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BY Karlee Weinmann
PUBLISHED: 12/02/2008
On Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner’s birthday Tuesday evening, she held her first fundraiser for her 2010 gubernatorial bid.
Outside, the RNC 8 — a group prosecuted by Gaertner’s office for conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism — and the Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure, formed in response to mass protester arrests at the Republican National Convention. They sang, danced and spoke against Gaertner’s campaign.
A police presence grew to more than 20 as the crowd of protesters swelled to about 100. Police twice threatened to arrest the protesters for unlawful assembly if they didn’t clear sidewalks, but the crowd stayed mobile.
Eventually, tensions between the crowd and police dissipated, though police stayed stationed at the building’s entrance. No one was arrested.
Before the dance party, five members of the RNC 8 held a news conference to endorse Gaertner for governor, saying they “could think of no better birthday present for [their] favorite prosecutor and politician.”
They also unfurled a large check — a 2-foot-by-6-foot banner — made out to Gaertner’s campaign for “Eight [dollars] and no sense.”
Many times over, protesters wished the DFLer a happy birthday using a megaphone.
But from outside the Minneapolis Club downtown, the protesters’ message was clear: drop the never-before-used felony charges against the RNC 8.
They say Gaertner sanctioned the trumped-up conspiracy charges for the eight protesters for political reasons, to bolster her resume amid a gubernatorial bid.
But it’s a more effective political move for the RNC 8 than it would be for Gaertner, University of Minnesota-Morris political science professor Paula O’Loughlin said.
“I don’t think it would benefit her politically to be pursuing the RNC 8 for political reasons,” O’Loughlin said. “Members of the Minnesota public, at least as it was shown in the press, seemed to be fairly sympathetic to the protesters.”
Plus, it’s still early in the 2010 governor’s race, she said.
“The battle for governor has just begun and that situation is so fluid,” O’Loughlin said. “There’s so many other factors involved at the point.”
Gaertner did not comment for this story, but Phil Carruthers, director of the prosecution division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office , said charges against the RNC 8 are valid.
“A judge signed the complaint so it means the judge found that there was probable cause, so there’s a legal basis to charge the cases the way they were charged,” he said. “As to how it will turn out, we’ll just have to see.”
And whether or not rallies put pressure on prosecutors, protesters are committed to making their case — and likely benefitting from it.
“What the RNC 8 is getting out of this is they’re getting attention to their cause,” O’Loughlin said. “Otherwise they were fading into the woodwork.”
That’s something they don’t plan to do.
As Tuesday night’s rally drew to a close, RNC 8 member Rob Czernik sang “Happy Birthday” to Gaertner from outside her party, and pledged to hold similar events at the candidate’s future campaign functions.
It’s an effort to keep attention focused on the case, and ultimately get charges wiped away, RNC 8 member and University of Minnesota student Max Specktor said.
“I know that if we keep fighting these charges,” he said, “they should get dropped.”
20 Comments
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awesome rally!
can't wait to see the whole story tomorrow - one thing that should be added though, is that the rally was organized mostly by CRASS - Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure, RNCaftermath.org - and that the demands were for all 18 felony charges under Gaertner to be dropped, not just the RNC 8. they're all bogus!
Drop the Charges !
What a freaking waste of our tax dollars! Drop the bogus charges. I can't believe how egotistical our city leaders are. Our city leaders where paid off by the 50 million dollars from the GOP. But tax payers are footing the bill of these court cases.
Thanks you MN Daily for this balance coverage.. something that Pioneer Press and Star Tribune have forgotten how to do.
And I was encourage to see all those who turned out to say: DROP THE CHARGES!
Put the punks away
Not only should Ramsey County not drop the charges, but they should throw these punks in jail and accidentally lose the key. Don't break the law and you won't have charges filed against you ya thick headed, hippie-wannabes. What a bunch of degenerates.
They've Committed No Crime
Oh, so just because some prosecutor decides to build her career off the backs of eight community organizers, that makes them "punks" who deserve to be thrown in jail. These dedicated young people run Food Not Bombs and Sisters Camelot--services that provide healthy, high quality food to low income people free of charge. They are deeply involved in activities that make life better in our community. They should receive accolades but because the powers-that-be need an enemy to justify their $50 million expense for RNC security and they need cover for the outrageous brutality and police-state measures they rained down on the twin cities, they are targeting these people and ten others whose only "crime" was to organize First Amendment protected protests. This is all about criminalizing dissent, not prosecuting actual crimes. We must stop this juggernaut. If these prosecutions are successful, no one will be safe to protest even as our government wages unjust wars and our economy collapses under widespread financial corruption.
Michelle Gross
Communities United Against Police Brutality
Totally!
It's not a crime to throw a brick or a trash can through the window of an unrelated business simply because someone you didn't like came to town!
I do it every time my mother-in-law comes to visit and I've never been arrested.
While they might not be guilty of all of the charges against them, it doesn't mean they committed no crime.
Also, wasn't there a daily article last week about how Food not Bombs digs food out of dumpsters?
http://www.mndaily.com/2008/11/11/dumpster-dining
I'm fairly certain it's illegal to serve dumpster food for charity. Last time I checked with the state health board they didn't approve of dumpsters as food storage containers no matter how cold is outside. Just because you feel their actions are justified doesn't mean they are legal or even ethical. I bet most people would view it as unethical to serve trash to someone simply because they cannot afford better food.
The RNC 8 weren't behind the
The RNC 8 weren't behind the broken windows. They were arrested in their own homes for planning a ruckus. I agree that the vandals should be punished, but these people didn't actually do anything - they just planned.
Thick headed degenerate? COME
Thick headed degenerate? COME TA PENN STAAAAATE!
Lame...
Bunch of over privileged kids playing "protest" next month they'll all go vegan for a few weeks and forget all about this.
You have no idea what you're
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Free Plaxico Burress!
In 2008, a crack football unit was sent to the Super Bowl by an NFL commissioner for a season they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security VIP lounge to the New York underground. Today, still wanted by the Patriots, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The New York Giants.
Hey Michelle
You madame, are everything that is wrong with this country. Yes, they most certainly did commit crimes and yes they damn well should go to prison for it. I don't care if they're community organizers, priests, gang bangers or 90-year old knitting grandmas - try and get this through your thick frickin skull. Are you ready? IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, PREPARE TO BE PROSECUTED AND FACE CONSEQUENCES. Take note ya pinheaded ditz.
You should remember your own
You should remember your own words the next time you use a copy machine. If you copy a published work, that's breaking the law and you deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. You're also breaking the law when you watch a copyrighted youtube video... and when you exceed the speed limit... and when you don't signal before a turn... and when you don't give bicyclists 3 feet of space... and when you drive home after drinking 2 beers with your dinner... and when you swear in public... etc. etc. etc. Virtually everyone in our society has broken one law or another because there are so many ludicrous laws on the books. There are some places where baggy pants are illegal! Conspiracy?!? That's a charge a 4 year old would find logical ("but he was GONNA do it!"). Why can't cops bust people in the act? They can send 26 cops to bust a lowly house party in Dinkytown...
Good thing for you stupidity
Good thing for you stupidity isn't illegal.
I mean... Good thing for
I mean...
Good thing for Ricardo stupidity isn't illegal.
Planning and executing crimes in an organized group is a crime
It's called conspiracy, folks. You plan the crime, you do the time. The sad part is most of the hippies supporting the RNC 8 and hating on Gaertner, will be voting for her for governor in a few years. Gaertner is a DFL, with capital D-F-L.
They didn't execute any
They didn't execute any crimes. They merely planned them, which makes them about as criminal as a high schooler with a malicious note. It's crazy that they could face years in jail for mere planning. Planning didn't do anything. Any one of them may have chickened out before actually committing a crime, but the state didn't give them the chance to do so. If anything, these people should pay some fines and serve some probation.
Here's a little experiment. I'm PLANNING to have a loud party and serve minors alcohol. Will Minneapolis send over 26 cops to bust my planning and write me a bunch of tickets?
Gaertner isn't really interested in crimes, only publicity
What were the real crimes committed? Well, the two most famous were breaking the Macy's window and breaking some patrol car windows. Yet, for some reason, the patrol car window breakage was completely ignored by scores of cops all around; they didn't stop the breakage or make any attempt to arrest those who broke those windows out. As for the Macy's window, reports are that the person breaking the window came from behind police lines and returned back behind police lines after the window was broken. I personally have made nearly 20 calls to various officials in the St Paul police, the Ramsey County sheriff's office, the St Paul city attorney's office and Ramsey county prosecutor Susan Gaertner's office, and I have asked the simple question, "Has anyone been charged for those two crimes." You wouldn't believe the stonewalling and run-around I have been getting! Try it yourself, if you doubt me.
Not only that, they are stonewalling on releasing any of the supposed 6,000 hours of videotape. Not only that, they have not announced a single charge or even administrative actions against any of the black-clad stormtroopers who assaulted dozens of innocent bystanders during the convention
My conclusion: There is no interest at all in prosecuting actual crimes, since these crimes were either permitted to justify the $50 million state of siege in St Paul, or they were actually committed by those paid by Sheriff Fletcher's office. No, friends, I am very sorry. I truly believe in law and order, but that's not what's going on. This is raw political ambition at work here on the part of Bob Fletcher and Susan Gaertner, nothing more.
stonewalling and run-around
hey Charley-and anyone else who has done their research--i'm trying to do research on the video evidence the police have of the RNc, and would appreciate getting interviews with you about what you've seen in the aftermath of this fiasco. of course rumors like the macy's window-smasher can't go in print except on blog comments like this, but if there's serious police stonewalling, the conspiracies can at least be looked at both ways.--can we arrest the police for conspiracy to charge protesters with absurd terrorism charges?
Where is the evidence?
I am always amused when the words of "officials" are repeated as fact - ironclad and undeniable. It worked out so well when W convinced everyone that Saddam Hussein was stashing those famous weapons of mass destruction.
There is one simple fact that everyone seems to ignore - Bob Fletcher and John Harrington are liars (the definition of a liar being one who tells lies).
Let's first re-visit the feces and urine issue. Where is it, Bob? John says it was thrown at his officers over 100 times. Are there any witnesses or photographs? Is there any video footage? It seems to me Bob "piss boy" Fletcher has had ample opportunity to have that dirty dishwater analyzed. I know I would remember exactly when and where somebody threw feces and/or urine at me. I know there were surveillance cameras, people, people taking pictures and people shooting video all over St Paul. Do you mean to tell me that crap was flung over 100 times and nobody saw it? It was never captured on film? Anybody want to buy an acre on the moon?
Fletcher claimed the town would have burned. He goes on to say they lost control for about two and a half hours. Why is the town still standing? There was supposed to be a burning dumpster. However, the police reports mention a dumpster tipped over - not burning. The available video evidence also shows the dumpster was not ablaze. There are a whole lot of inconsistencies, but very few people are asking about them. Why? Are we that eager to be spoon-fed propaganda?
If the RNC8 are such bad people, terrorists in fact, why are they allowed to roam the streets? I thought we didn't want terrorists running free. Oh yeah, I'm not supposed to ask questions when there are logical inconsistencies.
Please Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Harrington and Mrs. Gaertner, give me some truth.
Remember 9/11
When terrorists killed thousands of Americans on 9/11, we were all horrified, traumatized and deeply, deeply saddened. Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, supposedly to keep us safe from such horrible acts.
Now, seven years later, the PATRIOT Act is being used to prosecute the RNC 8. I live two doors down from three of them. They're out on bail, and may be for years. They walk by my house every day. Their cat hangs out on my porch. Why is the government allowing these "terrorists" to wander around? Because they know damn well they're not terrorists and pose no threat to anyone. If they have committed a crime (since there hasn't been a trial, I have no evidence one way or another), it doesn't seem to be terrorism.
The way that the word "terrorist" is being thrown around is an insult to the victims of 9/11. Their memory and their blood is being used to suppress political dissent. It's just one more way that the 9/11 terrorists have hurt us, this time with the help of lying cops and gutless politicians. So no, I will not be voting for Susan Gaertner or Chris Coleman for governor in 2010. They've shown who's side they're on, and it's not mine.
Remember, whenever an authoritarian regime takes over a country, there are always a lot of citizens (and even more cops) who support it. Those of you who are so eager to see these young people imprisoned need to take a look at why you take such delight in this idea. Why do you want to see another human being suffer so badly, especially if it's based on their identity as a "privileged kid", "punk" or "wannabe hippie"? What's going on in your soul, and is it doing you any good?
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