MID sez Moscow has “Serious Concerns” Over RT Reporter’s Arrest Whilst Covering Anti-Trump Rally

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On Friday, MID RF official spokesman M V Zakharova said that Moscow has serious concerns over the arrest of RT America’s Alexander Rubinstein at an anti-Trump protest. At a press briefing, she stated:

As for the situation with the RT correspondent, it causes serious concern. I’m referring to RT America’s correspondent Alexander Rubinstein. Washington police detained him on Friday 20 January when he was covering a protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration. The correspondent was performing his professional duty, he had a press card with him, and nonetheless, Alexander Rubinstein was in police custody for almost 24 hours. The preliminary hearing in his case is due on 16 February.

After police arrested Rubinstein together with other journalists and protesters, they charged him with inciting a riot. Along with other reporters, they released him the following day. However, the charges against Rubinstein and several other reporters remain in force, which means they could face up to 10 years imprisonment or a 25,000 USD (1.497 million Roubles. 172,028 Renminbi. 1.703 million INR. 32,882 CAD. 33,122 AUD. 23,368 Euros. 19,922 UK Pounds) fine if found guilty. On Friday, Washington police dropped similar charges against Vocativ journalist Evan Engel after they considered additional evidence. William Miller, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office for Washington DC, said in a statement:

After consultation with the counsel for Mr Engel, who’s a journalist with Vocativ, as well as a review of evidence presented to us by law enforcement, we concluded that we wouldn’t proceed with the charge against this individual. The prosecution is in process of reviewing evidence in other cases related to the arrests in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Meanwhile, Engel expressed gratitude to his legal advisers and all those who voiced support for him:

Today, my thoughts are with any other journalists who are facing charges for doing their jobs, as well as with journalists imprisoned around the world.

Police arrested at least six journalists reporting from the anti-Trump rally and charged them with felonies. Apart from Rubinstein and Engel, police detained and later released Jack Keller, a producer for the web documentary series Story of America, Shay Horse, independent photojournalist and live-streamer Matt Hopard, and freelance reporter Aaron Cantu on the same charges. Police treatment of these media workers drew sharp criticism from the media industry and civil right organisations. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) called the arrests “a violation of journalistic freedom”, whilst Reporters Without Borders (RSF) demanded Washington authorities drop felony charges and called on the new US administration to “stop undermining the First Amendment and start defending it”. The American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] of DC also condemned the way the police handled the situation during the mass protest. On Friday, its executive director, Monica Hopkins-Maxwell, said:

[The ACLU] is concerned that law enforcement may have violated demonstrator’s rights, including indiscriminately corralling and detaining individuals, including journalists and legal observers, who weren’t involved in any criminal activity.

”Outrage!” 6 Journalists Including RT Reporter Face “Inappropriate” Rioting Charges

28 January 2017

RT

https://www.rt.com/news/375367-rubinstein-arrest-protest-zakharova/

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19 July 2016. Fourth Acquittal in Freddie Gray Case

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I saw this on FB:

Again, there’s a desperate need for an INDEPENDENT investigator/prosecutor. We need someone who has NO connections to the police or law enforcement, someone to undertake an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, let the chips fall where they will. As for this case and others… a white cop shoots black man/woman and they say, “You’re free to go, our apologies for your inconvenience, Officer. The taxpayers will pick up the tab for your defence. Have a nice day, Officer. We’re so sorry for your inconvenience!”

Paul Miller

The cops walk free… all the time. Zimmerman walked free… after illegally carrying (and using) a weapon on Neighbourhood Watch. Now, tell me that there’s no racism in the USA…

BMD

15 July 2016. An Image Seen All Over the World

On Saturday, militarised and overly armed police arrested Ieshia Evans, a nurse from Brooklyn, outside the Baton Rouge LA Police Department during a protest against the killing of Alton Sterling.

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The vacuity and inanity of the so-called “Conservative Movement” is beyond comprehension. The Baton Rouge PD should have sent a single female officer in everyday uniform to arrest Ms Evans, if arrest her they had to. This excess force was uncalled for; it was stupid in the extreme. However, it was the Conservative Mindset on Parade… if you want an illustration of its evil intent and evil doings, just look at the above image. This is what Trump the Chump means by “Make America Great Again”… excuse me, I’ve got to find a corner to be sick in.

BMD

1 January 2016. Don’t Blame the Cops… Blame Their Oligarch Paymasters and Taskmasters

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The cops didn’t start or benefit from the current War Against the Poor (let’s call it what it is)… the oligarchs and their Affluent Effluent running dogs did. The problem is a broken system, NOT broken policing. Don’t blame the working-class cops for the sins of the rich and the arrogant Upper Middles. Keep it focused… keep the real culprits in view… some of the cops only do what they do because they’re egged on by a corrupt news media and justice system, in the service of crapitalism and the billionaires it empowers.

This is NOT racial… it’s class warfare… of the Oligarchs against the rest of us. If you can’t see that, you’re wilfully blind.

BMD