From: "Pope, Karen O." <POPEKJ@uwec.edu> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 19:54:36 -0500 Subject: FW: Buddhist minor beaten, arrested in St Paul They don't just arrest and detain journalists . . .FW: [WisPeaceInfo] Keith's arrest at the RNC Message-ID: <4F19260FE7477F4DA03B00B62E7F63903E4AC822E2@CHERRYPEPSI.uwec.edu>
Just a post from the Red Cedar Peace Initiative, FYI in case you have not b
een following this. Is it me, or do you think the aggression and violence
against dissent is ratcheting up??
If this doesn't make you angry there are plenty more photos and documented
stories out there that will.
Karen
________________________________________
From: WisPeaceInfo@yahoogroups.com [WisPeaceInfo@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Marion Lang [marionlang@charter.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 8:43 PM
To: wispeace
Subject: [WisPeaceInfo] Keith's arrest at the RNC
Hi Jody and Wispeacelisters,
Jody, thanks for your report and for the good spirit you added to the large
ly peaceful events. You showed real courage and I honor the focused efforts
for peace that you continue to be part of. Did you also go to the walk wit
h the group from Menomonie. Does anyone have a report on that? Did I miss t
hat email,
As some of you may already be aware, Keith Smith, who with his mother Mel,
organized "Music for Peace," in July, was arrested, while participating in
a peace demonstration last week during the RNC. If you went to the concer
t you know how peaceful Keith is. The music, games for kids, relaxed and we
lcoming atmosphere made that day a true day of peace in Menomonie. The kind
of day we wish for all people everywhere on earth.
But at the demonstration he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I am sorry this happened to him. We spoke to Keith tonight and he is in goo
d shape, feeling peaceful I think.
I am forwarding an email from Keith's Mom. So far Keith has not received a
letter defining the charges against him.
Subject: Protest coverage of Keith before and after he was beaten by the po
lice
For those of you who have not heard, our son Keith was assaulted by five St
. Paul police officers at the RNC protest. He sustained serious and signifi
cant injuries. We continue to search for more video footage in the hopes th
at we will find the actual assault. We are also hoping to determine the nam
es of the few witnesses present. Keith was the only minor that was illegall
y released the night he was arrested. He was also the only minor that susta
ined injuries requiring medical attention. The Senior Commander stated that
the Juvenile Detention Facility refused to have him because he required ex
tensive medical treatment. When released back to the police he was put back
on the streets of St. Paul without medical attention. I spent much of the
day today forcing them to search for his "lost" arrest record (one of only
22 records for arrested minors). Once the record was "found" they confessed
that the detention facility refused him because of his condition. He was t
aken to our local hospital and treated for serious injuries caused by the "
criminal assault" (hospital's words) The news stories explain in more detai
l. WCCO came to our home and interviewed him tonight. They expect the story
to run tomorrow. Yes, we have contacted a lawyer, yes they are dealing wit
h it. Photos are posted on Mandy's myspace.com/2ndmomof9 page. Twenty nine
of the photos were removed because they were too graphic for myspace. That
gives you a glimpse into the suffering that our Buddhist son endured .
Feel free to distribute widely.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ff_1220325865
Minute 3:35 Pre-arrest peaceful protest footage of Keith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ktyEPQHbvM
Minute 2:30 bloody hands, wrist and back, in the white t-shirt that did not
belong to him that was placed over his body to prevent video or photograph
s of his bloody body, followed by a videographer telling the police that th
ey were “pickin’ on kids and trying to keep him from videotaping”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d24r9DoH2-8
Minute 1:45 After the beating and arrest, with two of the women who assiste
d him during the attack. One gives the peace sign in the video, the other i
s beside him. If anyone knows who these women are, please contact us with t
heir names.
http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/6952/youth-in-iconic-rnc-protest-photo-
beaten-by-police-according-to-his-mother
Coverage and photograph before beating and arrest
http://wcco.com/slideshows/march.rnc.republican.20.807628.html?rid=5
Photograph before the beating and arrest
http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/blogs/michelle/the-reality-of-prote
st-police-brutality-in-minneapolis/
Coverage
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marion lang
314 11th Street E
Menomonie, WI 54751
marionlang@charter.net 715.235.5686