100 Confront Gaertner at DFL Fundraiser; No Arrests

UPDATE: Wednesday, Dec 10 - 11 AM - KFAI will feature "Clearing the Courts... and Our Consciences" hosted by Andy Driscoll and Lynnell Mickelson, talking with lawyers and defendants. With attorneys Larry Leventhal and Gena Bergland, Michael Friedman from the National Lawyers Guild and Legal Rights Center. Tune in FM 90.3 (Mpls) or 106.7 (St. Paul) or streaming live @ KFAI.

Last night's rally and dance party outside RNC felony prosecutor Susan Gaertner's gubernatorial fundraiser in downtown Minneapolis was a smashing success from the perspective of protest organizers. At 4:00, the RNC 8 held a press conference satirically endorsing Gaertner's run for Governor, and presenting a giant check for "Eight dollars and zero sense." Soon thereafter a banner was dropped from a nearby parking ramp, and the crowd for the CRASS-organized rally swelled to about 100. A large police presence of nearly two dozen MPD officers with a booking van and flexicuffs was also on the scene, but the crowd avoided arrests and ended the party at about 6:30, chanting "We'll be back!"

Meanwhile, the number of cases dismissed by St. Paul City Attorney John Choi this week is at 30 according to CRASS, all but three of which were scheduled for trial on December 15. Many of the cases are from the Shepherd Road and 7th/Jackson parking lot mass arrests. A minimum of 63 misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor cases have now been dismissed and a dozen others declined for prosecution.

Press Statement from the RNC 8 | CRASS | Petition to Susan Gaertner: Drop the Charges | "your felonies, your fault!" | Photos by kostyaissoli | (did you take photos or videos of the rally? publish or link to them on TC Indymedia and we'll add them here!)

Numbers reported in the Pioneer Press show that of 171 cases either resolved or ongoing, 10 have bench warrants, 27 have been resolvd, 62 are still open (that is, the accused are fighting the charges), and 72 have been declined or dismissed. Numbers calculated by CRASS are slightly different, but with a similar average of 75-80% of cases either being challenged or having been dismissed. The number of cases resolved or ongoing - 171 - is starkly short of the 808 arrests during the RNC. The massive arrest of 396 people during John McCain's acceptance speech is still being mulled over by Choi's office.

Meanwhile, Tuesday's rally had an appropriately festive atmosphere, boosted by the Funk Mobile Unit of the local Funk the War. It was, after all, in part a birthday celebration for Gaertner, and she received more than her fair share of Happy/Crappy Birthday renditions! Crowding alternately in front of the main entrance to the Minneapolis Club and the Club's private parking ramp, potential Gaertner supporters going in and out were harangued with noise, dancing, and demands that Gaertner drop all RNC felony charges, particularly those against the RNC 8. Flyers were handed out to confused but often sympathetic passersby, and the scene was a beautiful, noisy, funky ruckus!

Minneapolis police officers arrived even before the demonstrators, guarding both entrances to the building. As the party continued, more and more officers and an MPD booking van arrived. Soon, officers ordered partyers to move on the premise that they were blocking the sidewalk, after which the party would move to the other side of the club. Officers also took issue with the volume of the mobile sound system, after which it would temporarily be lowered. Eventually, a police megaphone declared the event an unlawful assembly and officers with rings of plastic handcuffs arrived, but the party continued for another half hour and no arrests were made. With a large number of cameras in the crowd, as well as the presence of corporate media, forcible arrests might have been too embarrassing for Gaertner and the Democratic Party.

It's yet to be seen whether the weakness of the cases given to St. Paul attorney Choi will also be felt in the Ramsey County offices of Susan Gaertner and the director of her prosecution division, Phil Carruthers. But it is clear that RNC arrestees and allies intend to continue pressuring Gaertner, and that the pressure is beginning to be felt: reports have already been heard that potential Gaertner donors have cited yesterday's protest in their decision to stay away. The question from many in Tuesday's crowd is: When's her next fundraiser going to be?