Arrests at RNC Slammed as Goodman Arrest Video is Seen 500,000-Plus Times

By: Dave Astor Another media group -- the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) -- has denounced the Monday arrest of four journalists at the Republican National Convention.

Meanwhile, a 49-second YouTube video showing the arrest of one of the four -- "Democracy Now!" host/King Features Syndicate columnist Amy Goodman -- has received more than 508,000 views.

In a statement released this afternoon, the NAHJ called on "police and local and federal officials to respect the First Amendment right to free speech and free press of journalists doing their job, especially as it relates to coverage of recent political conventions and the surrounding public protests. Reporters have a duty and a constitutional right to be present at sometimes volatile events and situations, and to inform the public."

The NAHJ noted that an ABC News producer had been arrested at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week, and that the four journalists arrested Monday also included an Associated Press photographer (Matt Rourke) as well as two "Democracy Now!" producers (Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar) Goodman was trying to help. They were released with charges that included suspicion of felony riot and misdemeanor interference with a police officer.

"In this era of new technology and broader participation in citizen and independent journalism, it may become increasingly difficult for police to tell journalists from those who are not," the NAHJ statement continued. "But police must be aware it is their duty to try, and to respect the role of the press in a democracy. When the media has credentials, as was the case with Goodman and other journalists arrested, the police should have a much easier job."

Yesterday, the Free Press media-reform group issued a statement criticizing the arrests.

The YouTube video of Goodman can be seen here.

A 19-second YouTube video of Salazar's arrest has drawn more than 28,000 views. That clip can be seen here.