Police raid headquarters of RNC protesters

[Mindtoaster]

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) -- Police raided a rental hall used by a group organizing protests at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday.
The RNC Welcoming Committee, which describes itself as "anarchist/anti-authoritarian," accused St. Paul police of trying to disrupt their protest planned for Monday, the day the GOP convention is set to begin.
While no one was arrested, the group said police temporarily detained and photographed at least 50 people who were inside the building.
St. Paul Police spokesman Tom Walsh said they were executing a search warrant.
"The cause for the search warrant is not public at this time," Walsh said.
As many as 30 police officers entered with guns drawn, according to witnesses in the building.


"The convergence center is simply a gathering place and is not used for illegal actions -- it is a place for workshops and trainings," a statement from the protest group said. "Tonight, we were watching films and sharing food."
"We are now accused of a simple fire code violation," the statement said.
Oddie Miller, a 19-year-old from Fort Collins, Colorado, said it was "just a space to get food, free Internet, community organization."
"There were no bombs or anything in there," Miller said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/30/rnc.protest/index.html

Fucking pigs

[Red_Dialectics]

They probably didn't even have a warrant to begin with.

[rouchambeau]

Did the police give the protesters their reason for the search? Does anyone have access to that information?

[bcbm]

The police did have a warrant. It was to search for bomb making materials, urine and feces, electronic equipment, notes, photographs, literature, sticks. The NLG will probably have a full copy of the warrant online soon. The same warrant was used against multiple houses today, and probably more spaces throughout the day.

[An archist]

It's not that difficult to barricade a house a bit people, it won't keep them out, but it might give people who don't want to get arrested the time to run.

[welshboy]

Oh my GOD! I just wanted to smash the state and abolish capitalism and for some reason the police wouldn't let me. no fair

[gla22]

I think on infoshop the posted a copy of a warrant. It included stuff like "paint, jars, and banners." for stuff they were supposed to seize.

[gla22]

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/tc-imc-exclusive-complete-search-warrant-minneapolis-raid-today

Found warrant. It was on indymedia, not infoshop.

[Tobit]

Quote from the pigs

"The 'Welcoming Committee' is a criminal enterprise made up of 35 ANARCHISTs who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention...They have recruited assistance in their criminal conspiracy from other ANARCHIST groups throughout the country."

In the worlds most freedom loving country when did being an Anarchist become against the law. When did protest against the idea of nation states become against the law. I know the ACLU has already got 75 lawyers waiting in the wings. I guess I just forgot this country stood for our right to speak our minds.

[KrazyRabidSheep]

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/tc-imc-exclusive-complete-search-warrant-minneapolis-raid-today

Found warrant. It was on indymedia, not infoshop.lol; on page 2 of items to be seized: "urine and feces".

The items seized looks unremarkable; as long as the gun (rifle barrel? disassembled gun?) is licensed, there isn't much of a case. . .unless possessing literature ("propaganda") is illegal anymore. . .

[gla22]

Quote from the pigs

"The 'Welcoming Committee' is a criminal enterprise made up of 35 ANARCHISTs who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention...They have recruited assistance in their criminal conspiracy from other ANARCHIST groups throughout the country."

In the worlds most freedom loving country when did being an Anarchist become against the law. When did protest against the idea of nation states become against the law. I know the ACLU has already got 75 lawyers waiting in the wings. I guess I just forgot this country stood for our right to speak our minds.

Actually in Oklahoma it is against the law to be an anarchist. This country is fucking sick.

[bcbm]

Oh my GOD! I just wanted to smash the state and abolish capitalism and for some reason the police wouldn't let me. no fair

We need solidarity, not worthless pricks like you. Fuck off.

[welshboy]

We need solidarity, not worthless pricks like you. Fuck off.

Charming.
Though I was jumping the gun a bit as I was kinda expecting a load of liberal lefty hand wringing about freedom of speech.
Sorry for being a cock.

[apathy maybe]

Worth posting again: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/

[bcbm]

Charming.
Though I was jumping the gun a bit as I was kinda expecting a load of liberal lefty hand wringing about freedom of speech.
Sorry for being a cock.

While opposing this system and "liberal lefty hand wringing" in general, we can obviously use the systems in place to our advantage. For example, denouncing police raids as a violation of rights, etc in order to make them look like fucking assholes.

I was going to apologize for being short with you but actually I don't feel I have anything to apologize for. Waking up to a SWAT team screaming and pointing submachine guns in your face isn't a terribly pleasant experience, not to mention some of my close friends being grabbed off the street by pigs, and I don't have much tolerance for someone who offers nothing to those of us being repressed and harassed but some sarcastic remarks. Obviously we will face repression as anarchists and we all accept that, but that doesn't mean we don't stand with our comrades when it happens and just accept that shit.

[Red Flag Rising]

Actually in Oklahoma it is against the law to be an anarchist. This country is fucking sick.

What do you expect, dumbass? You think the ruling class will welcome those of us who want to bring them down? NO! They want to destroy us!

[RedHal]

Quote from the pigs

"The 'Welcoming Committee' is a criminal enterprise made up of 35 ANARCHISTs who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention...They have recruited assistance in their criminal conspiracy from other ANARCHIST groups throughout the country."

In the worlds most freedom loving country when did being an Anarchist become against the law. When did protest against the idea of nation states become against the law. I know the ACLU has already got 75 lawyers waiting in the wings. I guess I just forgot this country stood for our right to speak our minds.

lol I guess you believe the Americans are out to bring their love of freedom to the rest of the world.

In the "free world", you are free to babble, but when you're actually in position to threaten the ruling class, you'll be muffled. Either through force or through their control of the mass media.

[welshboy]

While opposing this system and "liberal lefty hand wringing" in general, we can obviously use the systems in place to our advantage. For example, denouncing police raids as a violation of rights, etc in order to make them look like fucking assholes.

I was going to apologize for being short with you but actually I don't feel I have anything to apologize for. Waking up to a SWAT team screaming and pointing submachine guns in your face isn't a terribly pleasant experience, not to mention some of my close friends being grabbed off the street by pigs, and I don't have much tolerance for someone who offers nothing to those of us being repressed and harassed but some sarcastic remarks. Obviously we will face repression as anarchists and we all accept that, but that doesn't mean we don't stand with our comrades when it happens and just accept that shit.

You're right it does suck waking up with a machine gun being pointed your way, I know from experience.
By the way if you lot want solidarity, which I'm sure folk on here like myself will offer, have you got any details of top coppers in the area who we can phone/fax/email to have a go at? There's not really that much else we can do from this side of the world.
Like I said sorry for my sarcasm but it was directed at this sort of shit.


In the worlds most freedom loving country when did being an Anarchist become against the law. When did protest against the idea of nation states become against the law. I know the ACLU has already got 75 lawyers waiting in the wings. I guess I just forgot this country stood for our right to speak our minds.

[bcbm]

By the way if you lot want solidarity, which I'm sure folk on here like myself will offer, have you got any details of top coppers in the area who we can phone/fax/email to have a go at?

You can phone the Ramsey County Jail and demand the release of all five prisoners currently in custody here: 651.266.9350. One, Erik Oseland is also apparently being denied vegan food and his medication.

The mayor of St. Paul can be reached at: 651.266.8510


Like I said sorry for my sarcasm but it was directed at this sort of shit.

No worries, I thought you were referring more to the original post, which was what riled me up. The last few days have been a bit stressful, so I'm somewhat quick to get angry, etc.

[welshboy]

It's wholly understandable that you're a wee bit stressed, don't worry about it.
Will give myself a whacking great phone bill later on today :)

[Tobit]

I have to state that my statement was fully sarcastic. I tend to think that all states are fully founded on the survival of the ruling class not any specific "ideals." What is awful about this is that ruling class is using such rhetoric as "protecting freedom" to wage imperialistic actions.

But splitting hairs about what is an actual anarchist struggle and who is an actual anarchist is no good. Obviously if a group of anarchists were close to actually causing great harm to the state, the state would use every power to destroy those revolutionaries. But at the same time all people that support the cause of destruction of the nation state must be considered brothers, because at this specific time we need numbers not riotous denouncements of people that essentialy agree with eachother.

[Trystan]

Oh my GOD! I just wanted to smash the state and abolish capitalism and for some reason the police wouldn't let me. no fair

:crying::lol:

Ha, yeah. If you're going to be violent and disobedient you might as well do it properly and not moan about it after.

But by fuck, they actually arrested liberal Amy Goodman with "conspiracy to riot" :lol: So in fairness there must have been some abuse of power. :confused:

[bcbm]

Latest on the eight folks from the Welcoming Committee they were targeting...


In what appears to be the first use of criminal charges under the 2002 Minnesota version of the Federal Patriot Act, Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Monica Bicking, Eryn Trimmer, Luce Guillen Givins, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor, Robert Czernik, Garrett Fitzgerald, and Max Spector, face up to 7 1/2 years in prison under the terrorism enhancement charge which allows for a 50% increase in the maximum penalty.

Affidavits released by law enforcement which were filed in support of the search warrants used in raids over the weekend, and used to support probable cause for the arrest warrants, are based on paid, confidential informants who infiltrated the RNCWC on behalf of law enforcement. They allege that members of the group sought to kidnap delegates to the RNC, assault police officers with firebombs and explosives, and sabotage airports in St. Paul. Evidence released to date does not corroborate these allegations with physical evidence or provide any other evidence for these allegations than the claims of the informants. Based on past abuses of such informants by law enforcement, the National Lawyers Guild is concerned that such police informants have incentives to lie and exaggerate threats of violence and to also act as provacateurs in raising and urging support for acts of violence.

"These charges are an effort to equate publicly stated plans to blockade traffic and disrupt the RNC as being the same as acts of terrorism. This both trivializes real violence and attempts to place the stated political views of the Defendants on trial," said Bruce Nestor, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. "The charges represent an abuse of the criminal justice system and seek to intimidate any person organizing large scale public demonstrations potentially involving civil disobedience, he said."

The criminal complaints filed by the Ramsey County Attorney do not allege that any of the defendants personally have engaged in any act of violence or damage to property. The complaints list all of alleged violations of law during the last few days of the RNC -- other than violations of human rights carried out by law enforcement -- and seeks to hold the 8 defendants responsible for acts committed by other individuals. None of the defendants have any prior criminal history involving acts of violence. Searches conducted in connection with the raids failed to turn up any physical evidence to support the allegations of organized attacks on law enforcement. Although claiming probable cause to believe that gunpowder, acids, and assembled incendiary devices would be found, no such items were seized by police. As a result, police sought to claim that the seizure of common household items such as glass bottles, charcoal lighter, nails, a rusty machete, and two hatchets, supported the allegations of the confidential informants. "Police found what they claim was a single plastic shield, a rusty machete, and two hatchets used in Minnesota to split wood. This doesn't amount to evidence of an organized insurrection, particularly when over 3,500 police are present in the Twin Cities, armed with assault rifles, concussion grenades, chemical weapons and full riot gear," said Nestor. In addition, the National Lawyers Guild has previously pointed out how law enforcement has fabricated evidence such as the claims that urine was seized which demonstrators intended to throw at police.

The last time such charges were brought under Minnesota law was in 1918, when Matt Moilen and others organizing labor unions for the Industrial Workers of the World [ed. correction-TCIMC] on the Iron Range were charged with "criminal syndicalism." The convictions, based on allegations that workers had advocated or taught acts of violence, including acts only damaging to property, were upheld by the Minnesota Supreme Court. In the light of history, these convictions are widely seen as unjust and a product of political trials. The National Lawyers Guild condemns the charges filed in this case against the above 8 defendants and urges the Ramsey County Attorney to drop all charges of conspiracy in this matter.



What a bunch of fucking bullshit.

[bcbm]

Please, please, please if people could call the Ramsey County Jail at 651.266.9350, Ramsey County Sheriff’s office at 651.487.5149 and the St. Paul Mayor’s office at 651.266.8510 to demand they let people out without charges, stop beating people, denying medication and food, letting people off at random places when they get released and so on it would be really appreciated. If anyone can call internationally that might help a lot... letting these fuckers know the shit they are doing is known globally.

Just checked Coldsnap Legal... here are some specific demands:


Immediate medical attention as needed for ALL arrestees;
That the prisoners who haven’t given their names (Jane, John, and Jesse Does) have access to group meetings with a lawyer;
Dismissal of all charges; and
Release of all minors

[DancingLarry]

Latest on the eight folks from the Welcoming Committee they were targeting...



What a bunch of fucking bullshit.

We leftists knew that all those "anti-terrorism" laws would inevitably used primarily to squelch domestic dissent. It was only a matter of time. Yet, even after all these years of being right about such things again and again, it truly sucks to be proven right when it is on the backs of our honorable comrades, our radical brothers and sisters who had the courage to take the lead in the struggle when the beast came to their home town.
We need to be prepared to stand strong in solidarity with the St. Paul 8 for quite some time.

[bcbm]

We leftists knew that all those "anti-terrorism" laws would inevitably used primarily to squelch domestic dissent. It was only a matter of time. Yet, even after all these years of being right about such things again and again, it truly sucks to be proven right when it is on the backs of our honorable comrades, our radical brothers and sisters who had the courage to take the lead in the struggle when the beast came to their home town.
We need to be prepared to stand strong in solidarity with the St. Paul 8 for quite some time.

They've been used domestically for some time- ELF, ALF, etc- but to use them against people simply setting up logistics for a mass mobilization and perhaps working on some protest efforts is something else entirely... this is a new line they've crossed.

[welshboy]

Updates?

[bcbm]

A few of my friends are out, haven't heard from a few others. There's some weird shit going on in the jail/court with a close friend of mine and we're having a hard time getting updates. They've been specifically harassing people from my town and there's reason to believe we could be targeted. Things are a bit fucked right now.