Video Of Police Arresting and Intimidating Protesters-Westfield NJ 3/4/05!

[DistressedAmerican]

On Friday I posted the account of protesters being arrested and harassed by police outside of Bush Social Security Town Hall Meeting in Westfield NJ. For the full account see my website:

http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

I have finally gotten my hands on the video I said my sister had shot. It shows the arrest of two protesters. The first, 18 year old Emily Colvin is being cuffed against the police car. She is seen being led away very sad and confused at the end of the clip. After they grabbed Emily they grabbed another kid (known only as "Kid with Mohawk") was grabbed from right next to my sister for no apparent reason at all (the same reason they grabbed Emily). At that point my sister starts shouting at the cops demanding to know what they had done and why they were being arrested.

Here is the video clip:
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/westfieldvideo/WestfieldArrest.avi

This video and many shots and accounts that we have pulled together are being used in Emily's legal defense.

REMINDER: Go to these events, be heard, and document the actions of police. So far their tactic seems to be to single out a couple of folks at random, make a big show of arresting them and then to disperse the crowd with threats of more arrests. It is best to be prepared to see this again and again at these events.

GET OUT THERE AND WATCH THE WATCHERS. It really can make a difference. It sure is helping in this case!
=========================================================
Here's Emily's account of how events unfolded:
According to Emily, She at no time crossed the barricade. She was turned away from the front and was approached by someone coming out of the "town hall meeting". That person began yelling insults and obscenities at the crowd of protesters. Emily turned around and stretched out her arms to reveal the banner she was carrying.

At that moment she reports hearing one of the offers say "That's it. She's out of here." She was immediately grabbed by several officers who dragged her across the barricade, slammed her up against a Westfield municipal police car and cuffed. She reports being extremely confused as to why she was being grabbed as she didn't feel that she was acting any different that those around her. My sister, says that is clear from her expression in the video she shot.

She was taken and booked at the Westfield police station and held in hand cuffs for several hours. A reporter from New York's WNYC, a local NPR affiliate met up with the family when they arrived to get Emily out.

According to WABC, it now appears that a 9 people IN TOTAL were detained.

==========================================================
An additional note, the Colvin family was told that ANYONE arrested at one of these protests automatically receives a Secret Service File. 1984 My Ass, 2005 Baby!

Do not allow them to intimidate you. Get each other's backs. The cops sure won't!

The only thing we control is the streets!

[paineinthearse]

1. Thank you for sharing this information, it helps make us stonger.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. You gotta love

that freedom and justice for all dontcha? Thanks for the video.

[cry baby]

2. Is that your sister yelling at the cops? She is really good! nt

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Sure is. She takes no shit from cops!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. Your sister rocks! I love how she told the cops..shame on you! n/t

[Swamp Rat]

3. I've been waiting for this... edit DAMN! It doesn't work in UNIX

.avi comes out blank. I can only hear what happened.

Do you have a QuickTime version?

[DistressedAmerican]

4. Try the links on my main page

http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

I put three versions up. However, I was having issues with the MPGE version (no sound). Let me know of you can not view the quicktime version and I'll keep fighting the battle.

[Skidmore]

6. This link doesn't work, even with

the word "amerian" corrected for spelling.

[DistressedAmerican]

7. Sorry,Too early to be typing.

All fixed on edit now. Thanks for the head's up.

[Swamp Rat]

8. The QuickTime worked.

:grr:

[DistressedAmerican]

9. Glad to hear it. I was well aquainted with the details.

But, seeing the video pissed me off all over again! Screw these jackbooted Mo'Fo's. I was proud to hear my sister give them an earful. She is going to send me more raw undeited video (hopefully today) I am interested to see that!

I Say Puke:puke: and Nuke:nuke:!

[FreedomAngel82]

37. An idea I have dealing with this

Is there any way to get footage together and someone make a movie like they did with the election fraud video and showcase this all over the internet to show people how protestors are treated? It's so disgusting. I'm glad your sister documented this and I wonder who tells these police men to arrest people for no reason? So awful. :cry: I hate this. We don't have freedoms here. I heard the girl with the camera saying how a republican went over the line and wasn't arrested. Is that true?! WTF?!
And they arrested that boy for steping over a line?!?!?!

[DistressedAmerican]

41. True And True!

There is a bunch more video coming today. Another arrest and protesters being dispersed. The good news is that I have also gotten tons of great accounts from folks that saw the whole thing and a few new things. I will get that all up today as well. We're fighting hard for these folks. They really got the old cop up the wazoo treatment. City Council meetings are going to be visited, Emily's court date is the 23rd. People will also be showing up for that and of course all of the accounts, photos, etc. that have come in.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. Thank you for posting this. A glimpse of our Amerika........ n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

12. What the FUCK???

So they stepped over a line??? And were arrested???? And the police wonder why they're so reviled (it sure looked as if they were enjoying themselves, doesn't it?)...:grr:

Thank you for sharing the video with us - it underscores what we face in the next 4 years.:grr::grr::grr:

[DistressedAmerican]

13. Accouding to their acocunts, They DID NOT even cross the line.

They were singeled out and pulled across the line BY THE COPS. You can see that quite clearly with "Kid with Mohawk". All accounts suggest it was the same for Emily. They were only arrested to show the rest of the protesters that they were willing to arrest the rest if they did not disperse.

This is a predictable tactic that we should be ready for!

BTW - Does anyone wkow who the Uncle Sam in this graphic is. I lifted it from a thread here on DU but, forgot the name. I'd like to credit them if at all possible:

[Cooley Hurd]

14. You're right - the mohawk kid was PULLED across the line...

...by the cops (they had to reach into the crowd to grab him).

[DistressedAmerican]

16. Sure as hell was!

I was completely pissed. Clearly singeled him out (for the hair would be my guess). These folks are being charged with disorderly conduct and will receive Secret Service files for NOTHING! Total bullshit. We need to be preparesd to keep seeming this.

Go and document these things if you can! It is helping Emily with her legal case. We can help others too. On that front, if anyone knows who "Kid with Mohawk" is, please drop me an e-mail at:

[e-mail]

We would love to get a copy of the video and shots to him. I think it would get him off! Won't do anything about the Secrtet Service file though.

Just got off the phone with my sister because Emily Colvin's dad was calling. Hopefully, I will have some updates when she gets back to me.

[bear425]

17. do you mean hotmail

I don't think you mean hotail, do you?

[DistressedAmerican]

18. Yep, Caught The Typo.

Should read
[e-mail]

[FreedomAngel82]

38. I watched it again for the boy

and I saw the bald policeman say "get back!" and the guy is looking down and pulls him out. :\ Where is this at?

[bling bling]

15. Arrested, for stepping over a line?

My, my. Seems the cops there were stepping over the line. I watched it, and looked for anything that may have shown legitimate reasons the cops had for the arrests, but I saw nothing. Good video. And good luck with the lawsuit.

[FreedomAngel82]

39. There was no reason

to arrest them. I didn't hear anything to cause alarms except for shoutings. The girl with the camera was saying how a republican stepped over the line but nothing happened to them. Go figure!

[0007]

19. Thanks for the video. It is chilling how this country has turn

into a fascist society.

The day will come, every dog gets his day.

[TOOLZ]

20. When does the Bush SS Sideshow come to my town?

At the RNC Protests in NYC, I saw this same shit. "Cross the Line!" As if that was reason for arrest, even that was meaningless. They threw orange webbing around a patch of sidewalk with protesters, reporters, tourists, and arrested them all. It's meaningless displays of power that violate the FIRST FUCKING AMENDMENT right to assemble.

[frictionlessO]

21. I'm still waiting for the cop apologists to show up on these threads.

There is no apology, no good reason, not even a half assed explanation.

Why do these cops hate America? Why do they seek to oppose any opposition of the regime. Why do they hate peace and peace loving demonstrators?

I guess the big why is, why haven't they started beating us senseless yet on the front lines? Maybe they're waiting for March 19 too chow us whats what?

Things I no longer trust at all in this America.
The mis-administration.
The Corp. media.
The paramilitary police forces.

Fuck them all!

[DistressedAmerican]

22. Suggested Tactics For Dealing With Police Harassment Of Protesters

Just in case you missed it, I started a related thread with this advice to participants at future protests:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3232122
===============================================================
As many of you know I have spent much of the past several days pulling together photos, video, and written accounts of police actions during the recent POTUS visit to New Jersey.

The full information can be found at:
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

There is video of the NJ arrests posted as well at:
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/westfiel...


Several intimidation tactics are being employed at these events. It is best to be prepared in advance for what you might see out there.

The tactics they are employing are fairly simple and should also be fairly simple to defeat.

So far we have seen that as the New Jersey event was letting out, the police decided to disperse the crowd of (perfectly legal) protesters. They began by grabbing and arresting several people from the crowd, none of whom had in any way broken the law. These arrests were them used to threaten the others that if they did not disperse they would also be arrested. In the New Jersey case the tactic worked fairly well. They arrested 9 and dispersed the protesters in minutes.

Here's what I suggest. First, take a camera. It is a lot easier to defend people who are charged with video or photos than just a story. Second, if arrests begin, it is important for the crowd NOT TO DISPERSE. I think it would be far more effective for everyone to just sit right down there and if need be get arrested. It is a lot harder for the MSM to ignore the arrests of 150 protesters than it is to ignore 9.

Fill their local jails and hold a jail cell rally. It worked for MLK!

I understand that this takes a commitment. It will most likely result in disorderly conduct charges, fines and a Secret Service file. However, if we allow these folks to drive us off when we are well within out legal rights, THEN THEY WIN!

[progressoid]

23. Stepping over the line. Wow, what a crime.

Freedom is on the march, my ass.

[devilgrrl]

24. Let's see all the pro-cop DUer's defend this?

BTW, what ever became of the hit-and-run cop that posted here. One thread and he's gone.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2965544

[DistressedAmerican]

25. I've posted requests to two self identified DU members of law inforcement

to review the tape and see what they think of the actions. One has not gotten back for quite a while. The other I just posted. If I get replies I'll add them here as well. If you ask me it was an overt violation of these folks civil rights.

[DistressedAmerican]

31. Got one reply.

It said that as far as they could see, the protesters deserved it. Also noted that my sister that is shouting throughout ought to shut up! He says it is not her business because she is not a court. I can't say I agree!

There you have it.

[heidiho]

26. Was That You on Air America today?

I didn't have a chance to copy down the link. Thanks.

[DistressedAmerican]

29. It wasn't but, I'm glad to hear it getting talked about.

What show? Think I'll put in a call to Randi's show. Good Idea!

[DistressedAmerican]

30. Here is the site:

http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

I'm very gald to see this getting some attention. We will keep seeing it if we do not get active to stop it.

[cyberpj]

27. Quicktime worked fine - thank you for sharing - VIDEO EVERYTHING!

Video evidence is the best denfense of crap like this. If possible, get someone not protesting to video - it's less conspicuous and they seem to catch more than someone on the line.

Let us know if your sister needs help.

[DistressedAmerican]

32. Glad to hear that. For some reason I can't seem to see it myself.

I figured it was best to post it in as many formats as possible. Thatns for the offer to help out. We have to stick together out there.

[heidiho]

28. Calling Senator Byrd . . .here's your Nazi Germany video

It really does scare me how the US now resembles Germany pre-WW II.

[FreedomAngel82]

40. Is there a way

to make a video of any arrest's that has happened like this and send it to senators? Could they do anything? What about Kerry, Boxer, Byrd Kennedy?

[DistressedAmerican]

42. It is not a bad idea.

Unfortunately, I think this is probably better handeled from the streets. No offense but I do not think the politicians really care too much about us street level folk. If they did, they'd have been fighting these folks tootk and mail all along.

Byrd, Boxer and Kennedy I'll go ahead and send it to. Kerry barely ever had my support and sold us all down the river in Ohio. I am done with that guy. Great idea.

[MelissaB]

33. Sent to Michael Moore and friends.

I hope this video get out so that many will see it. Thanks for posting it!
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Spreading Democracy...Bush style

http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/westfieldvideo/westfieldarrest.mov

DU link that explains these arrests:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3231022#3231743

Please help get the word out.

Thanks,

Melissa

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Cut, paste, and email. It's easy. Let's send this around the US.

[DistressedAmerican]

34. Thanks for that. I think the more see it the better off we all are!

:pals:

[neonplaque]

35. Um.. Problem with this video is....

While it shows the the heated emotions and actions during the arrest(s), it doesn't document what Emily or the Spiked Hair kid *did* to get arrested.

Even though the camera turned to show the kid being pulled out of the crowd and arrest, it was not trained in his direction prior to this when his "stepping over the line" occured. Nor did the camera ever look down and to the side to document this "line".

There is probably insufficient evidence on this tape to help the defense of either of Emily or the Spike Hair kid.

:(

[DistressedAmerican]

43. More video is coming today. I have not seen it yet myself.

But I understand that there is another much more aggressive arrest and quite a bit of the crowd being threatened and dispersed. ALL FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS (and I've gotten a bunch) indicate arrests in this area were unprovoked. I am trying to pull it all together and get it posted this morning. Keep your eye out for more.

Here's one account that is quite good:
"I was at the protest in Westfield and I saw everything
leading up to Emily's arrest. "Everything" isn't
really the right word to use, since NOTHING really
happened! I happened to be looking right at her
holding a cloth banner up over her head, when suddenly
some jackboot reaches into the crowd, grabs her wrist,
and shoves her over to a patrol car to cuff her. She
was handled quite roughly (which was highly uncalled
for - she was putting up absolutely no resistance).
It looked to me as if she had a nosebleed by the time
she was caged up in the paddy wagon, but it may just
have been her hair across her face. Either way, her
arrest was completely without basis. And EVERY SINGLE
ARREST that followed hers was of her friends -
juveniles who were protesting a grave injustice."