| Progressive Calendar 09.10.08 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: David Shove (shove001 tc.umn.edu)
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| Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:54:08 -0700 (PDT) | |
P R O G R E S S I V E C A L E N D A R 09.10.08
POLICE RAIDS XI
1 Carr
2 Howell
3 Kobler (PC)
4 Kelly
5 Leier
6 Driscoll
7 Coleman (Strib)
8 Fixsen (PC)
9 Underwood
10 Hine
11 Spaulding
12 Thune
13 Kolstad
14 Rachleff
15 Connor/National Writers Union
16 Driscoll (9.10 11am KFAI)
17 Broderick (Daily Planet)
18 Goldstein
19 coming events
20 ed bumper sticker
--1--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 02:05:16 -0500
From: Jan Carr <jan [at] carrcreatives.com>
To: Chuckrepke [at] AOL.COM, stpaul-issues [at] forums.e-democracy.org
Subject: Re: [SPIF] after assessment
To Chuck Repke -
I think your point is well taken, but in making it, you raise a larger
issue.
As the events of the week unfolded, it seemed clear that police strategy
and tactics were guided by an unseen hand - presumably the Feds. I surmise
they came in and during the training process, dictated, among other
things, that arrests would be minimized (for non-violent expressions of
civil disobedience, such as the woman in this case) and instead, would
rely on harassment, intimidation, and physical retribution.
This is nothing new. To take but one of many examples from the past, the
first Selma to Montgomery march (1965) witnessed the same kind of tactics.
The difference is that then, this kind of police brutality was met with
revulsion and castigation across the nation from both citizens and
political leaders. Now, it is met with profound apathy from these same
groups.
I think Mayor Coleman has reacted in a cold and calculated manner in
crafting his public response to these police excesses. Despite his
rhetoric assuring us that the police would act responsibly and protect
basic civil rights and liberties, I assume he took a defensive and
apologetic stance, thinking most voters will support his position (he is
up for reelection next year, right?). And he may be right.
But for those of us with long memories, to hear his fear mongering about
violence and "outside agitators," and his blanket endorsement of all
police actions (in one interview he used the word "heroic"), - well, he
sounded like an upscale, reincarnated version of Jim Clark and Bull
Connor.
For me this is all the more disheartening, since I think Mayor Coleman is
a good and decent person, and in my view, the best mayor the city has had
since George Latimer. As I watch him from afar, his knowledge of the city
seems encyclopedic, his leadership sound, and his initiatives imaginative.
How then could this same person defend the police state tactics we saw
last week?
But that's water under the proverbial bridge. Here's the larger issue.
This city will never have another political convention, nor probably any
other gathering that is likely to be similarly controversial. So it
doesn't make a lot of sense to spend time examining what we could do
better the next time around.
Thus, the larger issue is a moral one. There seems to be abundant evidence
(mostly from independent journalists) that police excesses did indeed
occur. Even Amnesty International is calling for an inquiry.
Therefore, as a city, we will have to decide whether to let these issues
fade into history (which I don't think will happen), or to launch a
thorough and objective study of police actions, focused on these
questions:
1) Who ordered the preemptive raids across the metro area (which seemed to
be mostly focused on independent journalists). Were they justified? Were
the search warrants driven by untrue or inflated claims by the informers
who had been planted?
2) What justification was there for not requiring police to wear
identification patches (jurisdiction, and an ID number, if not a name of
the officer)? Should this ever be permitted in future actions of the STP
police department?
3) An assessment of police actions against:
A. peaceful protesters who were merely exercising their constitutional
rights to free speech.
B. people who engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience (refusal to "clear
this area"). It appears many were "punished" (clubbed, sprayed) rather
than merely arrested and hauled away.
4) Were the excesses witnessed the result of an individual police
officer's loss of control, or were such actions the result of a command
decision, as you have suggested?
5) Once arrested, were people treated properly and humanely, with the same
rights granted any "ordinary" prisoner?
6) It would also be relevant, I think, that a study be undertaken to
determine if the events of the past week affected the bond between our
community and the police.
There's more, but you get the idea.
If they have the power to do so, I would recommend that the City Council
form a task force to review these matters, just as was done after the
Chicago Democratic Convention of 1968 (Walker Commission, undertaken by
the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence). They
would have plenty of evidence to consider - eyewitness accounts, many
independent videos, and the tapes from those 200 video cameras that were
installed for the convention (unless they are mysteriously wiped clean).
For the record, I don't believe this is a Republicans vs. Democrats issue.
Over a long period of time, this country has slowly morphed into a
political culture that tolerates police state tactics. The question is
whether we as citizens of this society will continue to stand quietly by
as our civil liberties erode away.
We have eight elected officials that run our city. One of them (the Mayor)
has already made his position known. The question remains whether our
other 7 elected officials (the City Council) will have the courage to pick
up the issue and make their views known about what will and will not be
tolerated in this city when it come to police actions.
Even though some people continue to misconstrue Dave Thune's words as
support for violent protesters, his is the one official voice that was
raised to question the events of last week. And every person in the city
who believes in the Constitution should be grateful to him; it is people
like Mr. Thune who can keep a society from falling into the abyss.
Jan Carr 1000 Portland Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104
--2--
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:05:56 -0500
From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: Re: [Discuss] [MPC] 2008 Republican National Convention Round-Up
The comments Andy posted from his high school friend's husband are not at
all unusual: every time the police shoot an UN-armed Black man multiple
times, this guy (and many others) say "Well, that Black man MUST have done
SOMETHING for the cops to HAVE TO kill him." This guy's outlook on
exercising the First Amendment is not only 'UN-AMerican - a rejection of
the values of our Constitution and Bill of Rights - but, it's what makes
fascism possible. The utter stupidity of acting as if ACORN is some sort
of "radical" organization exposes this man's total ignorance: ACORN has
existed for over 30 years - working to organize people on a NEIGHBORHOOD
level to ENGAGE IN DEMOCRACY - that is, have input on decisons that impact
where they live: fix stop lights, get improved city services, have a say
in gentrification that shoves out the poor, etc
Sad to say, the repression we witnessed during the RNC is NOT ONLY the
responsibility of "leaders"/politicians/right-wing/corporate powers"
that have brought out country to this point of repression...but, way too
many "ordinary Americans" who have given away the Bill of Rights and
rejected all critical thinking...rather like those who were called "good
Germans" in 1945, who said "We had no idea what the State was doing!"
Truth is, they didn't want to know. And neither do too many Americans
now. I wonder how Andy's friends would react if the police assaulted
THEM in the way that non-violent peace activists were last week?
--3--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 10:35:28 -0500
From: john kobler <jmkobler [at] comcast.net>
To: David E Shove <shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu>
Subject: RE: [PROG] Progressive Calendar 09.09.08
Hello Everybody
I am wondering if there is any connection to what happened in St. Paul and
the tactics in General Petraeus"s counter insurgency work,
2006) "Learning Counterinsurgency: Observations from Soldiering in Iraq,"
Military Review
(2007) The US Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual
(introduction)
Well, it's over and we got beat. However, it was only one battle. My point
here is tactics need to change in public protest. Demanding state video
footage is a good start. Studying the tactics used is another. U.S. Armed
forces manuals on counterinsurgency and (ironically) insurgency tactics
are found on the web.
I don't know what the more aggressive groups were thinking, but those sort
of actions require the element of surprise. They certainly did not have
it. Plus, they played right into the hands of a waiting authoritarian
trap. Image manipulation.
I have been reading this blog all through the convention and I see you all
stating the same things:
The national press is controlled and will ignore inflammatory images of
dissent i.e. large peace protests.
Large centralized peace demonstrations can be easily manipulated and
controlled.
Preemptive police actions can chill public involvement.
All parties attempting to exercise their freedom of speech in political
protest will be monitored and infiltrated.
The authorities will lie both before and after the protests.
Isolation of dissenters is an effective tactic.
In general, tactics involving provoking a disproportionate response of
force are ineffective.
Public journalism over the web and things like twitter are effective.
Crowd estimates by either side are going to be inaccurate. It's best to
station dissent video to give non-participants a record so they can make
their own estimate.
So, it seems impossible, but it's really not. Countries all over the world
have people protesting under the same if not harsher conditions. Perhaps
it's a mobilization of a large number of people at a post event such as at
city council meeting, or court hearings of those detained that may be more
effective. They sure backed off when the press petition came out.
All this said, tactical discussions should not be blogged. Face it, you
are not in a free society and should start to plan and act accordingly.
Scipio Africanus
--4--
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:36:03 +1200 (NZST)
From: "Grace Kelly (nicknamed Kelly)" <saintcurmudgeon [at] earthlink.net>
Subject: [SPIF] Police Arrest Victim Instead of RNC Delegate
Here is why I think video by ordinary citizens is very important!
A person in a McCain mask was poking fun at McCain. An RNC delegate
grabbed the McCain mask. In the midst of the tussle, the mask owner
grabbed the RNC credentials, offering to trade back. The police come along
and arrest the victim and lets the RNC delegate walk off with the sign.
This is while the crowd was shouting, "He did nothing wrong".
This is extreme police bias, where the police automatically are in a
mindset where only one type of person can be wrong - anyone who is not an
RNC delegate. We need to screen and train our police better for this type
of bias.
But wait, wait, the story is even better. The RNC delegate who stole the
sign is Ed Matthews, the Republican candidate for Minnesota's 4th
Congressional district. This shows how Republican candidates still act
above the law, and in this case, is supported by the police - our police.
Watch for yourself, most of this is caught on video, and consider what
could have happened to the victim if the video was not taken:
http://tinyurl.com/68d6xx
--5--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 14:22:31 -0500
From: Bruce Leier <leier [at] mn.state.net>
Subject: Re: [SPIF] after assessment
First and foremost there cannot ever be unidentifiable police. I remember
when MLK was shot the St Police left Selby-Dale area - except for 1
off-duty juvenile office who immediately went into the area. Later in the
week the uniforms did surround some events and took their badges off. I
had a long talk with that juvenile office - that was an easy conversation
because it was my father - Phil Leier 32 year officer and later Chief at
Rush City. Phil told me he was ashamed of those who took off their badges.
For him, the only acceptable policing was highly visible and accountable.
He thought about resigning after that.
--6--
From andy [at] driscollgroup.com Tue Sep 9 15:56:41 2008
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:50:22 -0500
From: Andy Driscoll <andy [at] driscollgroup.com>
To: Russ Stark <Russ.Stark [at] ci.stpaul.mn.us>,
Truth To Tell This Week <truthtotell [at] driscollgroup.com>
Subject: Re: [StPaul-AN] responding to RNC inquiries
The missive below from St. Paul City Councilmember Russ Stark, and my
response:
Russ, first of all, I invite you to join in our discussion tomorrow morning
on Truth to Tell between 11AM and 12 Noon, either in our studios on the West
Bank or by telephone. 612-341-0980. This will your opportunity to let
listeners beyond your fundraising mailing list read your views.
Tell me: Did you actually witness this extraordinary list of events as
written in your letter below my reply?:
> Individuals committed a number of crimes over the course of the RNC in
> the name of free-speech. A brick was thrown through the window of a
> bus-load of delegates to the convention. Bags of concrete were dropped
> onto buses going under bridges. Delegates were shoved, assaulted, and
> sprayed with bleach and urine. Windows of downtown businesses were
> broken. Police vehicles were damaged and destroyed. Bricks were
> chiseled out of downtown buildings and thrown through storefront
> windows. Streets sign poles were ripped out of the ground. Attempts
> were made to physically block the delegates from being able to get to
> the Convention site.
> Unfortunately for Saint Paul, for the thousands of peaceful
> demonstrators, and for our police officers, there was a group of more
> than 500 people who descended on Saint Paul not just to express
> themselves, but to disrupt the proceedings and harm people and our City.
> They drowned out the messages of the anti-war and other protestors. I
> get why people are angry and want to express themselves, but I donĀ¹t
> understand what was accomplished by this organized criminal behavior.
Because not one story I've seen actually documents these charges,
especially those involving the involving those shoving and assaulting
other protesters. This story seems right out of the playbook. I was
present for a good share of these encounters and saw absolutely nothing
like the description you offer here, especially those involving cement,
urine, bleach, etc. Witnesses indicate a hooded man in black heaving a
brick through a plate glass window, then retreating behind police lines
with convenient cameras clicking as he did.
All the protesters I know - and most of the from here and active the year
round in peace and justice issues locally, saw nothing of the incidents
you describe. Why not? What did they miss?
Where did this figure of 500 drop from. This is the first time I've seen
it. 17 people have thus far been charged with felony riot, and, perhaps
one or two others will also be, perhaps even up to 30 - but 500 organized
criminals? Who is feeding you this data?
I witness 20 times more police abuse of innocent people than I did any
criminal behavior on the part of self-defined anarchists. All of the
young, black-clad and hooded demonstrators I saw simply sat down in the
middle of intersections or parked cars to disrupt traffic or biked in a
steady circle in front of police lines. I saw police time and again stop,
even tackle, innocent young people, scream at them, shove their faces into
concrete sidewalks, then release them without arrest all because the
youngster refused to allow his bags to be searched in a public street
without cause.
The city of St. Paul made a terrible bed here, and now you're all having
to justify the overreaching of police and the powerlessness of local
officials, including councilmembers to have prevented any of it. But you
have the power to thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly, investigate the
events that split this city wide open laying it bare to what Nick Coleman
calls today a "police statelet."
Meanwhile lifelines between whole sectors of the city were cut off from
normal movement simply to make it difficult (not impossible) for the free
flow of members of a small contingent of protesters ensconced in an old
theater building on the West Side's Smith Ave.
I think you'll find that most of the "peaceful" demonstrators were
unintimidated by the young radicals raising a ruckus, and, indeed, felt
them to part of the overall protest against the Iraq War and other GOP
policies, which, in all of this melee and post-mortem, has been forgotten
as the reason the assemblages occurred in the first place.
We all saw police snipers on the roofs of the Transportation Building, the
Xcel and other places, high-powered rifles aimed below at fellow citizens
as though engaged in a civil war. If it was/is a war, it was/is of their
own making.
When John Harrington "debriefs" the City Council, will other witnesses be
there to bring proportion to a report bound to be full of defenses of
police behavior and misbehavior?
After this letter of yours, we will want the hard evidence that these
events you describe occurred as described by the people you claim are
responsible. What appears to be happening is that Officialdom" is circling
the wagons around the police and their "justifiable" overreaction and
overreaching in the streets of our city as the Republicans congregated in
their well garrisoned bubble at the Xcel. This is highly disturbing - and
we can only hope that what is happening in the courts and prosecutors'
offices is where the rubber claims will meet the asphalt truths of the
case they consider.
Then won't we all be embarrassed?
--7--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 07:04:22 -0500
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong lessons from the RNC
NICK COLEMAN, Star Tribune
In June 2006, referring to the intentions of Twin Cities boosters to lure
either the Democratic or the Republican national convention here in 2008,
I wrote:
"Why wait? Let's arrest thousands of people right now, hold them in
barbed-wire cages, pay millions in overtime to cops, close off downtown,
disrupt transportation (and) strew garbage around the streets."
I'm sorry I was right.
The country is up to its keister in problems. Of course, there was going
to be trouble - whichever party came to town. We survived, but it wasn't
pretty.
So it is strange to hear Officialdom, including my brother, the mayor of
St. Paul, proclaiming the convention an unqualified success. From many
perspectives, yes, it WAS a success. Folks watching TV probably didn't
know or care whether they were looking at St. Paul or Sao Paolo, but
Minnesota looked good to Minnesotans, and we like that.
But it wasn't a cakewalk.
One thing that was hard to swallow was the militarized statelet in St.
Paul, with tactics and security designed for worst-case scenarios that did
not materialize. The bulk of the 800-plus arrests were made there.
But average citizens, including the 10,000 law-abiding ones who came out
to peacefully protest against the war in Iraq, were not prepared to see
St. Paul turned into a No Man's Land where roofs were lined with snipers,
streets were lined with legions of cops, security fences channeled
citizens like rats and you had to color within the lines or you'd kiss
asphalt and visit Bob Fletcher's No Frills Motel.
There is a fine line between preparation and intimidation. The No Go Zone
was provocative - and menacing - not just to bad actors who wanted
trouble. But to citizens who wanted to feel heard - not greeted with riot
clubs, handcuffs and cops on cars with rifles at the ready. Yes, you can
blame the out-of-control protesters. But everyone felt chilled.
One person who ended up face-down in his hometown was Colin Dunn, an Air
Force vet who served in Afghanistan and a trained EMT who was trying to
help preserve the peace.
Dunn, 24, is a 2002 grad of St. Paul's Cretin-Derham Hall High School. A
long time ago, his mother, Jane, ran a cash register in the old Hove's
food store in Roseville, while I bagged groceries, courteously and
efficiently. Jane called to tell me her son, Colin, was in a photo of
arrested "protesters" that appeared on StarTribune.com. She was not happy
about it: She had spent the night before sewing red crosses on Colin's
shirt, so that it would be obvious that her trained medic son was there to
help, not to hinder.
Colin had volunteered to help with the North Star Health Collective, a
loose association of community activists (no, Sarah Palin does NOT
approve) and health care providers providing medical assistance at the
march. Including to the cops: Dunn bandaged up two cops whose bicycles had
collided. A few hours later, he was arrested.
While he was helping treat two protesters who had been gassed, Dunn was
hit in the back by a baton round - a crowd-control projectile of a type
that has killed demonstrators from Belfast to South Africa. Trying to get
out of the way of the cops, Dunn and other medics dragged the injured
protesters to a loading dock, where they continued their attempts to treat
them. Police - a SWAT team in military-style camouflage - followed and
arrested Dunn, four other medics, two legal observers and the protesters.
They remained, face down, on the street for hours and were charged with
unlawful assembly by a mobile booking team. About 9 p.m., after they were
brought to the jail, where they were told medics weren't supposed to be
arrested and they were released. The observers were also released. Of the
nine arrested, two - the protesters - were jailed.
"I can't believe they didn't know we were medics," says Dunn, whose urine
was bloody for a few days after his kidney was bruised by the baton round.
"I was trying to help keep the peace, and I got kicked in the teeth for
it. I'm not a cop, but I had zero problems figuring out who people were. I
had heard we were going to try to put on the convention 'the Minnesota
way.' But they weren't doing anything 'the Minnesota way.'"
Congress allocated $50 million for security. When you do the math, each
arrest cost $61,125. If you just count "good" arrests - the ones likely to
hold up in court - you may be able to double that number. Did the cops
overreact to the Siege on Seventh?
I don't know. But I know it will take more than a debriefing from Police
Chief John Harrington - the only after-action discussion planned by the
St. Paul City Council - to figure out what happened, why and whether it
was as good as it should have been.
Medics, journalists, people just trying to get home: A lot of folks were
arrested because they were in the wrong place, were trying to do their
jobs or trying to help. The cops, too, were doing their jobs. I get that.
They mostly did them well. And there is no question they had to be
prepared for much worse than they confronted. But it is not much help to
anybody to just say everything was great, nothing went wrong, it was all a
big success.
No, it wasn't. Not all of it. Before the convention fades, its lessons
should be learned.
ncoleman [at] startribune.com - 612-673-4400
The full Article, with any associated images and links can be viewed here.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/
--8--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 09:03:57 -0500 (CDT)
From: Colleen Fixsen ccfix [at] bitstream.net
To: David Shove <shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu>
Subject: Politics - as they currently stand
Just a few thoughts.
First off, the Stasi "pre-emptive" tactics used by Fletcher should be
legal grounds for his immediate removal from office - and if it isn't, we
should make it so and very soon. What happened here should never EVER be
allowed to happen again. "I was just following orders", or "I was
outranked", should not be a viable defense of this gargantuan violation of
our constitutional legal process.
Second, there is something dramatically wrong with both our political
processes and public discourse if opposing views cannot tolerate each
other in physical proximity. I would be very interested to know just
exactly what happened around the DNC - were similar Stasi tactics
employed? Were similar violations of civil rights perpetrated against the
right wing media presence? I seem to have read that there were only about
130 or so arrests. Gosh, are the republicans really just that well
behaved....or what?
Third, I agree with those who state that we need to hang this mess around
the necks of those who helped make it happen. Those folks need to be
bounced out on their proverbial - and literal - asses from the local level
all the way up to the national level. If this doesn't illustrate to folks
what "homeland security" is all about, then I don't know what will. Does
it take the bulldozer at the door to get your attention?
Fourth, I would like to draw all the way back to the state of our
political process as it stands right now. As I've participated in
caucuses, I've felt the entire process was an exercise in being handled.
"Alternate views" were pushed down by "leaders", while those who bleated
appropriately were praised for their "good work". And that's just at the
local level. As I've watched these last 3 national election cycles in
particular, it is CLEAR that our "national conventions" are nothing more
than big photo ops and sound bite ops for those who have won the marketing
wars. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't it "used to be" that the
national conventions were where the actual candidates were selected?
Wasn't this where the delegates actually did all their horse trading and
the DELEGATES picked the final ticket? When did this change? WHY did
this change? Our political process - and our input to it - has clearly
been taken out of our hands. What I see around me today is nothing less
than machine politics. I find it utterly unacceptable.
Kudos to Cam Gordon and Dave Thune. Props to Keith Ellison as well for
responding. I think the issues around unmarked storm troopers should be
dealt with immediately. No question - every single officer (in riot gear
or not) should clearly display department, name and badge number. If in
riot gear, this info should be front and back if you please in nice big 2"
yellow letters against all that black - to include homeland insecurity and
all the other feds. What happened here was just a glimmer of what is to
come if this nonsense is allowed to continue - locally and federally. I
think we should all consider how we can put in place the legal foundation
- locally and federally - needed in order to prevent anything even
remotely similar to this from happening again. I think we should consider
the legal foundation needed to allow the immediate removal from office of
ANY politico who violates - or allows the violation - of the
Constitutional rights of citizens - locally and federally. Yes, I know
that can open one hell of a can of worms - but it seems to me that
"homeland insecurity" forces the issue. Clearly, the time to say "enough"
has come. I know I've had it. Color me energized....
Colleen Fixsen
MacGrove
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and
conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King Jr.
--9--
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:42:09 +1200 (NZST)
From: Charley Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SPIF] after assessment
Dean Sheldon,
You are concerned that the police had a very difficult time distinguishing
between peaceful protesters and those who intended some sort of harm. You
even say "It's not like they some different sort of hats." In reality,
there were a number of people with clearly distinguishable hats and so on,
like medics, legal observers and members of the Minnesota Peace Team.
Each of these groups had at least some members arrested and/or pepper
sprayed. But here's an even easier way to go: How about the police arrest
people doing something illegal and police leave people alone when they are
simply marching or exercising their simple free speech! And how about
police arrest people who are doing something illegal instead of torturing
them with tasers or pepper spray or other chemical weapons! That way the
judge can do the judging and the police can do the enforcing. Sort of a
simple division of labor, in my opinion.
As for the concern about people hiding their identities, I think you are a
bit confused. There were very few people against the Republican National
Convention who wore disguises by covering their faces with bandanas and so
on. There were, on the other hand, literally thousands of storm troopers
who displayed neither personal identification nor unit identification.
Last week, it was near impossible to figure out who was police (and from
what city or even state), who was state troopers, who was ICE or Secret
Service or Homeland Security or private contractors. They all wore black
storm trooper outfits. I couldn't even usually identify what gender these
folks were. Those where the ones, in my opinion, who escaped
responsibility and accountability by hiding their identity behind
paramilitary uniforms.
--10--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 16:15:29 -0500
From: amhine2 [at] mmm.com
Subject: Re: [SPIF] after assessment
A few things come to mind:
- It seems there is plenty of independent video evidence to support The
People's claims. There is also the iSpy cameras that we better have
access to. Hopefully someone can collect it all in one place and
practically recreate the entire week. If someone claims to have seen a
Poop Bomb flung from the grassy knoll, well, then let's see the video
proof. If someone says a planted anarchist did damage and then hid behind
the police, show me the video. Many incidents will have been taped from
several angles. A spreadsheet with Cameraperson, Date, Time(s), Location,
Description, ... columns could list all the video assets. Some insane
person could rent a huge TV and we could have Protest In The Park
showings.
- Everyone who got sprayed or otherwise assaulted should be interviewed.
With the aforementioned video catalog, they should be able to pick
themselves out on one or more recordings. Guilty protestors can probably
easily be indentified. If guilty security forces don't step forward, then
"the whole class should suffer" until they do.
- I had a bad feeling when Erin Dady seemed to be leading the show early
on, like she knew what was best for all of us. In hindsight, her
predictions of an economic windfall were highly inaccurate. On what data
was her rosy prediction based? In her defense, she may not have known
about the Fortress and Fences. But when she vanished into thin air
several weeks ago, I was relieved and not surprised. It was a bad omen
from the start that this thing was being driven by the lust for money
instead of the love of country. She was just doing her job, and doing
what she was told, so I don't hold it against her personally. None of us
had done any of this before so it was very hard to know how to proceed.
- The disconnect between the City Departments really became evident.
Aren't there any "cross-functional teams" these days? Public Works DID
work with Parks & Rec, but DSI seemed to show up too late, and sometimes
with a vengenace. When the electrical inspector came to the Blue Tube
truck, instead of saying "get all your stuff ON the truck like we
discussed," she said "you need a permit." We sorted it out, but I was
ready to tell her she'd be in more trouble than me if she pressed the
issue. She epitomized why people get so frustrated with DSI. Parks & Rec
should be commended. They were very helpful to us and really spruced up
our public realm. I'd like to particularly thank <long list of City folks
deleted> ... and more. They either helped out immensely, were morally
supportive, or at least didn't cause problems for us. I can't really
think of any City person who gave me a hard time (that I didn't deserve).
I'm more comfortable than ever about our town - it's Washington that
really gives me the creeps now.
- It appears Matt Bostrom was as misled as anyone. I'm still giving him
the benefit of the doubt. The hard and soft perimeters kept growing and
growing, and when more and more streets and bridges closed, people
couldn't get in, out, or around (adding to the economic woes). Agent
Kirkwood disappeared months ago and should be held accountable. At least
we have his name, I think. All the people calling the shots should be
held accountable and give statements. This was not about an al-Qaeda
threat; it was Americans on Americans. As we all seem to be concluding,
orders came from unknown sources who we may never know. There's OUR
police and then there's the Secret Police, which is the source of most if
not all of my distrust and anger. That is about as un-American as it
gets, and on what we really should focus most of this "investigation." We
should also get all the iSpy recordings and send them to any city
considering hosting one of these things.
- I guess being a Twin City hurt more than helped this time. It was very
convenient for visitors to just take their bus to Mpls and blend in to the
crowd over there. No RNC delegate in their right mind... Let me rephrase
that... Who on earth would want to pass through a prison-like wall into a
blue neighborhood they know nothing about? I bet if Dave Cossetta knew
what his block was going to look like he would never have made the
mistaken investment he did. If anything, this debacle has earned the CoC,
BOMA, and similar groups some rare sympathy. Even though her clothes were
super expensive, I was hoping that woman's boutique in the Lawson Bldg
would do well. But no. I'd be curious to see where all the money did go,
from Lamers Coaches (Wisconsin?) to Crowne Plaza to...
- The Rowleys ran into more hassles than they deserved. They and we felt
that events like The Taste and The Irish Fayre had been given preferential
treatment. And the CAAPB seemed to forget what they have let others do in
the past. Sen. Sandy Pappas standing up to Carol Molnau is one of the
highlights of this long, strange trip. One of the lowlights came minutes
earlier when Rep. Morrie Lanning said something like "Public land was
never meant to be used for political speech." The CAAPB staff was great
(Paul Mandell is a gem), as were half the Board members and their
advisors.
That's enough for now.
...
Andrew M. Hine 3M IATD Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division 3M Center
230-1F-35 St. Paul MN 55144-1000 USA
--11--
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:29:56 -0500
From: Bob Spaulding <bob_spaulding [at] mac.com>
Subject: Re: [SPIF] after assessment
I personally intend to take a break from discussing the RNC on SPIF, but
before I do, there's one more observation I feel I must address to provide
some reasonable balance as I close out the last couple weeks of my
blathering about last week's circus in my backyard.
So much law enforcement action around the RNC falls into a grey area where
the public doesn't have enough information to even begin to make a
judgement. And so some try to reach conclusions based on partial
information - and the results aren't always pretty. The courts will,
inevitably, sort some of this out.
And yet, as one filters through reports, one does notice patterns that
suggest certain policy directions. And there is one area that already
shows some very disconcerting signs: government dealings with media,
especially independent media. Most significant, and perhaps most
instructive, is the way the government dealt with I-Witness video.
Several news reports describe how the St. Paul home where I-Witness video
reporters were staying on Iglehart Avenue was the subject of a
pre-convention raid. It was reported that raid was directed by Sheriff
Robert Fletcher. But that raid turned up nothing, at least as far as the
public was informed.
Then, later in the week, the office that I-Witness Video was operating out
of - near the corner of Selby and Snelling - was raided by police.
Multiple reports indicated the raid was in response to an alleged
"hostage" situation. Reports suggested that "hostage situation" proved
completely bogus, and seemed to provide cover for police to enter in a way
that would be otherwise illegal. Those reports also indicated that police
contacted the landlord, in what many described as an attempt to get the
landlord to kick I-Witness Video out of the building.
SO WHY would law enforcement care so much about I-Witness video?
I-Witness video was made famous for taking hundreds of tapes of footage of
protests during the 2004 Republican National Convention. According to NPR
and others, the video evidence provided by I-Witness Video was able to
exonerate over 400 people for alleged crimes during the 2004 convention.
Hmmmmm.
We can't jump to conclusions, but for anyone with some investigative
sense, some initial patterns do seem to emerge - patterns which deserve
exploration.
Combine the treatment of I-Witness Video with other reports. Combine it
with the way law enforcement seemed unconcerned about providing a way to
differentiate media from protesters - media and protesters were all
arrested together on several occasions. Combine it with the insulting
suggestion made by multiple public officials that reporters should have
maybe "embedded" themselves into police response units. (When did my
neighborhood become a bona-fide war zone?) Combine it with the fact that
officers had their badges covered up, despite the promises recounted by
Charlie Underwood and others. And one begins to get the sense that in the
police response, police accountability may have been the first victim of
the 2008 Republican National Convention. What advocates actively promoted
such an undemocratic approach should be a major avenue of inquiry in the
coming months.
At this point, it seems likely there were some very real threats law
enforcement had to be particularly concerned about. But it seems at least
as likely that some forces in the law enforcement community were intent on
eliminating key mechanisms of accountability.
There's not a ton we can know right now beyond these basic reports about
media treatment. But to Councilmember Thune's question, the patterns
highlighted by these basic reports deserve some serious consideration as
we review our experiences with the 2008 Republican National Convention.
And now I'm done with my blathering. Be well.
--12--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 16:41:30 -0500
Subject: Fwd: Thune calls community conversation on impacts of the RNC
Thune calls a community conversation on the impacts of the RNC
City Councilmember Dave Thune today called a community conversation to
assess the impacts of the RNC. The community is invited and encouraged to
attend on Wednesday, September 24th at 5:30 pm. The conversation will
take place in the Council Chambers at Saint Paul City Hall, 15 West
Kellogg Blvd. Thune will call representatives of the affected
neighborhoods, businesses, peace activists, law enforcement, and the media
to provide a 360 degree look at how the convention affected those living
in its shadow.
The RNC was the largest convention the City of Saint Paul has ever hosted.
It brought with it the largest number of both direct and indirect
participants (delegates, convention workers, delegate families, world-wide
media, protesters, lawyers, law enforcement, and independent media). While
the memories are still fresh, this would be a good time to assess what
worked and what did not work, to delineate questions that we should seek
to have answered in the coming months, and to draw lessons learned for any
future large events.
Said Thune, "We need a civil and respectful conversation that listens to
all sides. My fear today is that free speech may have suffered during the
RNC." Other members of the Saint Paul City Council and the Mayor have been
invited.
Thune, who was first elected to the City Council in 1990, represents Ward
2 which includes downtown and the Rivercentre venue for the RNC. He has
been an outspoken advocate for free speech.
--13--
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:16:43 -0500
From: John Kolstad <jkolstad [at] millcitymusic.com>
To: Andy Driscoll <andy [at] driscollgroup.com>
Cc: Russ Stark <Russ.Stark [at] ci.stpaul.mn.us>,
Truth To Tell This Week <truthtotell [at] driscollgroup.com>
Subject: Re: responding to RNC inquiries
My wife and I have followed most of what went on from home on the
internet, since the main stream media is just about worthless, although I
was at the Permitted Anti war Parade on Labor Day. The video taped cases
of police abuse and criminal assault are many, many, many. Many of them
up on YouTube for the world to see what Mayor Coleman and Chief Harrington
have done to St Paul. The vicious arrest of Amy Goodman by Minneapolis
Police (but in St Paul) has gotten more hits than anything on Youtube.
Ch 9 video taped the two masked guys in black that broke Macy's window,
with a pipe and metal rack that just happened to be in front of the
windows, and even though there were cops everywhere it appears that these
vandals got a way. Hmmm! Is this police incompetence or were these
police contolled provocateurs? When I was there Monday for the parade, I
could not step on the sidewalk to greet a friend without the police
telling me I'd get arrested if I did not stay with the parade.
I have read reports of a Indy media person who said he had documentation
of the burning dumpster being pushed into the squad and the squad windows
being broke. In both cases he said that the police arrested the wrong
person for this vandalism and the vandal got away.
Again, is this incompetence or police provocateurs? Yet these are the
incidents that the media play over and over to give the impresssion that
there was much criminal activity by the protesters. This looks and smells
like a set up to me and the media were embedded. Hmmmmmmmm.
The police all along the parade route had video and still cameras. If any
of the things Mr Stark asserts are true, then certainly the police have
extensive documentation of it. However, if there is evidence and
documentation that the police arrested the wrong people and let the
vandals go (or were inept to catch them), then this is a gravely serious
situation of criminal corruption by the police. Although reports are as
yet incomplete, the only vandal caught that I am aware of was caught by
the protestors. The vandal slashed bus tires and the police did not catch
him, the public did. This case needs to be carefully looked at to make
sure that the captured vandal is the one the police prosecute and see if
he may be a provocateur.
There were many hundreds of indymedia, legal observers, and street Medics.
Not one single report from any of them has verified what Mr Stark asserts.
Even if some of these assertions are true, why did the authorities not
arrest the perpetrators? We know from past events that the police and
government hire provocateurs to do violence then the police and media
blame the legal, peaceful protesters, giving them the excuse to savage
citizens exercising their First Amendment right to Free Speech and
Peaceable Asssembly for redress of grievances.
I think Mr Stark should withdraw his assertion and apologize unless and
until he can clearly document all charges and assertions. Also, he should
reveal who he has been getting his information from. With St Paul facing
unprecedented humiliation for the conduct of the police and City Official,
plus multi million dollar lawsuits, it would not be surprising for
officials to do some spinning. Unfortunately the pay out from these
lawsuits come out of the public pocket. So first the cops abuse citizens,
and then when the cops lose in court, the public has to pay for it. This
is a double Whammy. May I humbly suggest that pay outs for lawsuits
involving police abuse come from the Police Retirement Fund. This would
give incentive to members of the force to stop or prevent actionable abuse
by collegues. Clearly police management has been a failure to accomplish
this.
So Mr Stark, where's the beef or where's the apology and investigation?
Sincerely,
John R Kolstad/Mpls
--14--
Date: Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 2:52 PM
From: Peter Rachleff <rachleff [at] macalester.edu>
Subject: Police State during RNC
To: Melvin.Carter [at] ci.stpaul.mn.us, Russ.Stark [at] ci.stpaul.mn.us
Dear [StPaul council members] Melvin [Carter] and Russ [Stark]:
I am sure I am not alone in having thought of both of you as
"progressives." And I am sure I am not alone in no longer thinking of you
as "progressives." Your email responses to the many emails I am sure you
received easily adopt the "we" of the authorities.
This positions you with the likes of Bob Fletcher and Homeland Security.
For shame!
And your emails conveniently ignore the police incursions into the
convergence space on Smith Avenue, private homes including Mike Whalen's
on Iglehart, private offices such as the one rented by I-Witness Video on
Selby, the targeting of journalists and videographers for arrest and
harassment, the intimidation of peaceful protestors, the harassment and
illegal detention of the 70 demonstrators riding the light rail to the
Mall of America on Sunday, August 31, the cutting off of the electricity
on Rage Against the Machine's performance at the state capitol on Tuesday,
September 2, contributing to the confrontation later at Mears Park, the
surrounding of Bedlam Theater in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening,
September 3, and more...
I know some of these events were in Minneapolis, but the police/thugs
appeared to be under a single command (Homeland Security? FBI? Fletcher?)
and not wearing distinguishing name or uniform insignia so, if you want to
stand with the authorities, you've got to take ownership of the
Minneapolis infringements on free speech and assembly, too. These events,
all expression of unbridled, unaccountable repressive power by the police,
set a context for every confrontation that unfolded during the overt
protests. 818 arrests. Were they all window-breaking "anarchists"? Last
week St. Paul sank to China's level, and I was - am - ashamed to live
here. As someone who has worked for 27 years for peace, justice, and
fairness in this community, I am heartsick at your response.
Sincerely, Peter Rachleff Professor of History Macalester College
--15--
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:31:09 -0500
From: Mark R. Connor <markconnor [at] juno.com>
To: David E Shove <shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu>
Subject: NWU TC Condemns Arrest of Journalists at 2008 RNC
Twin Cities Chapter, National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981)
Contact: Mark Connor (651) 312-0191 markconnor [at] juno.com
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
St. Paul City Attorney John Choi
From Mark Connor, Twin Cities Chapter, National Writers Union (NWU Local
1981)
www.nwu-tc.org
The Twin Cities Chapter of the National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981)
condemns the targeting of journalists by police during the 2008 Republican
National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, including every case of
harassment, arrest, and assault that occurred in the days leading up to
and lasting through the convention.
The behavior of police during the convention is now well known. The
blatant hostility police directed to journalists was first evident on
Saturday, August 30, in a raid led by the Ramsey County Sheriff's
Department on the home of U.S. Army Veteran and respected community member
Mike Whalen, at which time radio and TV journalist Elizabeth Press of
Democracy Now!, along with members of the I-Witness Video Collective,
whose work documenting demonstrations against the 2004 Republican National
Convention resulted in dismissed charges and acquittals for hundreds of
protesters, were detained. It became even more evident when Democracy Now!
producers Nicole Salazar and Sharif Abdel Kouddous, clearly displaying
press credentials identifying their professional association, were
violently arrested and assaulted in the midst of filming a confrontation
between the police and anti-war demonstrators on Monday, September 1,
followed by the arrest of Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman when she
questioned why her crew members were taken into custody. Also arrested at
that time was Associated Press photographer Matt Rourke. We are aware of a
total of 30 journalists from a variety of news outlets being arrested
during the 2008 Republican National Convention.
State interference with journalism is the definitive mark of totalitarian
repression. It is imperative in the maintenance of a free society that the
freedom of the press be protected. That protection must extend not just to
employees of major media outlets, but also to freelance journalists who
sell their work to news outlets on a private contractual basis or
distribute it through other means. We call on Ramsey County Attorney,
Susan Gaertner, and St. Paul City Attorney, John Choi, to immediately drop
charges against all journalists arrested while covering the 2008
Republican National Convention.
--16--
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:06:40 -0500
From: Andy Driscoll <andy [at] driscollgroup.com>
To: Truth To Tell This Week <truthtotell [at] driscollgroup.com>
Subject: [StPaul-AN] TRUTH TO TELL Weds [ISO-8859-1] 11AM: RNC
RETROSPECTIVE [ISO-8859-1] THE SHAME OF THE CITIES
TRUTH TO TELL
WEDNESDAY, Sept 1011AM: RNC RETROSPECTIVE THE SHAME OF THE CITIES
TTT will recap the events inside and outside the Xcel Center and talk
about the political and legal fallout from a week of near martial law that
occupied the streets of St. Paul and Minneapolis even as decked out
delegates roamed the corridors of RiverCentre and Xcel wallowing in
convention heaven.
TRUTH TO TELL witnessed indiscriminate police violence and the exercise of
a well-developed siege mentality inculcated into officers over a two year
period and rank with paranoia-driven counter-protest tactics.
Mayors Coleman and Rybak, the Police and other elected officials can spin
this dichotomy any which way they wish, but the truth will emerge in the
courts and caucuses for next several years that the police state created
to prevent free speech expression from reaching the insulated RNC
attendees including the national and local outlets ensconced inside soured
citizens and commercial enterprise throughout the city on ever again
hosting anything like this blowout of free movement.
ANDY DRISCOLL and LYNNELL MICKELSEN will talk with key figures in the
execution of this other-world event that consumed the cities as the bubble
partied.
GUESTS:
MIKE WHELAN Host of the I-Witness Team of journalists arrested in a raid
on his house.
DR. ELIZABETH FROST, Family Practice Physician and volunteer for North
Star Health Collective.
DAVE THUNE, St. Paul City Councilmember, Ward 2 (where the convention was)
CAM GORDON, Minneapolis City Councilmember, Ward 2
SYL JONES, Playwright, Cultural Critic, Columnist
BRUCE NESTOR, National Lawyers Guild Chapter President and Attorney for
several arrested RNC Protestors
--17--
McCollum promises to look into police response to RNC protests
By Rich Broderick , TC Daily Planet
September 05, 2008
Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-St. Paul) and two of her staff members met for
more than 90 minutes this morning with representatives of the Minnesota
chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and others speaking on behalf of
protestors detained and arrested during this week's Republican National
Convention.
During the meeting, McCollum declared that since she played a pivotal role
in securing some $50 million for the Twin Cities to help defray the cost
of the RNC, including for security, she feels it is her obligation to
question how and why the money was spent, in particular for a law
enforcement response that many, including the Lawyers Guild, feel has
violated the civil and Constitutional rights of protestors.
"Betty is the first public official we've met with since this crackdown
began who has actually listened," said Gena Berglund, an attorney who has
been active in the Lawyers Guild's efforts to protect the First Amendment
rights of RNC protestors. Berglund said the NLG's request to meet with
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, who has been at the center of
controversy over alleged police misconduct, or members of his staff was
"turned down flat". The NLG was able to meet this week with a staff person
in St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's office, but said Berglund, "That meeting
went nowhere. They are not interested in listening to us".
"At this point, what we should be demanding is that there be an
investigation at every level - state, city, country, and federal - into
what has happened this past week. It has been a legal outrage and we, as
citizens and taxpayers, have the right to hold all officials responsible
for law enforcement at the RNC accountable for their actions," Berglund
said.
Article Tags: St. Paul, RNC 2008
--18--
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:26:03 -0500
From: Tom Goldstein/EFQ <tom_goldstein [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [SPIF] after assessment
Bob, it's not exactly "jumping" to conclusions to suggest that police
harassment of media organizations, especially those small, independents
like I-Witness, was deliberate, unethical, and presumably illegal. While
doing legal observer duty, I took a report from another independent media
group that was also targeted by police, with a number of swat officers
driven around the parking lot where their media van was located, and St.
Paul cops driving by on several occasions to ask routine questions that
had no relevance to the work these folks were doing (who had permission to
park where they were located.)
I don't want to say more because the case could well end up in litigation,
but I checked out the group's website and saw lots of footage from both
Denver and here that did not portray law enforcement in the way they'd
hope, including that footage from day 1 where the bicycle cops clashed
with protestors (arguably forced the confrontation) downtown. Naturally,
cops don't want videographers getting them on tape knocking people down,
macing them without reasonable provocation, etc., and the fact that our
own St. Paul cops were used to carry out these acts of harassment is a
disservice to everyone. If you witnessed a cop behave badly, are you just
supposed to say, "gee, I know you were just doing your job, so we'll let
bygones be bygones"?
I know many St. Paul cops, and have respect for just about every one of
them. But emotions are going to be raw around here for a while. We may be
able to empathize with the fact that officers faced the unfair choice of
having to carry out orders with which they may have disagreed, but we
don't really know whether this was assigned or voluntary duty. Every force
has those who are looking to do violence, so something like the RNC does
create the climate for the bad apples to get away with the kind of crap
that we witnessed. That the messages from our elected officials continue
to keep focusing on how everybody did a great job in law enforcement when
we know the truth on the ground says otherwise, not to mention the
completely illegitimate arrests of members of the media, such as Amy
Goodman and her producers from Democracy Now!, is disheartening.
Tom Goldstein
Hamline-Midway
--19--
==EVENTS==
1. Korea justice 9.10 4pm
2. Amnesty Intl 9.10 7:30pm
3. Eagan vigil 9.11 4:30pm
4. New Hope demo 9.11 4:45pm
5. Ntown vigil 9.11 5pm
6. Media/change 9.11 7pm
7. C Coleman BD 9.12 6:30pm
==1==
From: Human Rights Center/Lauren Merritt <humanrts [at] UMN.EDU>
Subject: Korea justice 9.10 4pm
September 10, 2008 - Judge Park Won Soon speaking on "Bringing Justice to an
Unjustified Past in Korea". Time: 4:00 pm. Cost: Free and open to the
public.
Judge Park Won Soon will discuss human rights and transitional justice in
Korea. Named by the Citizen Times as the "Most Distinguished and Respected
Activist in Korea" for three years running, Judge Park is the executive
director of the Home Institute and of the Beautiful Foundation adn
Beautiful Store (a community foundation and fair-trade network).
Refreshments will be served. Location: 125 Nolte Library, 315 Pillsbury
Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN
==2==
From: Gabe Ormsby <gabeo [at] bitstream.net>
Subject: Amnesty Intl 9.10 7:30pm
AIUSA Group 640 (Saint Paul) meets Wednesday, September 10th, at 7:30 p.m.
Mad Hatter Teahouse, 943 West 7th Street, Saint Paul.
==3==
From: Greg and Sue Skog <family4peace [at] msn.com>
Subject: Eagan peace vigil 9.11 4:30pm
CANDLELIGHT PEACE VIGIL EVERY THURSDAY from 4:30-5:30pm on the Northwest
corner of Pilot Knob Road and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. We have signs
and candles. Say "NO to war!" The weekly vigil is sponsored by: Friends
south of the river speaking out against war.
==4==
From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net>
Subject: New Hope demo 9.11 4:45pm
NWN4P-New Hope demonstration every Thursday 4:45 to 5:45pm at the corner
of Winnetka and 42nd. You may park near Walgreens or in the larger lot
near McDonalds; we will be on all four corners. Bring your own or use our
signs.
==5==
From: EKalamboki [at] aol.com
Subject: Northtown vigil 9.11 5pm
NORTHTOWN Peace Vigil every Thursday 5-6pm, at the intersection of Co. Hwy
10 and University Ave NE (SE corner across from Denny's), in Blaine.
Communities situated near the Northtown Mall include: Blaine, Mounds View,
New Brighton, Roseville, Shoreview, Arden Hills, Spring Lake Park,
Fridley, and Coon Rapids. We'll have extra signs.
For more information people can contact Evangelos Kalambokidis by phone or
email: (763)574-9615, ekalamboki [at] aol.com.
==6==
From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Media/change 9.11 7pm
Thursday, 9/11, 7 pm, Northwest Neighbors for Peace present nonprofit
media consultant Nancy Doyle Brown speaking on "Using the Media to Achieve
Social Change," Parish Community of St Joseph, 8710 - 36th Ave N (corner
of Boone), New Hope. nwn4p [at] yahoo.com or 763-546-5368.
==7==
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 10:53:40 -0500
From: Act Ivist <stpactivist [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Remember the RNC! 9.12 6:30pm
[from DFLdum:]
...It's a Surprise Party!
Friday, Sept. 12th 6:30-9:00 p.m.
It' the "3rd Annual Backyard celebration in support of Chris ["RNC"]
Coleman."
Co-hosted by the 'political in-crowd' of Saint Paul
1437 Chelmsford Street, Saint Paul
[Home of Jeff Blodgett DFL hack]
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Saint+Paul&state=MN&address=1437+Chelmsford&zipcode=55108
[response]
JOIN US FOR A PEACEFUL PICKET OF THIS EVENT
- Make your own sign (we have some suggestions below)
- Send this out only to trusted friends (we would not want to ruin the
surprise!)
- Get commitments from at least 5 people to join in (we'd like a
respectful showing for Hizzoner)
- Tell Chris ["RNC"] Coleman and his supporters that Our Rights Are Not
For Sale
Remember the RNC!
At the end of this past week, a friend of mine said, "It feels like St.
Paul needs to take a shower, it just feels dirty here after the RNC. Like
there has been a mass sexual assault or something." I stood at the front
lines of the peaceful protests last Thursday evening and, yes, I believe
she has accurately captured the feeling of those of us whose
constitutional rights were trampled upon for the benefit of the RNC. Jon
Stewart said it well in his Friday night "ad" for the week: "The RNC!
Brought to you by MACE! For when 'get the f**k out of here' just isn't
working!"
For me, the worst part of the suppression of last week is that the story
never really got out. The media that dared to cover the voices of dissent
were arrested. Never in my life have I seen such a comprehensive execution
of a police state. Preemptive raids? Pointing guns at the heads of
children and the elderly? Sheriff Fletcher was out of control. The
'bomb-making' material he found in his illegal raids can be found in any
garage in Saint Paul. Fletcher's actions are to be expected to those who
know him. But to have Mayor Coleman drink the koolaid, grab the bag of
gold coins and take a dump on the constitution? That is simply too much.
Like the very same folks who brought us the Iraq War with lies of 'weapons
of mass destruction,' Chris Coleman got on local TV and radio and told
everyone that "a good many protesters" had napalm and molotov cocktails.
Friday morning on Minnesota Public Radio he declared, "This has been a
WONDERFUL week for Saint Paul."
Sign Suggestions:
REMEMBER THE RNC
RECALL COLEMAN
OUR RIGHTS ARE NOT FOR SALE
NEIGHBORS AGAINST THE WAR
FLETCHER/COLEMAN 1984!
Respect our rights, recall chris coleman
Can chris coleman
Coleman, Constitutional Criminal
RNC = RCC (recall chris coleman)
CHRIS WHO?
Chris screwed the constitution
Chris "GOP" Coleman
Chris "WONDERFUL WEEK" Coleman
Chris "fascism is cool" Coleman
Neighbors against Fascism
Coleman sold St. Paul
Coleman sold our rights
[Coleman ain't Cool, Man!]
[Third Reichlet]
[Fashion Fascism]
[Frohliches Geburtstag, Herr Kolmann!]
[Heute StPaul, Morgens die Welt!]
[One more year!]
Please accept my apologies for the anonymity of this email, I simply don't
have time to have my garage, basement and attic raided by Sheriff Fletcher
and the request and encouragement of Mayor Coleman. This is an
organically grown event and its success depends upon each of us ACTING.
Please forward this to friends, family and neighbors who care and get a
firm commitment from at least 5 people that they will attend and send this
message forward. See you Friday evening and be sure to come a few minutes
early so the guest of honor is surprised!
--20--
---------------
Coleman/Rybak:
One More Year!
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- David Shove shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu
rhymes with clove Progressive Calendar
over 2225 subscribers as of 12.19.02
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vote third party
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