They were told to leave because the police couldn't protect them. They said they were fine with that. The McDonald's was still open. So why weren't the workers told to leave. Just order the McDonald's to close. No they focused on the reporters for some unimaginable reason and proceeded to rough them up a little to prove a point. It was also telling that they didn't charge them with anything. Quite odd if they were doing something wrong, to be arrested and not charged. The cops won't even admit they were arrested. Almost as if they were taken into protective custody against their will. Odd how the police have to violate rights to keep the peace.
I didn't see where it said the McDonalds was still open, nor whether staff were asked to leave. Watch the video- they were telling everyone to leave, they're saying to everyone "grab your stuff, let's go" and told them several times clearly to do so, but the reporter just stands there filming clearly against instructions. Little wonder he is arrested in the end. I didn't see anywhere in the video where he was "roughed up", can you provide clarification? Other than the reporter saying so?
Being arrested under a breach of the peace is common here, where under certain criteria a person can be removed and released without charge, I'm not sure what legislation in the US is like regarding that. It may not be their safety the police are removing them for, look into the legislation and it may become clearer.
Again, this is not an attempt to "blind the public", as this event will be reported upon, there's no way to quietly riot. And just because someone is arrested doesn't mean their rights are violated because they object to an instruction given to them by police. They are free until the law is broken. During emergency situations (like riot) police are hardly going to stand around and debate matters of constitution with a reporter who seems to want to inflame the situation by doing the wrong thing and then complain when arrested.
