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Pre-Emptive Arrests in the Twin Cities
I have been out all day at a music festival - a peaceful gathering where I have not followed any news. I came home and checked my email and found a convergence of disturbing information. The old intimidating "catch and release" is happening in the Twin Cities, just prior to the RNC Convention.
First of all, Kayakbiker lives in Minneapolis so he has published first-hand accounts at his blog and will be adding more. The first two are these:
Pre-emptive arrests, with Kayakbiker's videos and eyewitness accounts.
Lawyer's opinion on legality of arrests
I also got a copy of this letter from a friend in CA and it has also been posted at DailyKos:
They weren't even marching. This was a case of the cops breaking into the places where they were staying, or meeting, before any actions had even taken place. The author of this piece is a well-known environmental and peace activist who continually preaches nonviolence.
************************************
Raid on the Convergence CenterBy Starhawk
It¹s Friday night. Our Pagan Cluster is sitting on the bluff of the
Mississippi having our first real meeting, when Lisa gets a call. The
cops are raiding the Convergence Center, where we¹re organizing meetings
and trainings for the protests against the Republican National
Convention. It's not a role play, the caller says. It¹s real.Instantly, we jump up and hurry back the six or eight blocks to the old
theater we are using for meetings, trainings and social gatherings. I've
spent the last two days doing magical activism trainings, teaching
people how to stay calm and grounded in emergency situations and when
things get chaotic. Now it's time to put the training into practice.
Aaron, a tall, red-headed young man who could be one of my nephews
strides along beside me. "Are you grounded?", I ask him. He nods, and
runs ahead.Nobody can keep up with Lisa, who speeds ahead like an arrow, walking,
not running, but still covering the ground quickly. Andy and I trail behind.We're often street buddies, because we¹re both big, slow, and supremely
calm and stubborn, willing to wade into almost any situation and become
the immovable object.We're stopped by a line of cops just before we reach the building. They
refuse to let us through, or to move their van which is blocking
Scarecrow's car. There¹s an investigation underway, they say, and won¹t
say more.Brush, our dear friend, is inside, having gone to a jail solidarity
meeting, ironically enough. So are two very young people who had just
joined our cluster that night. I try calling Brush's cell phone, but get
no reply.We wait. That¹s what you do when the cops have guns trained on kids
inside a building. You wait, and witness, and make phone calls, and try
to think of useful things to do.We call lawyers. We call politicians. We try to call media. We call
friends who might know politicians and media.Through the kitchen door, we can see young kids sitting on the floor,
handcuffed. We walk across the street, back, made more phone calls. An
ambulance is parked in front, and the paramedics head into the building,
leaving a gurney ready. Susu, from her car around the corner, reports
that the cops have been grabbing pedestrians from the street, forcing
them down to the ground, handcuffing them.Song, one of the local organizers, calls her City Council member. She
wants to call the Mayor, Chris Coleman, who has promised that St. Paul
will be as welcoming to protestors as to delegates, but no one has his
home number.What I have forgotten to tell people at the training is how much of an
action is just this: tense, boring waiting, with a knot of anxiety in
your stomach and your feet starting to hurt. Song talks to a helpful
neighbor, who's come over to find out what¹s happening. He knows where
the mayor lives, says it's just a few blocks away, and draws us a map.We decide to go and call on the Mayor, who could call off the cops.
About five of us troop down there, through the soft night and a
neighborhood of comfortable homes and wide lawns on the bluffs above the
Mississippi. The Mayor's house is a comfortable Dutch Colonial, and
lights were on inside.We decide that just a few of us will go to the door, so as not to look
intimidating. Song is a round, soft-bodied middle-aged woman with a
sweet face. Ellen is a tiny brunette with a gap-toothed smile, and Lisa,
formidable organizer though she is, looks slight and unthreatening. The
rest of us hang back. Someone opens the door. Our friends have a
conversation with the mayor's wife, who is not pleased to be visited by
constituents late at night, and who tells us we should call the office.
The Mayor, she says, is asleep, and she will not wake him up.We think a mayor who was doing his job would get up and go see what¹s
going on. Nonetheless, we head back to the convergence space.A protestor has been released from the building. A small crowd has
gathered across the street, and Fox News has arrived. They interview
Song, who does her first ever Fox media spot. She tells them the truth
-- that people were in there watching movies -- a documentary about
Meridel Le Seuer. Meridel would be proud, and I¹m glad she is with us in
some form.One by one, protestors trickle out. Now we get more pieces of the story.
The cops burst in, with no warning. They drew their guns on
everyone, including a five year old child who was there with his mother,
forced everyone down on the floor. It was terrifying.They had a warrant, apparently, from the county, not the city, to search
for "bomb making materials." They were searching everyone in the
building, then one by one releasing them as they found nothing.They continue to find nothing, as we wait through long hours. Meanwhile,
more and more media arrives. These cops are not as creative as the DC
cops during our first mobilization there against the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Those cops confiscated the lunchtime
soup, which included onions and chili powder, claiming they were
materials for home made pepper spray.We wait until the last person gets out. He¹s a twenty year old who the
cops have accused of stealing his own backpack, but apparently they
relented.And now it's morning. I wake up to the news that cops have been raiding
houses where activists are staying, bursting in with the same bogus
warrant and arresting people, including a four year old child. They¹ve
arrested people at the Food Not Bombs house, a group dedicated to
feeding protestors and the homeless. They¹ve arrested others, presumably
just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.The Poor Peoples' Campaign, which had set up camp at Harriet Island, a
park in the middle of the Mississippi, has also been harassed, its
participants ordered to disperse and its organizers arrested.Let me be perfectly clear here: all of us here are planning nonviolent
protests against an administration which is responsible for immense
violence, bombs that have destroyed whole countries, and hundreds of
thousands of deaths.This is the America that eight years of the Bush administration have
brought us, a place where dissent is no longer tolerated, where
pre-emptive strikes have become the strategy of choice for those who
hold power, where any group can be accused of "bombmaking" or
"terrorism" on no evidence whatsoever, in order to deter dissent.Please stand with us. Because it could be your home they are raiding, next.
Call the Mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Tell them you are outraged
by these attacks on dissent. Urge them to let Poor People encamp and to
let dissent be heard.FLOOD THE MAYORS' OFFICES ASAP
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
651-266-8510
Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak
(612) 673-2100
(612) 673-3000 outside Minneapolis
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DiAnne--glad you posted this. I heard about it yesterday morning but I didn't know how extended it was.
I hope our MN friends are safe!
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Unbelievable, or maybe not so much, anymore.
UPDATE:
Starhawk's bus has been seized. The irony is that this information comes to me from someone who is getting it from an ORGANIC GARDENING SITE... Only in America ..
From Starhawk:
Hey friends, we need your help! Our Earth Activist Training Sustainable
Skills Bus has been seized without cause by the police. Below is an
account from the Wilsons, who have been travelling in the bus for the
last seven months doing trainings in permaculture and sustainability,
including ways you can help. My own accounts from the action can be
found on www.starhawk.org and I¹ll be posting daily as long as I can‹or
sign on to my own list by emailing starhawk-subscribe@lists.riseup.net.
If you¹re on that list, my own account follows. Please support these
folks who have been doing such good work for us all. Thanks!
POLICE SEIZE PERMIBUS
Please Post Far and Wide including any Media Contacts You May Have
At approximately 6:25 pm on August 30, 2008 Minneapolis Police,
Minnesota State Troopers, Ramsey County Sheriffs, Saint Paul Police, and
University of Minnesota Police pulled over the Earth Activist Training
Permaculture Demonstration Bus (Permibus) by exit 237 on Interstate 94.
Initially the police told the people on the bus to exit. When the people
on the bus asked if they were being detained they were told that they
were but police were unable to provide justification. When asked why
they pulled the bus over they refused to answer. After repeated requests
to explain why the bus had been stopped Officer Honican of the
Minneapolis Police explained that this was just a routine traffic stop
though he did not explain the reason for the traffic stop. The police
then told Stan Wilson, the driver and registered owner of the Permibus,
that they were going to impound the bus in case they wanted to execute a
search warrant later.
After more than an hour of being questioned by Stan and Delyla Wilson as
to the legalities of their detainment and the impoundment of the
Permibus, the police then informed Stan that the bus, which is legally
registered as a passenger vehicle in the state of Montana, was being
impounded for a commercial vehicle inspection.
Shortly afterward Sergeant Paul Davis, a commercial vehicle inspector
arrived on scene. Despite the polices insistence that the reason for
impoundment was for a commercial vehicle inspection the Permibus crew
were not allowed to remove anything from the bus including computers,
toiletries, and 17-year-old Megan Wilson's shoes. The police finally
allowed the animals to be removed from the Permibus before it was towed,
leaving the Permibus family standing beside their chickens and dogs,
homeless on the highway.
The Permibus was relocating from the Bedlam Theatre in Minneapolis,
where they had spent the day teaching Urban Permaculture, to a friend's
house in Saint Paul for a well deserved break. The Permibus has been in
the Minneapolis area since August 2nd when the crew appeared at the
Midtown Farmers Market for a morning of Permaculture education including
Permaculture 101, chicken care, seed ball making for kids, and the
Permi-puppet show.
During the past month the Permibus has parked at several local
businesses and, as a neighborly gesture of respect for local police,
Mr. Wilson contacted the appropriate precincts just to let them know the
Permibus was in the area and had permission from the business owners to
be parked on their lot. Through this, as well as other casual
discussions with Minneapolis and Saint Paul police officers, the
Permibus crew found the local police to be interested and respectful.
However on August 30th all that changed when, for no apparent valid
reason the police pulled over and seized the Permibus. After the
incident Stan Wilson said, "If the combined law enforcement of
Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, and the State of
Minnesota can pull over and impound a vehicle and home used to teach
organic gardening and sustainability, one has to wonder what it is our
government really fears. After all, we seek to teach people that the
real meaning of homeland security is local food, fuel and energy
production. For that we have had our lives stolen by government men with
guns."
As of now, after repeated requests to be present at any vehicle
inspection, with an list of what they are inspecting for, as well as
requests to be served any warrants for searches of the vehicles prior to
a search and to be present during the search the Permi-family has been
unable to ascertain the current status of the Permibus. On site Mr.
Wilson was told that Officer Palmerranky was the inspector in charge of
the case and would determine if the Permi-family' s rights protecting
them from unreasonable search and seizure would be respected. Neither
Officer Palmerranky nor his supervisor has yet to return Mr. Wilson's
calls.
The loss of her home and possessions is particularly difficult on
seventeen-year- old Megan Wilson. Megan, a shining example of what this
country asks of today's youth, has dedicated herself to making positive
changes in the world. She was the youth keynote speaker at the Local to
Global conference in Phoenix AZ, has taught conflict resolution at youth
shelters and is the outreach coordinator for the Skills for a New
Millennium Tour, the family traveling educational project.
Megan believes that, "While I understand that the world we live in is
not as it should be I strive to live and teach in a way that shows the
world how life could be. What I don't understand is why I can't get
dressed for an evening out with friends in my own home without armed men
stealing my life out from under me." The Permi-family, along with their
dogs and Permaculture super-hero chickens are currently being housed by
folks in the Twin Cities.
The Skills for a New Millennium Tour is a family education project that
travels around the United States teaching homesteading, citizenship, and
life skills at farmers markets, community gardens, churches, intentional
communities, schools, and in people's living rooms. The Skills Tour is a
donation supported project dedicated to providing tools for sustainable
living, including Permaculture, to anyone who is interested, regardless
of income. "We believe that any solution that is not accessible to the
poor and urban areas is not a real solution for the future," states
Delyla Wilson.
Permaculture is a design system with ethics and principles that can be
applied to food production, home design, and community building in order
to increase sustainability in food production, energy production, and
social systems. The Permibus is a rolling demonstration of small scale
sustainable living with three people, three dogs, three chickens, and a
box of worms as permanent residents. The chickens and worms are part of
a closed-loop food production composting system that supports the
Permibus's traveling garden.
For more information on the seizure of the Permibus, the Skills for the
New Millennium Tour, or Permaculture, the Wilsons can be reached at
406-721-8427 or through email at skillstour@gmail. com. You can also see
pictures and read stories about the last six months of their educational
adventures at permibus.livejournal.com.
To our supporters: First we ask that as many people as possible contact
precinct one in Minneapolis, MN at 612-673-5701 and Mayor Rybak at
Phone: (612) 673-2100 or
call 311 or call (612) 673-3000 outside Minneapolis.
Also call the Ramsey County Sheriff
Sheriff - Bob Fletcher 651-266-9300
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html
Glenn Greenwald reports from Salon - one video is by Jane Hamsher - the one with the lawyer has already been linked to above (it was at Kayakbiker's blog)
He is out today so should have more later.
slugbug, it's all over the media in MN. Amazing that with all the stuff out here, it seems to be quite hidden.
This diary can use recs. Republicans order arrests
Thanks for getting this word out, DiAnne. I'll post it at Reality Window and push it at Daily Kos.
You may find this diary by dengre of particular interest as to background and where the impetus for the actions against peaceful protesters is coming from.
WOW: Domestic Spies, Abramoff & the Great Philly Puppet Raid of 2000...
Also there's this list of links gathered by John Emerson at Seeing the Forest that has a lot of source information.
Glenn Greenwald has a new post up with more stuff in it.
Live videos being posted here:
The Uptake
Kayakbiker will have more at his blog.
Funk the War, from DC
video by Kayakbiker
here
I'm hearing of anarchist types and people throwing sandbags onto busses of Republicans. Unverified but suffice it to say that bad policy attracts bad energy.
DailyKos story on Amy Goodman of Nemocracy Now being arrested covering the RNC and protests:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/19345/31771/170/582581
That's Democracy Now!, and here's the video:
Video of Amy Goodman's arrest
Statement forwarded from Democracy Now!:
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman's crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.
Ramsey County Sherrif Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul. Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman's office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).
During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action. Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism's top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation's leading independent news outlet.
I guess I'm duplicating.
Hey--Can anyone help me research if this is a 501c3 or if they're allowed to support one candidate?
us chamber of congress
Oops. Sorry for the off-topic post. I thought I was on the open-thread.
(Sorry...was rushing when I posted.)
Letter from Kayakbiker's neighbor:
Today I went to a press conference at Bushville, to the Capitol for Ripple Effect (to see Michael Franti) and down to Mear's Park before the Poor People's March started. It was unbelievably oppressive with law enforcement. I drafted this letter for Mayor Coleman, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, St. Paul City Attorney John Choi, Host Committee of the Republican National Convention. Just had to get it off my chest!
------
As a journalist and a St. Paul resident I am sad and sickened by turns over what has taken place and what is still occurring today in St. Paul. The environment created by the excessive presence of law enforcement is a recipe for disaster. It is terrifying to many and there is no doubt in my mind that the presence of thousands of police in riot gear is the largest single contributor to any violence or vandalism that occurs on the streets of St. Paul. Violence attracts violence and having cops on every corner, riding through crowds of people, surrounding them while donned in riot gear and taking pictures of people crossing the street to attend a free musical event is reprehensible.
Today I personally witnessed the profiling of a youth on a bike who was pulled to the curb near Mears Park by a group of police officers on bikes. He was forced to the ground, placed in plastic handcuffs, and police riffled through his backpack while he said he didn't consent to the search. Because many citizens, journalists and legal observers were gathered in Mear's Park for the Poor People's March, the police were immediately met with 20-30 photographers and videographers. Knowing that they had no cause to arrest this man other than he didn't "look right" and that there were eye witnesses, a police office that was standing near the man asked another group of police on bikes (the entire area was thick with groups of police on bikes, on horseback, and marching around and through the gathered citizens in riot gear) for some "box cutters." The terrified youth was released from the handcuffs and quietly left the area.
Today my teenage daughter and I attended the Ripple Effect musical event at the State Capitol grounds to hear a musician we both like. When we reached the sidewalk it was pointed out to me by a volunteer lawyer with the National Lawyers Guild that a state trooper took our picture as we crossed the street, and that he was taking pictures of every person that entered the venue on Constitution Avenue. Was he taking pictures to use against us, track us, or intimidate us? I don�t care why, IT IS WRONG. I have a camera myself and I took a photo of him, camera in hand. I can see his name clearly. I will be turning my photos in to the ACLU and the NLG.
This is a horrible way to treat visitors, ANY visitors to our city. I am worried about what is happening in St. Paul this evening as the Poor People�s March reaches the Xcel Center.
I have spoken to numerous police officers over the past few days here from other states including Texas, and from suburbs and right here at home. I have no beef with any of the officers who are keeping peace; they are doing the jobs assigned to them. I do believe that sending officers out in riot gear, face helmets and with billy clubs is not a peace-making effort. It is a threat and it is a visible sign of repression and intimidation.
Please be aware that citizens who came to St. Paul from all over the state and all over the country to protest the RNC feel passionately about peace and justice. Their voices in opposition to the war, the corruption in Washington, and the lack of basic rights should be respected, even if they are not spending lots of money at parties, receptions and nightclubs, and are criticizing lobbyists rather than taking their money.
The aggressive actions in St. Paul this week have put our city on the map and in the history books for suppression of freedom of speech and for exhibiting the Patriot Act abuses of power which so many of us feared.
St. Paul now faces years of lawsuits and millions of dollars in fines because of the free-for-all attacks on journalists, marchers, and medics. Please re-think the approach thus followed and present a more civil face before all the visitors in town this week.
Many will be following closely the cases of those few who broke windows and caused disturbances on September 1. Questions abound about who these men were, and which group or entity they represented. Anyone who attacks, destroys or intimidates others should be punished. But the actions of a few cannot translate to assuming everyone in public is guilty.
More - trouble
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/rnc-protests.html
Some "anarchist" types acting like idiots like they did at the WTO here - bringing bad name to legit peace activists - same as happened here when union people (55,000) weren't shown (speeches ignored etc.) yet media showed over and over and over and over a few anarchists trashing Starbucks, some of whom probably had no ideology whatsoever.
On the other hand, why in the hell did the RNC hold their convention in a liberal city like Mpls? Why didn't they have it in a red place where they belong?