- I have reported on mass protests where police attacked
protestors, but I tended to accept- and even wrote in some articles- statements
by police that protestors provoked this violence. The crowd got out of
control, I thought. Surely, someone threw rocks, threw punches, or did
something to instigate these assaults. The police would not attack people
for no reason.
-
- After witnessing, and feeling, attacks by multiple baton-wielding
officers during the permitted anti-war march in the capital on April 12,
I realized I have made a mistake. As a reporter, I have mistakenly placed
the burden of proof on the protestors, rather than the police. And now,
as I see coverage of the protest where I was beaten, I see other journalists
doing the same.
-
- A local news station showed video footage of an officer
beating a restrained protestor. So D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey
assigned the officer to "desk duty." He said, "I'm not just
going to hang this guy out to dry just because someone made an allegation."
-
- Media reports of the attacks have towed this line. When
journalists state "protestors and police clashed," and "protestors
scuffle with police," it leads the public to believe that the protestors
brought it upon themselves. If unofficial sources (protestors) say they
were beaten, they are making allegations. If official sources (police)
say it was an "appropriate response," we often treat it as fact.
-
- I attended the march as a freelance journalist, and was
beaten by police with batons while I was wearing my Congressional press
pass. These attacks were not just "allegations."
-
- Here's what happened at one point on the march: Near
the intersection of 9th and G Streets police buzzed the crowd on motorcycles,
hitting one protestor. A scuffle ensued, about 40 feet in front of me.
Police pepper sprayed some protestors, and then went after everyone in
the intersection.
-
- Because of the national uproar over last year's controversial
mass arrests of World Bank-IMF protestors in Pershing Park- and lawsuits
now pending- police say they have reevaluated their policy on such arrests.
True to their word, they didn't go into the crowd arresting innocent people.
Instead, they beat them.
-
- The melee worked its way back to me, as I tried to walk
my bicycle toward the sidewalk. Without warning I was struck on my back
by a police officer with a baton, who then started yelling, "Clear
the streets."
-
- At least five officers used batons to push the crowd
toward the sidewalk and against another group of officers. We were caught
between two lines of cops swinging batons. When the crowd pushed me against
one officer I told him, "I'm not assaulting you, I'm not trying to
touch you, I'm being trampled, please help."
-
- He looked me in the eyes, almost like he was sorry, and
said, "I know." I fell from the pressure of panicked people trying
to flee. Others collapsed on top of me. I couldn't breathe, and yelled
for help. An officer behind me pulled at my neck and throat, tearing my
shirt, yelling, "Get up." I couldn't, I told him, because I was
being trampled.
-
- When I managed to stand and take a few steps, a police
officer struck me twice with his baton, held horizontally in both hands.
I flew back onto the mass of flailing people. "Clear the street,"
he yelled. "Back up."
-
- The pile slowly unraveled and I went for my bike. The
same officer who hit me moments before now intentionally stomped on the
rear portion of the bike as he yelled, "MOVE!"
-
- I surveyed the damage to my bike, and my body, and asked
officers for badge numbers. They pretended they didn't hear me. Some turned
and walked away. Even those that I knew were not directly involved remained
silent: they acted like a gang, covering for each other. One turned around,
pushed me with his baton, and yelled, "Get the hell out of here!"
-
- For white, upper-middle class reporters like me, it may
come as a shock that police can do these things, and get away with it.
I would like to believe that freedom of speech is protected in our country,
and that the police exist to protect such freedoms. I hope that, unlike
me, other journalists do not need to endure attacks by police to begin
reporting critically on police conduct. We have a civic responsibility
to stop accepting police statements and start holding these people accountable.
-
- Will Potter is a reporter for the Chronicle of Higher
Education. In his spare time he independently covers politics and social
movements. He has written for the Chicago Tribune, the Dallas Morning News
and the Texas Observer. He can be reached at: <mailto:will.potter@lycos.co.uk>will.potter@lycos.co.uk
-
- http://www.counterpunch.org/potter04192003.html
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- Comment
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- From Victor Fletcher
- 4-21-3
-
- Dear Will Potter:
-
- It's about time establishment journalists like yourself
woke up!!
-
- I know people in Toronto, Canada who have helped the
police in beating up peaceful protesters for the last 30 years. In toronto
they handcuff women, pepper spray them in the face in order to start riots!!!!!
-
- Surely, you aren't pretending not to know or investigate
these things ever? As if thousands upon thousands of peaceful people have
been lying?
-
- -- Victor Fletcher
- Toronto Street News
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