More information about protest and repression in St. Paul around the RNC.

MEDIA ADVISORY September, 4, 2008

For Immediate Release:

Contingent of Lawyers, Activists, and Media Take Concerns of Police Brutality at RNC to Mayor Coleman's Office

- WHAT: Attempt to meet with Mayor Chris Coleman about escalation of police brutality in St. Paul

- WHO: Lawyers, activists, and members of the media

- WHEN: September 4, 2008 @ 4:00 p.m.

- WHERE: St. Paul Mayor's Office, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.

Police violence has not been limited to the streets. The Coldsnap Legal Collective, providing support to people arrested at the RNC, has received numerous reports of abuse in the jails. In addition to widespread denial of medical attention, multiple people have been brutalized by Sheriff's Deputies inside their cells. At a press conference earlier today, recently released activist Elliot Hughes made statements that while in jail he had a bag placed over his head, a gag in his mouth, and was beaten to unconsciousness by multiple correctional officers.

 Whoa! This is scary!

Eight Members of RNC Activist Group Lodged with Terrorism Charges

Ramsey County prosecutors have formally charged eight members of a prominent activist group with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. The eight members of the RNC Welcoming Committee are believed to be the first persons ever charged under the 2002 Minnesota version of the federal PATRIOT Act. The activists face up to seven-and-a-half years in prison. We speak with the father of one of those charged and the president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. [includes rush transcript]

[correction: the arrest occurred in St. Paul, by Minneapolis Police.]

Democracy Now!

Click on the picture for further commentary.

After Ron Suskind Reveals Bush Admin Ordered Iraq-9/11 Fakery, House Judiciary Chair John Conyers Opens Congressional Probe

One of the things that is evident from all the discussions on this blog about the Port Militarization Resistance group and their activities in Olympia and Tacoma is that there is a huge difference in the underlying assumptions that people hold. Folks within the PMR use words like "empire" and "militarization," and I think that many who read this blog don't have the same context for understanding the meaning they are intended to convey. I wonder if would be possible to bring to the surface some of the context surrounding the meanings of those words through a shared set of documents, videos, podcasts, maps, etc. So, if you know of a good article, interview, analysis, or graphic, please put a link in the comments. After we've collected some material, we may be able to ground our discussion a bit more, and perhaps achieve a better understanding of the arguments, if not agreement on the positions.

Here's a link to the photo set: Port of Tacoma War Protest August 4th and 5th

bert

Olympia activists have been very prominent in recent protests against the revolving door of aggression between our government and Iraq. To update: several protestors and demonstrators have been arrested as a result of their attempts to stop the enabling function that public ports have for an illegal military action.

I support our troops and soldiers. I support the truth. Bush lied about the threat posed by Iraq. He lied in order to take the nation to war. The war is illegal and it debases humanity.

We have the power to stop the unnecessary sacrifice of our fellow Americans. We have the power to stop an act of aggression committed by our government.

Thank you to all those heroes who stand on the line in resistance to the militarization of society as our government plunges us into the darkness of aggression, and sacrifices young folk for the sake of a vision of global dominance.

Join PMR. We can stop the war.

You're Invited.

Elegant food, great company, important cause.

The Twins Legal Defense Fund Presents: Food for Justice, a secret cafe benefiting local activists Katie and Patsy Hutchison.  

Saturday, June 28
We're open 5:00 to 10:00 pm
816 Rogers St. NW, across from the Westside Co-op
Bring your friends and family!

Katie and Patsy are being targeted for prosecution, alongside numerous other community members, for their efforts to stop military shipments at the Port of Olympia.  Funds raised will help cover legal expenses relating to their case.

Call for reservations, or just show up. 360-918-8665

See you there!

Some of you may have read how SDS at Evergreen may have been planning to disrupt graduation tomorrow. Looks like that won't be the case. A faculty member involved in the mediation between the admins and SDS just released a brief on the conclusion of the sit-in and agreement between both SDS and the admins.

It is reproduced below: