.
  
  Amnesty International urges that an inquiry be carried out promptly, that its
  findings and recommendations be made public in a timely manner. If the force
  used is found to have been excessive and to have contravened the principles of
  necessity and proportionality, then those involved should be disciplined,
  measures put in place and training given to ensure future policing operations
  conform to international standards.
  
  Police are reported to have fired rubber bullets and used batons, pepper spray,
  tear gas canisters and concussion grenades on peaceful demonstrators and
  journalists. Amnesty International has also received unconfirmed reports that
  some of those arrested during the demonstrations may have been ill-treated
  while held at Ramsey county jail.
  
  Amnesty International is also concerned at reports that several journalists who
  were covering the RNC were arbitrarily arrested while filming and reporting on
  the demonstrations. They include host of independent news program Democracy
  Now!, Amy Goodman, and two of the program’s producers, Sharif Abdel Kouddous
  and Nicole Salazar, who were both allegedly subjected to violence during their
  arrest. A photographer for the Associated Press (AP) and other journalists were
  also arrested while covering the demonstrations.
  
  Kouddous described his arrest to media, “…two or three police officers
  tackled me. They threw me violently against a wall. Then they threw me to the
  ground. I was kicked in the chest several times. A police officer ground his
  knee into my back…I was also, the entire time, telling them, ‘I’m media.
  I’m press….,’ but…that didn’t seem to matter at all.”
  
  Amnesty International recognizes the challenges involved in policing large scale
  demonstrations and that some protestors may have been involved in acts of
  violence or obstruction. However, some of the police actions appear to have
  breached United Nations (U.N.) standards on the use of force by law enforcement
  officials. These stipulate, among other things, that force should be used only
  as a last resort, in proportion to the threat posed, and should be designed to
  minimize damage or injury. Some of the treatment also appears to have
  contravened U.S. laws and guidelines on the use of force. The U.N. standards
  also stress that everyone is allowed to participate in lawful and peaceful
  assemblies, in accordance with the principles embodied in the Universal
  Declaration of Human Rights.
  
  For more information, please contact the AIUSA media office at 202-544-0200 x302
  or visit our website at www.amnestyusa.org. 
  
  
  • Tags:
  • protests
  • RNC
  • POLICE
  • Amnesty Internationa
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