Ten thousand people took to the streets in St. Paul, MN earlier today, and 284 people were arrested. Among those was Democracy Now's Amy Goodman. FSRN reporter Aura Bogado spoke with her shortly after her release:

Amy Goodman: I was here just a few hours ago covering the convention on the floor. Then I heard that two of our reporters had been arrested down on Jackson and 7th. So i rushed to the site where our producers were arrested. And I demanded to speak to the commanding officer and so they arrested me. They manhandled me and threw me to the gorund, and handcuffed me behind my back, I still have...

Aura Bogado: Your wrists are still red... How did it feel when you were being picked up?

AG: I felt like it was very wrong and I was very angry and very concerned about our two reporters who've just been released, Sharif and Nicole, who were simply doing their job. Reporters asre the eyes and eyes. they're what protect democracy. when those eyes are shut, when the ears are closed, democracy is threatened, and that's what they do when they arrest journalists.

I was in there for a few hours. they charged me with a misdemeanor, interstingly with obstructing a "peace officer." Officers should act as peace officers, that is a very good idea. Ultimately, I was let out and our reporters were just let out. They were originally charged with Probable Cause Felony just because they went to cover protests that were taking place here on Labor Day.

AB: This is a lot about what [the National Lawyers Guild] has been tlaking about in terms of infringing on the right of the press to cover what's going on.

AG: It's not about me in particular, a lot of people are being arrested. It has to stop. People have to be able to express their points of view peacefully without being hindered. There have been a number of preemptive arrests this weekend.

When I was in jail, actually, I asked a police officer what he thought of these preemptive arrests, people who don't commit cries but their houses are raided. He said, "They're awesome, they're awesome." This is not the best of what America represents, but we can be so much better and that's why it's important to have journalists.