Post-RNC Court Updates
5/21-22: David McKay setenced to 4 years. Coverage: Sentencing David McKay and Spinning the Media (CRASS) | Towards a More Empowering Militancy
5/19: The Star Tribune reports that FBI snitch Andrew Darst, convicted of assault earlier this year, avoids jail time in what appears to be a back room deal. Hennepin County prosecutor John Halla failed to show up for the sentencing by known racist judge Dan Mabley.
St. Paul City Attorney John Choi's record went from 1 RNC conviction to none over the weekend. Medic Sean McCoy was convicted of public assembly without a permit and levied a $50 fine earlier this year. Attorney Bruce Nestor then filed a motion for a new trial, which was granted on Friday. Nestor believes it is unlikely the state will continue the prosecution. However, in his decision (see PDF), Judge Edward Wilson rejected the argument that St. Paul's 25-person assembly ordinance is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Keith Smith goes to trial at 1:30 Monday at the Juvenile Justice Center at 7th and St. Peter in St. Paul. The city appears to be prosecuting Smith, whose iconic stand (or sit) in front of police lines and subsequent injuries (pictured) made headlines,due to his likelihood to sue. Read on for more court dates coming up fast. UPDATE: Smith was given an actual trial date in July. The prosecutor seemed to indicate that he is continuing with the case due to the possibility of civil litigation.
RNC Analysis--Where's There's Smoke... Anarchism After the RNC: "Such a brutal reaction might lead us to believe that 'we must be doing something right.' After all, where there's smoke, there's fire, right?"
Crimethinc Releases RNC Analyses | FBI Infiltrated Iowa Anti-War Group Before RNC | Crowder Receives Two Year Sentence (McKay 10am Thurs.)| Open Letter to Susan Gaertner from Susan Mahoney | RNC 8 Protest Gaertner Fundraiser | Jesse James and the RNC Others | Still Healing from the RNC? Event June 7
COURT UPDATES from CRASS:
People are still fighting their way through the courts. Come on out and support them! All hearings are at the Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul unless otherwise noted. For more information, email RNCcourtwatch@gmail.com.
Bradley Crowder: Bradley Crowder was sentenced last week to two years in prison for "possession of an unregistered firearm." He is still being held at Sherburne County Jail and you can write letters to him: Bradley Crowder, Sherburne County Jail, 13880 Highway 10, 13880 Business Center Drive, Elk River, MN 55330-4601
Keith Smith: Trial Monday, 1:30pm, Monday May 18 at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center on 7th and St. Peter, opposite Mickey’s Diner. Keith Smith is the only juvenile we know about facing RNC charges. It is a significant case because it’s obvious the State is prosecuting it because they fear a civil suit. His injuries have been very well documented, and he was denied medical care.
He has an incredibly supportive family, let’s show them the support he has here! Supporters must arrive early and check in with the family to be permitted to attend - and many have planned to. Juveniles do not get a jury trial – they have a judge. It does matter what the judge thinks. Please keep this in mind regarding court decorum.
David McKay: Sentencing 10am May 21, US Federal Courthouse in downtown Minneapolis.
Felony Sentencing: 9am, May 28.
MK3 motion hearing: Karen and Christina of the Milwaukee 3 have a motion hearing 9am, May 29.
Dave Mahoney's Trial: Dave is going to trial beginning Monday, June 1. As of last week, he is now facing a total of 10 felony counts, and the prosecution is not offering him any kind of plea deal. We'll have details about ways Dave could use your support in the next RNC800.
In the meantime, check out his support blog: http://www.helpdavemahoney.blogspot.com/
And check out this outstanding open letter to Susan Gaertner written by Dave's mom: http://tc.indymedia.org/2009/may/open-letter-susan-gaertner-ramsay-count...
Jesse Forrey: Jesse is on the trial call beginning June 1. He and Dave have the same judge. Visit his support space: http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com/
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an increase in repression
an increase in repression does not at all mean we're doing anything right? The state can repress us to merely justify its current state of existence.
For Political Advantage
An increase in repression means that someone (for instance Susan Gaertner or John Choi) believes that it will further their political careers to prosecute you.
By contrast, "dropping the charges" is an indication that they think that prosecuting you will harm their careers, or at least not benefit them as much as prosecuting someone else. (For instance, Richard Dusterhoff won an award for prosecuting a drug ring. Whether he will win any awards for prosecuting RNC cases, remains to be seen.)
Both Susan Gaertner and Richard Dusterhoff insist that they don't want to prosecute any more RNC cases, they're only doing it because someone <i>else</i> in the County Attorney's office wants to. So the question is, just who wants to keep on prosecuting these cases? Does Heidi Westby, prosecutor of the RNC8, have her eye on higher office?
This is why CRASS runs pressure campaigns -- because it <i>is</i> political. It is about these folks' political careers. They intend to advance to higher office on your backs.
Repeat after me: "John Choi prosecuted a <i>medic</i> for helping a man in a <i>wheelchair</i> who had been pepper-sprayed by the <i>police</i>."
The infamy of politicians knows no bounds.
Margaret
Courtwatch
Community RNC Arrestees Support Structure (CRASS)
"An increase in repression
"An increase in repression means that someone (for instance Susan Gaertner or John Choi) believes that it will further their political careers to prosecute you."
We're talking about people who are allegedly seeking/working toward the total destruction of the state and capital and subsequent state strategy to stop this. In this case it can be partially seen as a political manuver, but it is naive to think this is significant in their motivations. Repression is a response to economic, social and other trends and forces that threaten the stability of capital. Current state strategy seems to focus on dismantaling emergent threats before they can form, in what could be called a "permanent state of repression" or exeptional rule as rule. This would account for targeting the RNC 8 and the threat it poses which is honestly weak, and at most is part of an experimental and developing (posibily repetitive process) anti-state strategy. The RNC 8 was targeted also because it was a recognizable form, something the state could infiltrate, target and repress more easily than something that is unnamed and lurks in the shadows (metaphorically).
The whole issue with local politics and its strategy mystifies the real relation and subplants it with a psuedo critique of that of the egos of politicians rather than a totalizing system of domination.
Both Susan Gaertner and
Both Susan Gaertner and Richard Dusterhoff insist that they don't want to prosecute any more RNC cases, they're only doing it because someone <i>else</i> in the County Attorney's office wants to. So the question is, just who wants to keep on prosecuting these cases? Does Heidi Westby, prosecutor of the RNC8, have her eye on higher office?
<a href=http://www.boediger.net/>boediger</a>
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