Humane Society Doctor Charged With Felony at Gaza Protest Says Cops are Lying

[Shardik]

The South Florida doctor arrested for felony battery at the Israeli-Palestinian protest in Miami says he has video footage that will prove cop's allegations are "untrue and unfounded." According to a Miami police report, Riadh Atmani -- a bearded, NBA-sized 42 year-old Humane Society veterinarian --hit an officer in the face and broke his glasses around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Turns out, there may be more to the story. As the Naples Daily News reported yesterday, the Bonita Springs doc countered he was protecting an older female protester who had stepped off the sidewalk and was being harassed by an officer. He contends: "The police officer grabbed her brutally. I interposed myself between her and him. ... I gave him my back. I wasn't touching him at all. I was holding her."

He added: "I'm a respected doctor. I've dedicated my life to helping animals."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Miami is reportedly working to get the charges dropped.

from http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/01/doctor_charged_with_felony_at.php

[fasttense]

1. And if Riadh Atmani had Not been such a large and imposing figure,

the police would have beaten him down. The cops seem to enjoy attacking the weakest and smallest protesters, just like a pack of wolves.

[Greyhound]

2. Please don't insult wolves. n/t

:kick:

[northernlights]

3. For the last 8 years I've noticed

that my status in society changed dramatically and unexpectedly.

I am female, 5'2" and <120 pounds. I was 48 when * took office, and what I've noticed is that police suddenly see me as a threat to society. I can be assaulted, my property trashed, anything...and if I dare even look upset, then I'm threatened with arrest.

I was middle class with a good, long career. I am fast falling into dire poverty as I've been robbed over and over by white and blue collar criminals, aided and abetted by police either looking the other way or threatening me with arrest if I stand up for myself.

I've been harrassed by a registered sex offender and his gang of thugs. I've had my identity stolen by a former colleague at Hewlett Packard. I've had my property trashed by a contractor. My trees cut down by my former next door neighbor. I was even threatened with arrest 8 years ago for walking down an empty, dead end street with 2 companies on it. It was during lunch hour at my last job, and I was banging a branch on the guard rail. Some nutjob driving by stopped and asked if I needed help. I sarcastically said, "sure. just shoot me now." She followed me to the nearby river, started shoving pictures of the crucifixion in my face...and called the cops on me.

It's been surreal and scary. It only gets worse with time. I'm only 55 and the only end in sight is when I die in the streets. That's the only future I can envision any more, based on my experiences of the last 8 years.

I really, really hope Obama brings change and the police go back to chasing criminals instead of going after middle-aged women being threatened and robbed by their neighbors. I'm seriously afraid it may already be too late for me.

[Javaman]

4. what exactly is "NBA-sized"? nt

[elvisbear]

5. Maybe they were talking about his junk?

:wow: