Law Enforcement raids activists' space and houses in days preceding RNC

---cross-posted from www.rhubarbarism.com ----

In the last 24-hours, local law enforcement raided an anti-RNC activist convergence space in St. Paul and three houses in Minneapolis where activists were staying, arresting five people in all, at least three are being held on charges of conspiracy to riot.

At each location so far, Ramsey County Sheriff deputies working with local police and fire, have seized computers and literature, as well as testing substances in a mobile lab. Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI were also reportedly present at the raid on the 3500 block of Harriet Avenue.

At the raid of the Convergence Space, which took place around 10 p.m. on Friday night during a movie viewing, around 65 people were originally detained in plastic handcuffs. All but one person was released after police collected names and photos of those detained.

Raids on activists' residences in Minneapolis started around 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. They involved houses on the 3200 block of 17th ave., the 3500 block of Harriet ave., and the 2300 block of 23rd ave.

The warrants gave police the right to search for "bomb-making" materials, which includes many commonplace household chemicals including soap flakes, paint, bleach, electronic devices like Mp3 players and communication devices, according to legal observers. The warrants for the Saturday raids also explicitly listed that police pursue "media in whatever form."

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher described the RNC Welcoming Committee, group running the convergence center, as a "a criminal enterprise made up of 35 self-described anarchists who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention," according to a statement.

Activists from the RNC Welcoming Committee held a press conference Saturday morning on Harriet Island where they condemned the raids as police harassment.

"The convergence center is simply a gathering place and is not used for illegal actions – it is a place for workshops and trainings. Tonight we were watching films and sharing food."

Activists and residents in Minneapolis will hold a community meeting on Saturday afternoon in Powderhorn Park to discuss the raids.

---cross-posted from www.rhubarbarism.com ----