Amy Goodman, two producers, receive settlement over 2008 arrests

Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, and two of the show's producers will get $100,000 in a settlement over their arrests during the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, the Associated Press reports. The agreement was reached Friday (Sept. 30) in Minnesota. The cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis agreed to pay $90,000 and the federal government will pay $10,000. The lawsuit named the federal government because a Secret Service agent confiscated the press credentials of three journalists.

Goodman and producers Nicole Salazaar and Sharif Abdel Kouddous were among an estimated 40 to 50 journalists arrested while covering street protests outside the convention (Current, Sept. 15, 2008). Authorities ultimately dropped all charges against the arrested journalists.

Goodman is currently in New York City covering protests on Wall Street. She said the settlement money will go to "support independent, unfettered" journalism. "Dissent is what will save our country," she said. "Dissent is what our country was founded on. It's our job to find a place for those voices."

Here's the press release on the settlement from Democracy Now!