RNC Eight

From the open publishing newswire: In the surest sign yet of the power of post-RNC court solidarity, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner has dropped two of four unfounded charges against the RNC 8. Caving to months and months of public pressure, Gaertner dropped one count of Conspiracy to Commit Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property in Furtherance of Terrorism.

“We are heartened by the fact that our supporters have won this concession,” said defendant Nathanael Secor. “It's taken a tremendous show of strength and solidarity over the past seven months.”

Breaking: Terrorism Charges Will Be Dropped | Original Story from Paul Demko/MN Independent | Press Release from Susan Gaertner (PDF) | Amended Complaint (PDF) |  Related News: Charge Against Activist Arrested at March 28 RNC 8 Event Also Dropped.  See 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

Minnesota Still Adversely Affected by Republican National Convention
Minnesota Prosecutor Petitioned by Thousands to End Persecution

by Coleen Rowley
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/coleen-rowley/minnesota-still-adversely_b_...

UPDATE 5:30PM: Single arrestee has been bailed out; he was arrested for "disorderly conduct" by Minneapolis Police.  Besides the one arrest, RNC 8 solidarity events this weekend were called a success and were well-attended!  Large police presence included St. Paul Police in Minneapolis plus general confusion, taxpayer money waste and tired old tactics on the part of the boys in blue. Look for a full feature with photos and video on TCIMC in the coming days.

Notes from RNC8 Solidarity Day: Nigel Parry letter to Police Chief Dolan, Flagstaff AZ anarcho-pillowfight=Teh Awesom!! Philly forms RNC8 Support Committee! Coleen Rowley: Thousands Who Petition Susan Gaertner Include "Minnesota 8" Draft Resisters Much love!

BREAKING 2:45PM: Police still around Walker Church, St. Paul leg of tour called off. Coldsnap has arranged bail and the arrestee will be out in a few hours. Feature story coming up.

BREAKING 1:35PM Sat 3/28: Many police vehicles around Walker Church.

BREAKING 12:30 PM Sat 3/28: At least one arrest on Tour De Fletcher ride. People expecting to continue to Walker Church around 1 PM. Details sketchy. Updates here & to twitter.com/tcimc as available.

Friends of the RNC 8 has called for a National Day of Solidarity with the RNC 8 on March 28, when events will be taking place nationwide. Locally, on Friday afternoon, supporters will deliver a first batch of petitions to drop the charges to Susan Gaertner's office in downtown St. Paul. On Saturday, a bike ride is planned to leave from Powderhorn Park in the morning to visit the sites of Sheriff Bob Fletcher's pre-emptive raids last August. The "tour de Fletcher" will include a stop for lunch and conclude at the site of the anti-RNC convergence center in St. Paul.

More News: Dave Mahoney trial set for June 1 | St. Paul wastes scarce resources for $50 fine | Two more RNC defendants acquitted; reduced charges for third | David McKay found guilty--court report from 3/17 | Macalester dorm raided in February in hunt for RNC evidence | Duluth Central Labor Body passes resolution for the RNC 8 | RNC '08 Report (read more below)

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!

Originally printed in Revolution Newspaper:
http://revcom.us/a/158online/RNC-pt-2-en.html

Read Part 1 here

Part 2: Informants and Undercover Agents: The Government’s Strategy To Disrupt, Set Up and Attack Opposition To The Republican National Convention

by Leslie Rose

Eight people organizing dissent around the 2008 Republican National Convention were "pre-emptively" targeted by the Ramsey County Sheriff prior to the RNC. The "RNC 8" face serious charges including "Conspiracy to Riot in the Furtherance of Terrorism" and are believed to be the first people to be charged under the state of Minnesota's version of the USA Patriot Act. This town hall gathering on January 25 was a community response to the authorities conduct. (video: ~58 min.)

Our World In Depth is aired locally twice weekly on MTN (Saturday at 9pm and Tuesday at 8am) and thrice weekly on SPNN (Tuesday at 5pm and midnight and Wednesday at 10am) immediately following Democracy Now!, and online at OurWorldInDepth.org.

Related: Saturday, March 28: National Day of Solidarity with the RNC 8 | RNC8.org