Charges against 3 of RNC8 dropped!

Great news today from St Paul via Friends of the RNC8:

The RNC 8 received some surprising news Thursday afternoon - charges against Luce Guillen-Givins, Monica Bicking and Eryn Trimmer have been dropped!

The fact that charges have been dismissed against these three members of what Ramsey County has for two years labeled a “criminal enterprise” exposes the political motivations behind this case. Although today’s news is an amazing development, charges against four of the eight defendants still remain and must continue to be fought with renewed strength.

Thanks to everyone who has struggled alongside the 8 and the RNC 8 Defense Committee to help get these charges dropped - and please join us as we continue to seek justice for Max, Rob, Garrett and Nathanael. We’ll post more information and analysis on this development soon - stay tuned.

Still, one person facing prosecution for the "crime" of feeding and housing activists is one too many. By moving forward with the case, Ramsey County is keeping all political organizers in in its sights.

Trial for the four remaining defendants begins October 25. Mark your calendar and consider making the trip to St Paul to show some Northland solidarity. Carpool details coming soon.

Oct. 25 Trial Date for RNC 8 -- and New Video!

In 2007, a parody video urging people to protest the 2008 Republican National Convention prompted a massive undercover investigation by local police and federal agents on a group of Twin Cities-based organizers: the ironically-named RNC Welcoming Committee. The investigation culminated in armed raids of activist homes and meeting spaces; hysterical press conferences about curtain rods, cans of paint and other "weapons" uncovered during the raids; and the arrest of eight alleged ringleaders of a "criminal anarchist" plot. The eight were initially charged with conspiracy to commit riot in furtherance of terrorism. They aren't accused of committing any violence, nor did they make it to the protests. It appears their crime was to organize food, housing and communications for the thousands of people who converged on St Paul to resist the truly violent policies of the corporate and political elite.

How to respond to this prosecutorial lunacy? Make another parody, of course!



The case was slammed by the Duluth Central Labor Body and Duluth DFL, among others, as a "politically-motivated prosecution" and threat to civil liberties. In response, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner dropped the terrorism enhancement, but added another felony count of conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property. If convicted, Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald each face years in prison.

A full year and a half after the raids, the RNC 8 have finally been given a trial date of October 25. Please mark your calendars and consider traveling to St Paul to show your support! If the state is successful at prosecuting the RNC 8, any one of us who struggles for justice and peace could be next. For more about the case and to donate to the RNC 8 legal defense, visit rnc8.org.

One year ago today...

Thousands of people took to the streets of St Paul during the Republican National Convention to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other issues. The police responded by suspending civil rights and attacking activists, journalists and passersby. More than 800 people were arrested.

Today, the National Lawyers' Guild announced a class-action lawsuit against the City of St Paul over the mass arrest of 200 people on the first day of the convention. Civil liberties groups, journalists and activists promise more to come.

Call Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner

-- 651-266-3222 --
ask her to drop charges against the RNC 8!

Most of the RNC-related arrests were baseless, and have been dismissed by prosecutors or the courts. But some activists are still facing felony charges, most notably the RNC 8. The RNC 8 are a group of anarchist organizers who were involved in coordinating food, housing, and communications for the protests. They were arrested before the convention, during violent police raids of private homes and activist centers. The most inflammatory terrorism charges brought against the RNC 8 by Ramsey County were dropped this summer under tremendous public pressure, but the 8 are still facing years in prison under equally unjust charges of conspiracy to riot. Please take a moment to call Susan Gaertner and ask her to stop the assault on community organizers and drop all charges against the RNC 8!

While most of Minnesota's DFL establishment has remained silent or complicit in these abuses, the Duluth DFL - with the support of the Duluth Central Labor Body - has taken a strong stand in support of the RNC 8 and against the police violence and civil rights abuses that happened in St Paul. Three key players in the RNC-related repression - Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, St Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, and Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak, have either declared their candidacy or are widely expected to seek DFL endorsement for governor in 2010.

Duluth DFL supports the RNC 8 and demands investigation of RNC-related police violence

On May 16, Duluth Democratic-Farmer-Labor party delegates passed two resolutions related to law enforcement actions during the 2008 Republican National Convention in St Paul. The first echoes Amnesty International's call for an independent investigation into charges of police violence and civil liberties violations - a demand that has been widely ignored by the DFL establishment in St Paul and Minneapolis. The second resolution asks DFL gubernatorial hopeful and current Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner to drop charges against the RNC 8, a group of anarchist organizers who were swept up in pre-protest police raids and charged with conspiracy to riot and "furthering terrorism."

Delegate to the 17,000-member Duluth Central Labor Body unanimously condemned the prosecution of the RNC 8 in March. Days after received a copy of the DCLB resolution, Susan Gaertner dropped the most inflammatory terrorism charges against the 8.

Below are the two DFL resolutions.

Resolution for Investigations of Civil Rights Abuses During the RNC

Whereas tens of thousands of Minnesotans were inspired by the war in Iraq and other disastrous policies of the Bush Administration to take part in protests against the Republican National Convention (RNC) when it was held in St Paul on September 1-4, 2008; and
Whereas the RNC was designated a “National Security Event” by the Department of Homeland Security, leading to the heavy influence of Bush-era federal agencies in RNC-related law-enforcement operations; and
Whereas human rights, civil liberties and press freedom organizations have raised serious accusations, supported by video evidence, of excessive police force and civil rights violations against participants in RNC-related protests, including but not limited to: raids on activist homes and confiscation of political literature; surveillance and infiltration of activist groups; the offensive use of chemical irritants, impact rounds, batons, tasers and rubber bullets; mass arrests of activists and passersby; and the detention and harassment of journalists covering the protests; and
Whereas in September of 2008, Amnesty International called for “city and county authorities to ensure that all allegations of ill-treatment and other abuses are impartially investigated, with a review of police tactics and weapons in the policing of demonstrations”; and
Whereas investigations into RNC-related police actions to date have been limited to internal police department reviews and an RNC Commission Report headed by two former prosecutors who interviewed a total of forty law enforcement agents and one activist;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Duluth DFL strongly reaffirms the first amendment rights of all Americans to freely assemble, speak and petition their government for redress; and
Be it further resolved that the Duluth DFL demands a thorough and impartial investigation into accusations of police violence and civil rights abuses against activists during the Republican National Convention in St Paul; for the findings of this investigation to be made public; for responsible parties to be disciplined; and for measures to be put in place to ensure that future police operations in Minnesota respect our constitutionally-guaranteed rights to assembly, speech, and a free press.

Passed by the City of Duluth DFL, in Convention, May 16, 2009, voice vote, one and only one dissenting vote.

Resolution In Support of the RNC 8
and Against The Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act

Whereas, in the days leading up to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in St Paul, local and federal law enforcement agencies carried out a series of raids on activist centers and the private homes of RNC protest organizers, seizing political literature, mobile phones and computers and detaining over one hundred people; and
Whereas, the raids resulted in the arrest of several protest organizers; and
Whereas, on September 3, 2008, Ramsey County prosecutors formally charged Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald with CONPIRACY TO COMMIT RIOT IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM, without evidence that the eight young activists committed any act of violence; and
Whereas, changes to the Minnesota criminal code under the so-called Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 threaten free speech and the right to organize by defining acts that “further terrorism” so broadly as to include actions that “disrupt or interfere with the lawful exercise, operation, or conduct of government, lawful commerce, or the right of lawful assembly”; and
Whereas, in December of 2008, Ramsey County prosecutors amended the complaint against the eight activists with three additional felony counts of CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT RIOT, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, and CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM; and
Whereas, Ramsey County prosecutors and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s office have consistently and publicly linked civil disobedience with terrorism and violence; and
Whereas, conspiracy charges and the conflation of dissent to violence have historically been used to undermine social movements, and particular the labor movement; and
Whereas, delegates to the Duluth Central Labor Body, recognizing the threat posed by these prosecutions to the right to organize, unanimously approved a resolution on March 12, 2009 condemning the Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act and the prosecution of the RNC 8; and
Whereas, on April 9 of this year Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner responded to pressure from the DCLB and others by dropping terrorism-related charges against the RNC 8, but is moving forward with prosecution under the two remaining felony conspiracy counts;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Duluth DFL affirms the right to organize collectively and calls on Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner to dismiss all charges against Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald; and
Be it further resolved that the Duluth DFL goes on record as opposing 609.714 of the Minnesota criminal code (“CRIMES COMMITTED IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM”) as a threat to free speech and the right to organize, and calls on Minnesota state legislators to repeal this law with haste.

Passed by the City of Duluth DFL, in Convention, May 16, 2009, voice vote, one and only one dissenting vote.

Terrorism Charges Dropped Against the RNC 8

GAERTNER DROPS TERRORISM ENHANCEMENTS, CONTINUES CRIMINALIZATION OF DISSENT
April 9, 2009 Contact: Celia Kutz, press@rnc8.org, 612-886-4565

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.”

Originally facing a single charge–Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism–Gaertner’s office added three additional charges against the eight defendants in December of last year. Now, two of those charges have been dropped, clearly demonstrating that all the charges are a matter of political maneuvering, not a reasoned look at the evidence.

On March 28, supporters delivered to Susan Gaertner’s office a stack of over 3,000 petitions urging her to drop all four charges. Among other statements, a resolution from the 17,000-member Duluth Central Labor Body in support of the RNC 8 was also delivered. National media attention, including an appearance on MSNBC on Wednesday morning, has drawn significant attention to the case at the same time as Gaertner is accelerating her campaign for Governor–having just hired full-time staffers, opened an office on University Avenue, and planned appearances at several DFL events in the next month. Additionally, the broad-based RNC 8 Defense Committee has succeeded in calling widespread attention to the Minnesota PATRIOT Act, and played an instrumental role in applying the pressure that led to this reduction of charges.

In removing the controversial MN PATRIOT Act from the debate at this moment, Susan Gaertner obviously hopes to defray the costs of this unprecedented prosecution on her campaign for Governor, and to mitigate the overwhelmingly negative public opinion of Ramsey County’s repressive behavior during and since the RNC.

“Make no mistake,” said defendant Luce Guillen-Givins, “This change to the complaint against us is a token gesture meant to placate our supporters and bolster a floundering political prosecution.”

As defendant Eryn Trimmer pointed out, “This move only focuses attention more acutely on the outrageous nature of the two remaining charges, Conspiracy to Commit Riot and Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property.”

In the months leading up to the RNC, the defendants were involved in open, public organizing with a broad coalition of Twin Cities activists and community members. We continue to assert that the only “conspiracy” committed by the RNC 8 was to provide basic and necessary infrastructure for people who wished to engage in their fundamental right to dissent.

“We’re relieved and gratified that the most sensational part of the charges has been dropped,” said St. Paul peace and justice activist Betsy Raasch-Gilman, member of Friends of the RNC 8. She continued, “We hope that the conspiracy charges will also be dropped. If planning a protest can be called conspiracy, the right to free speech is in real danger.”

Friends of the RNC 8 asks Susan Gaertner to continue in the direction of justice by dropping all the remaining charges, thereby saving enormous financial resources for the people of Minnesota in this time of rampant foreclosures, unemployment and economic turmoil. We also remind supporters that while we should rightly celebrate this small victory, the time for increased action to defend the RNC 8 is now. Political organizing is not conspiracy. Dissent is not a crime.

Duluth Central Labor Body Supports the RNC 8

On March 12, delegates to the Duluth Central Labor Body, representing nearly 17,000 workers in the Duluth area, unanimously approved a resolution in solidarity with the RNC 8 (above) and calling for a repeal of the Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act.

Duluth Central Labor Body Resolution in Support of the RNC 8
and Stating that the Anti-Terrorism Act Should be Repealed

Whereas, a free society is one in which people can organize collectively to improve their lives without fear of persecution by their government; and

Whereas, the labor movement has historically suffered state intimidation and repression in our efforts to organize working people, including the unconstitutional arrest of labor organizers and publishers of union papers under “criminal syndicalism” laws of the first half of the 20th century; and

Whereas, changes to the Minnesota criminal code under the so-called Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 threaten political speech by defining acts that “further terrorism” so broadly as to encompass civil disobedience designed to “disrupt or interfere with the lawful exercise, operation, or conduct of government, lawful commerce, or the right of lawful assembly,” including strikes, blockades and other union actions to defend workers’ rights; and

Whereas, the first criminal charges under this law were filed by Ramsey County prosecutors in September of 2008 against organizers of Republican National Convention protests in St Paul (known as the "RNC 8"), with no evidence that the defendants committed any act of violence;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Duluth Central Labor Body stands in solidarity with the RNC 8 and goes on record as opposing the politically-motivated terrorism charges filed against them; and

Be it further resolved that the Duluth Central Labor Body goes on record as opposing 609.714 of the Minnesota criminal code (“CRIMES COMMITTED IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM”) and calls on Minnesota state legislators to work for the repeal of this law;

Be it further resolved that the Duluth Central Labor Body urges that labor unions across Minnesota consider the implications of the RNC 8 case and the Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act on their own organizing and to support the cause of repeal.