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Activist Journalist Amy Goodman Weirdly Detained At Canadian Border

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by Rachel Sklar | 10:49 am, November 28th, 2009

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What a strange, disquieting story: Activist journalist and author Amy Goodman, longtime host of the popular public radio show “Democracy Now,” was detained for 90 minutes at the Canadian border while crossing from Seattle to Vancouver, where she was to speak for her new book. According to Goodman, border guards pulled her and her two colleagues aside and questioned extensively about the speech she intended to give — specifically, about whether she was planning to talk about the Olympics. Huh?

That would be the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, and about which there has been much discord and unrest in Vancouver. Apparently, according to Goodman, the guards were very interested in her thoughts on the matter. Despite answering all their questions, including providing them with a copy of her book, on which her talk was based, she says the border officials searched their car, including going through two laptops owned by her colleagues. Wow. (That said, according to U.S. Dept of State, computers may be searched without a warrant, and entry is solely determined by the Canadian border control. See here. But still). They were eventually allowed through — an hour late for the speech — which was reportedly delivered to a standing-room-only crowd. Oh, and now it’s a national story in Canada.

RELATED VIDEOS OF GOODMAN: ARREST & COMMENTARY

Why Goodman? Well, she speaks up loudly, that’s for sure. Her latest book, Breaking The Sound Barrier, is described on the Democracy Now site like so: “Amy Goodman breaks through the corporate media’s lies, sound-bites, and silence.” She was also arrested at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, for the apparently lawless act of inquiring after her other colleagues who had been arrested. All of them were duly credentialed for the convention. The video of Gooman’s arrest blew up on YouTube, shocking as it was to see her manhandled and cuffed by an officer with a billy club. One can hardly hold that against her, however; so it’s odd to imagine what triggered the border guards — unless her reputation, or name on some list, preceded her.

Here’s Goodman’s interview with the CBC about the incident:

As confused as Goodman was by the guards’ line of questioning, her audience at the Vancouver Public Library clearly were not: When it was announced that Goodman had been detained at the border and the reason was about to be announced, someone shouted out “The Olympics!” Muttering ensued. The Olympics have been the source of all sorts of protest and controversy in Vancouver and British Columbia for a while now, especially after the global economic meltdown scuttled all plans for turning any type of profit. The Olympic Village, occupying some choice waterfront land, is looking unlikely to be snapped up afterward for luxury condos; the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) stirred up resentment when they used lines from Canada’s nation anthem — and then trademarked them; and there have been a whole host of protests, controversies and issues that have roiled the region and made this a very contentious issue indeed. (Get caught up here.) Which puts the Goodman episode in context, though it certainly raises eyebrows, and then some.

Meanwhile Goodman, an immensely popular radio host, may not have the media footprint of Sarah Palin but has nonetheless seen impressive crowds turning out all over the place on her book tour: Los Angeles, Oregon (here & here), Seattle (here and here), and, of course, Vancouver. Her fan base is loyal and passionate. This is unlikely to discourage them.

>>>VIDEOS: Goodman arrested at the RNC; Vancouver Public Library announcement; Goodman on Canada: “Do you all just talk about the Olympics?”

(photo of Goodman’s arrest at the RNC via Community News Network)

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http://www.uselessbeauty.com Vidiot

Wow. Great interview by CBC, and kudos to them for posting the entire 15 minutes. As Goodman says, dissent is crucial to national security…but what I found the most chilling was that they immediately flagged her (so apparently she’s on some kind of watch list), and were concerned about the content of her speech, especially the upcoming Olympics. (As Goodman herself notes, she wasn’t planning to discuss the Olympics, and originally misunderstood the guard’s mention of them, thinking he was referring to Chicago’s bid for 2016.) It seems that questioning a prospective entrant to the country about what they’re going to talk about would violate at least the spirit, if not the letter, of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

I can hardly wait for the authoritarian conservative crowd to come around, falling all over themselves to see who can be the greatest apologist for this sort of behavior.
Rachel Sklar

Are you Canadian? You dropped a reference to the Charter… I updated the post with a link to the U.S. Dept of State description of Cdn Border Control and apparently they do have the power both to decide exclusively who comes in, and to do a search of computers… I was surprised, though, based on what I what I can recall from my law school Evidence classes…seemed like there needs to at least be probably cause for a search of a vehicle…but it’s been a while.
http://www.uselessbeauty.com Vidiot

I’m not Canadian, but have read over the Charter and know, roughly, its importance in Canadian law and culture.

I’m not a lawyer, but I believe all countries have the exclusive right to decide who they allow in. They also can search computers and vehicles, I believe…as far as I know, normal rules about probable cause and unreasonable search simply don’t apply at the border.

US Border Patrol also reserves the right to search, copy data from, and confiscate computers at border crossings, without probable cause or reasonable suspicion:
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/04/border-agents-c/

This amazes me, because of the sheer numbers of people who take computers across borders. It makes me think that if one is conducting any kind of sensitive international business deal, it’d be better to email documents to oneself (or mail oneself a USB drive at the destination) than to have them on your hard drive as you cross. (I wonder: would the search involve them asking you for an encryption passkey? and could they deny you entry if you refuse?)
homie

Bush, on the other hand, has been permitted to enter numerous times now. in spite of:

Under Canadian laws, including the Criminal Code (in force since 1987), the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (in force since 2000), and the Geneva Conventions Act (in force since 1985), torture and other war crimes and crimes against humanity– committed anywhere in the world, by and against any person(s)–are crimes in Canada and Canada has a legal duty to prosecute such crimes.
The duty to prosecute such crimes committed outside Canada, under the Criminal Code and the Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act is triggered when the suspected perpetrators enters Canada and/or when a victim is a Canadian citizen. Under the Geneva Conventions Act, the jurisdiction to prosecute does not require a trigger. Prosecutions require the written consent of the Attorney General of Canada. Under the Criminal Code a citizen can lay an information alleging torture without the prior consent of the Attorney General of Canada.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

It sounds to me that a border guard, who had a position on the Olympic question over-stepped for his own political agenda, then searched the car looking for a legitimate reason for the detainment.

As for the Olympic question, the first I heard about any controversy was from the right, when they were arguing against Chicago, but none of the headlines I googled-up at the time gave any indication that the subject would eventually lead to an international incident.

I hope Ms. Goodman is okay, that she’ll get to the bottom of it and I’m sure it’ll provide fodder for future columns, interviews, radio shows and perhaps a book.
realitycheck

Speaking as a Vancouverite… this non-story is ridiculous. here’s why..

1) Protesting is an official occupation in Vancouver. awesome. The public used to have access to their meetings, but because of all the disruptions(code for Protesters) they now have their meetings behind closed doors. Everything right now is Olympic related. So it’s not a huge jump to question if her speech is Olympic related. She probably dropped some hints…perchance she was dressed in Anti Olympic bedizenment.

2) We are Crazy Left up here… we would welcome her with open arms, maybe even give her a spin through the “Free” health care system… maybe not, that would even turn Trifecta off. The only politics Border Guards don’t agree with is potential trouble makers.

3) I travel that border ALL the time. Both Sides pull people in all the time. Once an CBP Agent denied entry to a little tiny innocent looking 20yr old girl because of an old arrest (that was apparently dropped) but without Court Papers to prove that. An Arrest Alone can be a Flag… apparently what happens in Minnesota, doesn’t stay in Minnesota!

4)There is about 50 meters of Land that is referred to as “no Mans Land” it is called that for a reason, no laws apply. They can go through anything, for no reason other than suspicion. I’ve seen agents swarm a car, pull it apart & all the contents , and leave it for the driver to reassemble. seriously, you are just happy it’s not you!

5)People always Love to play Victim at the Border. There are no transcripts, it’s just a He said/She said! And it gets even better if the CBC (Loyal Left State Run Television) Gives you a platform.

& 6) I’m a little upset that I don’t get the proper attention when I am weirdly questioned at the border.. so Boo Hoo Ms Goodman.

And as A side note: savvy travelers don’t travel with any documents on their computers. Hello Email & Snail mailed Flash drives!!