Twin Cities Indymedia
Wed, 09/03/2008 – 17:14
In what appears to be the first use of criminal charges under the 2002 Minnesota version of the Federal Patriot Act, Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Monica Bicking, Eryn Trimmer, Luce Guillen Givins, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor, Robert Czernik, Garrett Fitzgerald, and Max Spector, face up to 7 1/2 years in prison under the terrorism enhancement charge which allows for a 50% increase in the maximum penalty.
Affidavits released by law enforcement which were filed in support of the search warrants used in raids over the weekend, and used to support probable cause for the arrest warrants, are based on paid, confidential informants who infiltrated the RNCWC on behalf of law enforcement. They allege that members of the group sought to kidnap delegates to the RNC, assault police officers with firebombs and explosives, and sabotage airports in St. Paul. Evidence released to date does not corroborate these allegations with physical evidence or provide any other evidence for these allegations than the claims of the informants. Based on past abuses of such informants by law enforcement, the National Lawyers Guild is concerned that such police informants have incentives to lie and exaggerate threats of violence and to also act as provacateurs in raising and urging support for acts of violence.
“These charges are an effort to equate publicly stated plans to blockade traffic and disrupt the RNC as being the same as acts of terrorism. This both trivializes real violence and attempts to place the stated political views of the Defendants on trial,” said Bruce Nestor, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. “The charges represent an abuse of the criminal justice system and seek to intimidate any person organizing large scale public demonstrations potentially involving civil disobedience, he said.”
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Over 300 Protesters, Bystanders, Medics and Media Arrested: Update from Coldsnap Legal Collective
Copy of Affidavit Used in RNC-WC Raids
see
8 Members of RNC Activist Group Lodged with Terrorism Charges
Why We Were Falsely Arrested By Amy Goodman
Police State Methods: Preemptive Strikes Against Protest at the Republican National Convention
Federal government involved in raids on protesters by Glenn Greenwald + Police Seize Bus
National Lawyers Guild: Police Raid “Preventive Detention” + Greenwald’s report
Twin Cities Violence: Just What The RNC Ordered
ACLU Calls For Investigation Into Raids And Mass Arrests At RNC
Open letter to McCain & Supporters: F*** Off!
Ron Paul & Civil Liberties: A Debate with Con Carroll & Bruce Fein
The Bush Regime’s Imperial Affirmation: Endless War, Endless Conquest, Endless Repression
Dandelion Salad 
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Ok,
Didn’t Ms. McKinney have an oppertunity to speak at the Rally ? Where her organizers harrassed, detained, equiptment seized, visual aids confiscated, and was Ms. McKinney Questioned about her P.C. “true intentions” ?
If so, or not so, what’s the difference, and what’s the reason ?
What if this person was D. Kucinich, Ron Paul,
J. McCain, B. Obama, or G. Washinton ? Hmm…
Where is your Patriotism, and who’s pushing back ?
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This goes beyond being ridiculous. This insults the memories of the Americans killed in the 911 attacks.