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By Dan Feidt for Twin Cities Indymedia -- A new documentary on the 2008 Republican National Convention, Better This World, screens at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival on Sunday and next Wednesday, and on PBS POV nationwide on Sept. 6th. Directed by Kelly Duane and Katie Galloway, the film premiered in March at SXSW in Austin, TX, earned stellar reviews from industry critics like Variety, and just days ago, Documentary Jury Prize at the 2011 Sarasota Film Festival.

Better This World exposes one of the most sinister & depressing narrative threads of the RNC, the elaborate federal sting operation staged from March-September 2008 upon two young activists from Texas, David McKay and Bradley Crowder, who wanted to participate in the Twin Cities protests, guided the whole way by the older famous activist and paid FBI operative Brandon Darby.

It's relieving to see these disturbing events and the independent media material reaching a national audience. [See TCIMC's previous Texas Two coverage] Twin Cities Indymedia, Glassbead Collective and other RNC videographers contributed footage -- and Better This World expands our view of events first shown in the Indymedia/Glassbead RNC documentary Terrorizing Dissent. PGH-IMCer Nigel Parry's RNC08Report.org helped provide substantive research for the film.

"Better This World" screens at St. Anthony Main Theatre Sun April 24th, 4:30pm, Weds April 27 9:30pm. Nationwide on PBS POV Sept. 6.
Also: Fantastic & funny Frank López film "End:Civ" screens 4/30 @ 7pm, Mayday Weekend at MayDay Bookstore in Cedar-Riverside (limited seating) and June 6 @ 7pm Walker Church, special Q&A with López & Waziyatawin! Below the fold: Untold details of the Texas Two case.

FRIDAY morning: See update here - UMPD/administration kicks out occupiers overnight and issues statement against right to protest in public buildings. Occupiers are returning this morning with events planned - see more at link above!

TUESDAY Update: Occupation continued today, movie nite happening at 7:30! For more visit http://umnsolidarity.wordpress.com... or come down to the Social Sciences building on the West Bank.

UPDATE 1AM: A group of students were permitted to stay in the building beyond the official 11pm closing time Monday night, and the occupation will continue on Tuesday.

Press release via UMNsolidarity.wordpress.com: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Hallie (612)217-2462, umnsolidarity@gmail.com

Students and Community Supporters Occupy Social Sciences Tower at University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus – West Bank
Occupying in Solidarity with Wisconsin Students and Workers and Against University Budget Cuts

Minneapolis – On Monday, March 28th, a group of students and community members have occupied the first floor of the Social Sciences tower on the West Bank of the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. Following a rally in front of Coffman Memorial Union, participants marched across the East Bank of campus and crossed the Mississippi River onto the West Bank. Students and supporters entered into the first floor of the Social Sciences tower and held an assembly to discuss possible courses of action. Using a democratic process of consensus, protesters decided to hold the space in an open and soft occupation.

Since the occupation is non-violent and open, as of press time the University has not removed the occupiers. However, the University buildings close to the public at 11 pm each night. “We have a solid group of people here who are committed to the occupation, and we are using social media to bring more students and supportive community members to the space,” said undergraduate student Andrew, who has chosen not to give his last name. “We are planning specific events for the space in order to benefit the entire community, which we will be posting on our blog, umnsolidarity.wordpress.com,” added Sara, a U of M student who was forced to take a semester off of school for lack of finances.

Students and community supporters are outraged over soaring tuition, budget cuts, skyrocketing administrative salaries, mounting student debt, attacks on cultural diversity groups on campus, and blatant disregard for workers’ rights across the nation. In light of recent student and worker uprisings around the world, students in the Twin Cities are no longer willing to bear the burdens of the economic crisis while the rich only get richer. Inspired by the actions of students at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Madison, and other campuses around the state, U of M students are standing up against injustices in their own state and their own university.

Earlier message from the University of Minnesota Campus:
Social science tower OCCUPIED! Join us! The rally, march, and assembly have turned into an occupation!
Join us in the occupied lounge on the first floor of the social sciences tower on the West Bank. Come meet and talk with folks who are working on actions in solidarity with workers and students.
Meeting tonight at 7pm. Dance party at 9pm. Keep an eye out for our upcoming events soon to be posted on our blog.
Please help us bring folks in by inviting all of your friends to this Facebook event: facebook.com/event.php?eid=205660092795957
For updates, check out our blog at: umnsolidarity.wordpress.com/
Map for Social Sciences building on West Bank
Below the fold: Indymedia photos, photo composite hi-res earlier callout for today's walkout:

by Felix Bunke, participant

State worker at the Wisconsin State Historical Society's library; Volunteer at Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative

UPDATE: Thursday's 11am press conference/protest has been moved to Bethany  Lutheran Church at 2511 E. Franklin, due to the explosion of a natural gas line at 60th and Nicollet this morning.

Protesters Assaulted by Cub Security Guards -- Action and Announcement Planned for Thursday, March 17