Video: RNC 8 Supporters Mobilize as Police Continue Intimidation
UPDATE 4/9: The one activist arrested at the "Tour de Fletcher" for alleged disorderly conduct has had his case dismissed due to "insufficient evidence" from the prosecutor.
On March 27, RNC 8 supporters delivered petitions and letters in song to Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, demanding she drop the charges. Several plainclothes deputies were present and photographed activists. The next day, the National Day of Solidarity with the RNC 8, supporters held the Tour de Fletcher in Minneapolis, a bike ride to the sites of pre-emptive house raids last August. They were trailed by a disproportionate, multi-jurisdictional police presence which filmed, took photos and recorded license plate numbers outside the ride's conclusion at a benefit chili lunch. One activist was arrested, charged with disorderly conduct and released on bail. Long after the ride concluded and was declared a success, the cops stayed around, prompting many to draw the parallel between the waste of resources on the RNC 8 prosecution and the waste of 20-30 police officers to monitor a legal bike ride and lunch. Other events were held in at least 15 cities nationwide. Dozens of Tour de Fletcher photos from photojournalist Alan Wilfahrt | Friends of the RNC 8/CRASS press release | Rowley: Prosecutor Gaertner Petitioned by Thousands to End Persecution | Letter to MPD Chief Dolan | Arizona IMC: Flagstaff Pillow Fight for RNC 8 and other targets of state repression | More photos below
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The cop on the radio...
Who does Coyle, the cop on the radio, think he's kidding?
"I'm trying to talk to some of these nice young people but they're not being very friendly about it... they're not very forthcoming on their information, so I guess they don't want to be safe on their bicycle ride."
WTF? Since when is anyone in America required to file their planned bicycle route with the police department? Bicycles aren't airplanes and cops aren't the FAA.
flying monkey airlines
i assume flying monkeys file with the FAA.
If anyone busts out unicycles, they'll call in NORTHCOM and the National Guard. Money is no object!!
Damn vegan potlucks - will these subversive cells of foodsharing never quit!
games
Get with it, this shit is real. Why do we keep playing these games? Assuming the mercy of the state and personalizing its apparatus will end us all up jail. Susan Gartner doesn't give a fuck whether or not your a terrorist or not. It's arbitrary. The law is arbitrary, but what is not is people reproducing its logic by obeying it.
We define a new world through our actions, not by the existing language of domination.
Gaertner isn't "apparatus,"
Gaertner isn't "apparatus," she's a human being. Reducing people to bits of machinery IS the existing language of domination. I agree that we need to be careful about how we craft our message and actions, but I think it's possible to appeal to Gaertner's better self without grovelling- and why not? The humans who run the state are its greatest weakness and ultimate downfall.
An apparatus isn't
An apparatus isn't necessaryly un-human or machinic, but since you're going by this definition. You have to conceed that she is at least a cyborg, and that she has shown her alligance to the apparatus.
Why not grovell?...
Because humans don't "run the state." The state runs humans.
As the case of the RNC is example of, it is suicide to assume the mercy of the state.
Schedule of solidarity events
Would be awesome to hear about what happened in these spots.
*****
Join in the National Day of Solidarity with the RNC 8, March 28! Through ingenuity and solidarity we can accomplish the most amazing feats, as those on the streets of St. Paul can attest. The prosecution of the RNC8 is a naked attempt to criminalize above-ground legal organizing — and we will not let friends and fellow travelers go to jail without a fight! Solidarity events around the country are happening throughout the week, culminating on Saturday. For a full listing of event details, visit RNC8.ORG. Public events have been announced so far in the following cities (and we've been hearing rumors of more):
Minneapolis–St. Paul:
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
Serenade Susan Gaertner:
Deliver petitions to drop the charges to Ramsey County Attorney and DFL gubernatorial candidate Gaertner’s office
Meet at 3:30 outside Ramsey County Government Center–West, 50 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
Click here for more details: rnc8.org/
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
Tour de Fletcher: a bike ride reclaiming the sites of Bob Fletcher’s raids
plus a sliding scale lunch, activities and surprises.
Gather at 10:30 at Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis; ride to raid sites; lunch around 12:30 at Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave. S., Minneapolis; followed by optional ride to St. Paul
Click here for more details and poster download: rnc8.org/
Baltimore, Maryland:
Film Showing benefit for the RNC 8
Terrorizing Dissent and The Potentiality of Storming Heaven, plus discussion about resistance to state and police repression
Thursday, March 26, 10pm
Maryland Institute College of Art, Brown Center room 320
1300 W Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217
Hosted by Baltimore Resistance to Electoral Conventions
For more info: baltimoreresistance (at) riseup.net
Denver, Colorado:
Defend the RNC 8!
Terrorizing Dissent film screening, discussion, vegan treats, cool posters, and a lecture by Indi Butler
Saturday, March 28th, 7pm
CAVP office @ 304 Elati St, Denver
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Defend the RNC 8!
Vegan chicken and waffles benefit brunch, Terrorizing Dissent film screening, discussion and updates
Saturday, March 28th, 1pm
Bloom Collective, 1134 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
Iowa City, Iowa
Screening of “Terrorizing Dissent”
followed by discussion of the RNC 8 case and the issues of government and police represssion more generally. $5 donation welcome.
Saturday, March 28, 4-6pm
Iowa City Public Library room E “upstairs”
123 South Linn St., Iowa City, IA 52240
Hosted by Wild Rose Rebellion
Madison, Wisconsin:
Screening of “Terrorizing Dissent” - plus potluck, discussion, and updates
Saturday, March 28th - 7pm potluck, 8pm movie and discussion
Donations welcome $5-10 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of $$$
Madison Infoshop, below Nature’s Bakery (outdoor screening/BBQ if weather permits!)
1019 Williamson Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703
(608) 262-9036 for more info
New Haven, Connecticut:
Terrorizing Dissent (Part 3) screening, discussion, and bake sale/vegan pizza sale with TJ’s Vegan Pizza Collective
Friday, March 27th, 7-9pm
$5-15 suggested donation (nobody turned away)
Unitarian Universalist Society of New Haven
608 Whitney Avenue
Hosted by the Elm City Infoshop
New York City:
Cinema (Exciting RNC Protest Footage!), Snacks (Delicious & Vegan!) & Speakers (Short & Sweet! Learn about the RNC8 & the current state of Domestic Terrorism Laws)
Saturday, March 28th, 7pm
$5.00 donation
The Change You Want See Gallery
84 Havemeyer Street, Storefront, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Trains: L to Bedford, J to Marcy, G to Metropolitan
Philadelphia:
Monday, March 23:
Terrorizing Dissent movie screening and discussion
6:30 pm
2307 N. Fawn St (near Dauphin and 12th, 4 blocks north of the Tyler building)
Saturday, March 28:
TNBT pre-party and RNC8 t-shirt release
8pm to 12
for details/more info email nernc8support@riseup.net
Portland, Oregon:
Wednesday, March 25
Pizza Benefit for the RNC 8!
Delicious homemade vegan pizza straight from the recipe book of the old Spokes Pizza Collective (RIP) in Minneapolis. You know you want some, so come get some! Proceeds to the RNC 8. Show some solidarity!
7pm
Red and Black Cafe
400 SE 12th avenue at Oak, Portland
Thursday, March 26
Benefit show for the RNC 8
9pm, $3 donation
Plan B: 1305 SE 8th Ave., Portland
(click for flyer)
Viroqua, Wisconsin:
RNC 8 Fundraiser
with screening of Terrorizing Dissent part 3, discussion, potluck and friends!
Friday, March 27th, 7-9 pm
GreenMan Music Hall in the Viroqua Public Market
215 South Main Street
Viroqua, WI 5466
It's not too late to finalize an event in your city. Email us at info@rnc8.org to get plugged in with resources for organizing. And find details on all the events at:
www.rnc8.org
* * * * * * * *
Also on Friday in Minneapolis, you can find some of the RNC 8 and supporters at MANIFESTATION, a continuation of the Ripple Effect concert at the RNC at First Avenue from 8pm on. For details, visit rncaftermath.org or livewithsubstance.org
Finally, click here to listen to RNC 8 co-defendants Rob and Max and NLG attorney Larry Leventhal speak about the case:
rnc8.org/
See you on the weekend!
--Friends of the RNC 8
RNC8.org
info@rnc8.org
case dismissed
the one arrested rider had his case dismissed - see the update above
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