Police Brutally Arrest Journalists & Citizens outside Republican National Convention

Activists Charged with Terrorism for Planning Civil Disobedience – Faced with 7 Years in Jail!

The arrest of more than 300 citizens and journalists participating in First Amendment protected protests in St. Paul is the latest sign that ours is a nation turning toward authoritarianism. Most recently 8 activists have received terrorism charges for planning civil disobedience! You must speak out!

On September 1, many journalists including Amy Goodman and her producers were arrested during a protest outside of the RNC. Stories are pouring in of other journalists who have been arrested. The editor of TowardFreedom.com recently said the publication’s reporter might be in jail. Journalists from the University of Kentucky were arrested on Wednesday. An Associated Press photographer was also arrested. Never-mind those we don’t know of. On Thursday, August 4 Democracy Now! Reported that “Ramsey County prosecutors have formally charged eight members of a prominent activist group with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism” (“Eight Members of RNC Activist Group Lodged with Terrorism Charges”).

According to Democracy Now! (August 3), on Tuesday: “police fired flash bang grenades and teargas at peaceful protesters after the end of a march led by the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. The grenades are designed to produce a deafening bang and a blinding flash. Twin Cities police arrested at least ten people on Tuesday, bringing the total number this week to over 300….Democracy Now! caught up with a medic shortly after he was freed after more than twenty hours behind bars. Medic: “There are still a whole lot of people in jail waiting to get out, and a lot of people are really uncertain about how they’re getting out. And some of them have various injuries from pepper spray and getting beat up by the cops before getting in” (“Police Fire Flash Grenades, Teargas at RNC Protesters”).

MEDIA COVERAGE

• Eight Members of RNC Activist Group Lodged with Terrorism Charges (includes interview with father of one of the accused)
• I-Witness Video Collective Forced Out of Living Space After Second Raid by St. Paul Police in Five Days
• Nearly 400 Arrested on Last Day of RNC, Including Over a Dozen Media Workers
• 400 Protesters Arrested Near Convention Sept. 5, Associated Press
• “We Are Not Terrorists”: Activists with the RNC Welcoming Committee Speak Out Against Police Crackdown & Terrorism Charges

WHAT YOU CAN DO -- TAKE ACTION!

I truly mean it when I say my heart is breaking as I read about more journalists and citizens being rounded-up in St. Paul; and innocent organizers being charges as terrorists. The good news is that despite the mainstream media's refusal to cover this story, people are nevertheless learning about the abuse of power and speaking out.

On September 5th (Friday) I spoke to a woman at the Ramsey County Attorney who says she has been hearing from people all around the world. Please use the numbers below and be just one more person they have heard from.

The woman I spoke to listened as I implored her to consider the implications of her office's actions. She asked me to go to the website but I continued to talk to her. I said that I didn't want to go to a website that I wanted to talk with HER. That I wanted to reminder her that behind websites there are people; I asked her to please set aside the script of her professionalism, to talk with me from American to American, from human to human. I'm not sure how much good I did, but she said the call had been documented; and she listened...now it's your turn. The more of us that call, the more they will have to listen.

Jeff Nall

TAKE ACTION

Our Democracy Depends on it!

EMAIL: 

DROP THE PHONY CHARGES AGAINST RNC PROTESTERS!DEFEND THE RIGHT TO DISSENT! (Petition from TroopsOutNow.org)

This is America. We don't jail journalists here. (Email campaign from Credo)

CALL

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
RCA at co.ramsey.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
651-266-3222

Susan Gaertner for Governor
info at susangaertner.com (cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
(612) 978-8625

St. Paul City Attorney John Choi
john.choi at ci.stpaul.mn.us (cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org) (651) 266-8710

Ramsey County Jail -- 651.266.9350
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman -- 651.266.8510
Ramsey County Sheriff's office -- 651.487.5149

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Eight Members of RNC Activist Group Lodged with Terrorism Charges

Ramsey County prosecutors have formally charged eight members of a prominent activist group with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. The eight members of the RNC Welcoming Committee are believed to be the first persons ever charged under the 2002 Minnesota version of the federal PATRIOT Act. The activists face up to seven-and-a-half years in prison. We speak with the father of one of those charged and the president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (Democracy Now!, August 4, 2008).

“St. Paul Police Shut Down Concert, Continue Assault

5,000 Marching Against Poverty Met with Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets” - ANSWER

Undeterred by a climate of heavy police repression and threats, over 5,000 protesters took to the streets of St. Paul to march against poverty on Sept. 2, the second day of the Republican National Convention. From the early morning until late into the night, thousands more took part in protest actions all over the city. The “Poor people’s march for our lives” marched through downtown St. Paul, past the Minnesota State Capitol and to the Xcel Center, site of the RNC. Made up of thousands of young people, the protest was militant and very multi-national. Vibrant chants of “Education, Not Occupation! Education, Not Incarceration!” echoed strongly throughout the march.

On day two, the police continued their intimidation tactics and brutality. Young people on bikes were targeted. The ANSWER delegation witnessed people being knocked off their bikes by police and arrested. Teams of bicycle cops systematically harassed, surrounded and questioned anyone who was walking to an anti-RNC event.

Police in riot gear shut down a permitted free concert at the State Capitol where thousands of people had gathered to listen to Rage Against the Machine. The police surrounded the band’s trailer and informed them that they were being shut down on the grounds that their concert would “incite a riot.” Rage Against the Machine defied the order and played a short acoustic set.

In the evening, police fired large amounts of teargas, “anti-crowd” explosives and pepper spray at thousands of protesters who gathered outside the Xcel Center at the end of the big anti-poverty march. The Xcel Center is surrounded by eight foot fencing and heavily guarded at all times.

On Sept. 2, another 10 people were arrested. The broad assault on the protesters has been coordinated at the federal and local level and carried out by the FBI, ICE, the National Guard, state police, local police and the coast guard.
….
Protests are continuing over the next two days with a mass march and rally on Thursday set to coincide with John McCain’s acceptance speech. The Minnesota Anti-war Committee is sponsoring the protest and the ANSWER Coalition along with many other local and national groups have endorsed the action

SOURCE: ANSWER

VIDEO OF DEMOCRACY NOW PRODUCER BRUTAL ARREST
VIDEO OF AMY GOODMAN’S ARREST
GOODMAN DISCUSSES HER ARREST & MISLEADING REPORTS OF “VIOLENT ANARCHISTS”
RNC Raids: Police Intimidate Community Organizers and Activists”