sean mccoy

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

mccoy-decision.pdf

St. Paul City Attorney John Choi has a 1 for 10 (or 1 for 34, depending on how you look at it) record in RNC misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions; only Sean McCoy, a Montana street medic, was convicted on a single charge out of 10 defendants and 34 charges brought to trial thus far.  Judge Edward Wilson sentenced McCoy last month to a $50 fine plus an additional $31 in costs for the conviction on one count of Public Assembly Without a Permit.  Yesterday, McCoy and National Lawyers Guild attorney Bruce Nestor filed a motion asking the court to order a new trial.

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)

Recent acquittals and dropped charges highlight the continued waste of taxpayer funds in pursuing RNC cases

Press Release from Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure, March 23rd, 2009