Democrats object to Rossi event ouster
SEATTLE – State Democrats say off-duty police officers were too rough when they forcibly removed a Democratic Party worker from a police union news conference featuring Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.
The move, videotaped by the Democratic worker last week, is the latest example of Rossi’s policy of not allowing his events to be taped by Democratic Party workers.
State Democrats have aggressively highlighted that policy, saying Rossi’s campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire is being far too secretive.
Rossi staff members reply that they’re merely trying to protect the Republican candidate from unfair political advertising built from snippets of his speeches. Rossi spokeswoman Jill Strait also said the Democratic worker’s actions at the event appeared orchestrated to capture footage of him being kicked out.
“I really think he was trying to provoke an incident by refusing to leave,” Strait said.
Off-duty Seattle officers removed Democratic videographer Kelly Akers from the Seattle Police Officers Guild headquarters last Thursday as Rossi was collecting the guild’s endorsement. The guild headquarters is a private building.
Guild officials previously asked Akers to leave, but he kept recording from the area reserved for news media as Rossi accepted the endorsement. Akers kept the footage rolling as an off-duty officer ejected him from the office and grabbed at his camera.
Guild members told Akers he could be arrested for trespassing and called 911, bringing uniformed officers to the scene. Akers wasn’t arrested, charged or fined.
A version of the recording released by the state Democratic Party shows Akers being evicted from the office, saying in an increasingly loud and alarmed voice, “Sir, could you please take your hands off me? Sir, could you please take your hands off of me?”
Akers said he was roughed up by officers. But guild members said there was no improper force used.
Democratic Party spokesman Kelly Steele said it’s hypocritical for Rossi to kick Akers out since a Republican Party worker is allowed to record video of Gregoire’s appearances.
Strait, however, said Gregoire is “free to establish her own policies on this issue.”