HS reporter sues cop who arrested him at GOP convention

[struggle4progress]

Student was arrested with group of demonstrators protesting speech
by President Bush aide
© 2005 Student Press Law Center
June 28, 2005

NEW YORK – A high school journalist who was arrested inside the 2004 Republican National Convention along with a group of protesters has filed a lawsuit against the New York Police Department detective who arrested him.

Benjamin Traslavina, who recently graduated from Malverne High School, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan in March 2005. Traslavina attended the convention in September 2004 as part of the Junior Statesman Foundation, an organization that involves students in politics. He was also hoping he could get photos and write a story about the convention for the Malverne High School student newspaper The Mule, where he was the editor in chief.

Traslavina was on the convention floor watching a speech by President Bush’s chief of staff, Andrew Card, when a group of protesters began yelling. Traslavina said he moved toward them to take a picture for the paper, but was arrested along with the protesters by the Secret Service.

Traslavina said he told the arresting officer he was just a student, but he was ignored. The executive director of the Junior Statesman Program, Richard Prosser, said he also told police that Traslavina was not part of the protest group, but he was ignored as well. <snip>

–By Rebecca McNulty

http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1044&year=

[WhiteTara]

1. if I were that student, if I hadn't been political

before, I sure would have been after the arrest. Way to go *chimpy!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Fascism is on the march!

Time to fight back! Wait much longer and you will just get sent to the camp. Sorry people, it's time to take it to the streets. No more pretending it will be alright, someone else will take care of it. It's time for real, in your face, in the streets action. Unless, of course, you are willing to wait patiently while they load you on the boxcars.

"BETTER TO LIVE ON YOUR FEET, THAN DIE ON YOUR KNEES" E. ZAPATA

[tonekat]

3. Good!

Hit the fascist thugs in the pocketbook!

[DBoon]

4. He learned a very important lesson

on what happens when you really try to report the news.

Hope he sticks to journalism.

[cascadiance]

5. He had a good edumacational experience of what Iraqis and Guantanamo....

detainees are facing all of the time. Just round 'em up if they look odd and don't bother asking questions later! Just put hoods on 'em and put 'em in cells!

Hope he makes the bums PAY$$$!!!