On my KPFK show (L.A.’s Pacifica Radio affiliate) today, I was joined by RadioOrNot.com‘s Nicole Sandler, fresh after her release from the Broward County, FL, Jail earlier today. She was asked to leave the meeting after asking questions about the GOP’s attempts to end welfare as we know it.
Nicole, who hosts her own progressive talk radio show and is the regular fill-in guest host for Randi Rhodes, was held overnight (several hours of it in solitary confinement, during which she was maced by guards), after her arrest at a Fort Lauderdale town hall event held last night by freshman “Tea Party” Republican Rep. Allen West (FL-22). Though she is a constituent of the insane Congressman, she was not allowed to ask questions, as West decided last night that he would take only pre-selected written questions. That, after town hall events have been turning into embarrassments for the GOP over the past week as they’ve faced questions from constituents angry about their recent vote to make drastic changes to Medicare by replacing the popular single-payer health care system with a voucher program.
We covered the whole sordid affair earlier this morning in detail, including videos of the arrest, etc., as Nicole, my friend and colleague, was unreachable (still in jail) and her whereabouts were still unknown.
In the time since our article concluded with a statement from her after she’d been released and I was finally able to speak to her by phone, and prior to my live KPFK interview with her, RAW STORY obtained and published the probable cause document filed by police along with her arrest.
In the report, the arresting officer claims Nicole became “physically aggressive with this ofc., pushing me several times.” The video footage we posted earlier today reveals no such physical aggression or pushing. During our interview, Nicole denied any such aggressiveness on her part, either during the arrest or in jail prior to her being maced by a Broward County jail guard.
The show also includes a quick update at the top on the WI Supreme Court election “recount” which finally got under way across the Badger State earlier today.
Download MP3 or listen online below [appx 28 mins]…
The BradCast with Brad Friedman 4/27/2011Brad on KPFK: Radio Host Nicole Sandler on Her Arrest, Overnight Detention, Macing after GOP Rep. Allen West’s Town Hall Last Night in FL | Also: Quick WI Supreme Court election 'recount' update... · · · · · Brad on KPFK: Radio Host Nicole Sandler on Her Arrest, Overnight Detention, Macing after GOP Rep. Allen West’s Town Hall Last Night in FL | Also: Quick WI Supreme Court election 'recount' update...0:00 0:00
What is about Florida?
Great coverage, all important points. We also need to have a dialog about the corporate/private interests that underwrite the attacks on working Americans and those that stand up for constitutional rights.
We need to embed horrible iamges onto brands that are used as cash cows – such as johnsonville almost $60,000 contribution to walker and wisconsin recalls.
When you think of johnsonville, THINK OF THIS OLD SHRIVELED SAUSAGE AND IMAGINE THE WALKERS HANDING IT TO YOU FRESHLY LAID AND STEAMING ON A PLATTER.
They don’t grill sausages, they eat steak, but you grill wursts – please don’t buy any of the wing-nut ol’-man-smell sausages from johnsonville.
Excellent interview, Brad. Give my regards to Nicole.
Violence in order to suppress the alternate message or to question is the “Right Wing” strategy. Watch this video where my wife and myself are attacked by TeaBagger NUTs at the Corporate sponsored TeaParty TaxDay Rally featuring Ralph Reed and Sen. Marco Rubio… This is instructive! Thanks, John Russell, Dade City, Florida http://www.youtube.com/user/Cor...V?feature=mhsn
When Bush was president, no one could carry a sign near him objecting to his policies. But, around Obama one has the constitutional right to carry an AK47. Ask a conservative law maker a question they don’t like and you go to jail. Why do rights only belong to conservatives in America now?
For those who have never engage in civil disobedience, or had their free speech rights violently curtailed through unintended arrest, this is something to learn from. Any time police engage in violent behavior, they will attempt to cover it by blaming the victim. Most of the time there is not video to prove them wrong.
Not all police are violent thugs, but there are some in every force, and the ones there are all do this.
Randy D,
This happens so very often it is not a matter of learning.
Remember the old saying “ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth” … ???
We must come to the knowledge of the truth, which is to realize what Alice found out “When the truth is found to be lies …”
this happened to my wife. She was chest butted by a frustrated land shark and then he turned around and filed charges against her to cover his arse.
the judge threw it out.
John Russell – First, thanks for your courage. That Blackwater bugger looked like he was just itching to cut your throat. A real jackbooted thug, perfect for the modern day SS that will no doubt accompany the complete fascist revolution if they can get it.
Second, did you find that redhead who smacked your wife? I’d say I hope you sue her into the ground, but white trash rarely has money. A conviction for assault and battery would suffice if you can get it. If it were my wife, I would find it hard to not hit back, and then give the thugs an excuse to put their hands on you.
I will distribute your link as widely as possible, thanks for sharing. People need to see this reality.
Another point of view about how she acted once she was under the police’s custody: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c..._b_855395.html
Julio
Julio said:
By “another point of view”, do you mean one that is utterly full of shit and inaccurate on at least half a dozen or so accounts? If so, then yeah, I guess that’s “another point of view” 🙂
I’ve never heard of that Chez Pazienza guy, but he’s clueless. Just one example, from the first error in the story (1st sentence of 2nd graf):
What is the evidence that she “truly frighten[ed]” West, for starters? But more to the point, she was not arrested for “frightening” him. She was asked to leave and escorted out after she asked her question of him.
The arrest took place later, and did not, despite what the Pazienza guy claims, happen as “she was giving him crap the entire way.”
She didn’t “give him crap” any of the way. In fact, the cop appears to have blatantly lied about what she did on the police report, perhaps unaware that the entire thing was being video taped?
I could dissect his entire article, and will if you really want me to. But suffice to say, the guy is full of shit.
Brad –
I thought that Pazienza was describing West as being ‘truly frightening’, not Nicole’s actions.
But yes, I thought the article was complete crap.
Soul Rebel –
You’re correct in that I misread his poorly worded sentence on the “truly frightening” bit. (Not that I’m criticizing him for poorly worded sentences, as I’m quite guilty of same many times).
I’ve noted as much in my comments over at the article, in reply to his comment back to me over there. Those comments are currently pending approval in the moderation queue. So hopefully they’re posted by the time you read this.
My follow up comments also detail a whole bunch more FAIL in both his article and in his response to my initial comment there.