Solidarity with Scott DeMuth & Carrie Feldman

On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, Carrie Feldman and Scott DeMuth of Minneapolis were called before a federal grand jury in Davenport, Iowa. They were subpoenaed in the most recent use of Green Scare tactics in Minnesota, the government’s desperate attempt to obtain information about activists, grasp at straws to file charges against them, and disrupt radical animal-rights and environmental movements such as the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front. Rightfully so, Carrie and Scott refused to cooperate and testify.

At the request of Prosecutor Cliff Cronk, District Judge John Jarvey found them in contempt of court and had them taken into custody immediately. Scott was charged with conspiracy under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act two days later, becoming the seventh person charged under this dangerous law passed through shady procedures in 2006. Once he was facing a criminal charge, his charge of civil contempt was dropped and he became eligible for release. Cronk tried to keep him locked up by arguing that his political beliefs and associations make him a “domestic terrorist,” but his ridiculous arguments failed and Scott was released after about two weeks.

Carrie’s situation has been drastically different. She remains locked up in Iowa as the government punishes her for her political beliefs and resistance to the grand jury process. She could be held for the duration of the grand jury–another 10 months. Grand juries have historically been used to repress dissent and disrupt social movements by intimidating people into abandoning their activism, unjustly incarcerating them and separating them from their communities, and conducting fishing expeditions for information about movements. Despite the government’s claims that grand juries are necessary to uphold the law and create a just society, their true purpose has been demonstrated in the persecution of people ranging from journalists who refused to identify their sources to five of the Black Panthers known as the San Francisco 8 to activists involved in the Puerto Rican independence movement to earth and animal liberation activists.

The Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure (CRASS) and Coldsnap Legal Collective have been involved in supporting people unjustly arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated since the Republican National Convention invaded St. Paul in September 2008. Many of us experienced state repression first-hand in the streets of St. Paul, and we all witnessed it in the courts as we saw person after person prosecuted more for expressing their dissent than for any illegal acts alleged to have occurred. We have not forgotten our experiences. And we are not blind to the connections between what we experienced, what Carrie and Scott are experiencing, and what all targets of state repression experience.

We demand that Carrie be released immediately, that the charges against Scott be dropped immediately, and that the government abandon its attempts to punish them for their political beliefs. We stand in solidarity with Carrie, Scott, and all those who are imprisoned for their political beliefs and for having the courage to fight back against the system that is destroying the Earth and threatening our lives.

We also call on all people of conscience who are working to change this world to support them. Visit http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com for more information and updates. You can also donate to their support fund there and find out more about how you can support them. A movement is only as strong as its prisoner support, and Carrie and Scott need our solidarity now more than ever.

In solidarity and resistance,

CRASS & Coldsnap

Judge Doles Out Harsh Sentences to Christina Vana & Karen Meissner

On November 10th, 2009, Judge Teresa Warner stayed imposition of an unspecified amount of prison time and sentenced Karen Meissner and Christina Vana to 7 years of probation, 8 hours of community service every month for the next 2 years, and a $100 fine plus standard court fees. Among the conditions of probation were that they participate in whatever educational or vocational programming Probation sets for them. As is usual in felony cases, DNA samples were required. The issue of restitution will remain open for 90 days.

Around 25 people showed up to court to support these two of the “Milwaukee 3″ defendants. Well, 25 people not counting lawyers, undercover cops, and a bevy of Sheriff’s Deputies. At the request of Courtwatch last week, the judge took steps to get a larger courtroom to accommodate the expected crowd. The advantage was that there were plenty of seats for everyone, but the disadvantage was that we were much further away from the judge’s bench and our friends.

Their sentences were the results of plea agreements reached between the defendants and prosecutor Richard Dusterhoft, who was not present at the sentencing. He failed to communicate the content of the agreement to the lawyer who filled in for him, causing the judge to dismiss the prosecution’s arguments for 90 days in jail out of hand.

A plea agreement, said the judge, is a legal agreement, and this one was entered into evidence in the court records. Neither the prosecutor nor the defendants were free to disregard this agreement.

The judge said she had received 52 letters an hour before court was due to start–all of which appeared to have been printed on the same machine (which was confusing since she also said they had been faxed to her). She said that there wasn’t always time for a judge to read that much material just before court started. Nevertheless, she read all 52 letters. She called attention to one in particular that she said she found offensive in tone–she objected to the reference to a “plea bargain.”

“If you want a bargain, go to Target!” the judge snapped. This was a plea agreement.

Per the plea agreement, the judge said she had crafted a sentence that she felt would be useful for rehabilitation, yet sufficiently severe to provide the necessary punishment and accountability that was required in view of the seriousness of the crime. She told each of the defendants that, in spite of what the Pre-Sentencing Investigation found, she believed that they were remorseful and regretted their actions. She remembered them coming into court as two very scared young people, and she was convinced that they really had not considered the consequences of their actions on September 1st, 2008.

She said that, in some ways, the probation she had assigned was a much more severe sentence than jail time. Had they received a jail sentence, they might have “been very scared,” but they could have completed the sentence relatively quickly and gone on with their lives without ever really considering the consequences of what they had done. With a long probation, they would receive extended supervision and have plenty of time to see the consequences of their actions.

One of the defense attorneys, Ted Dooley, asked if it was possible for the defendants to do their community service in the state in which they would be living. The judge said that that would be acceptable if the probation was transferred. Dooley then asked if his client might return to Wisconsin to be with her sister who was in the hospital, but the judge declined to make specific allowances for that. Both Christina and Karen are forbidden to leave Minnesota without the permission of the Probation Office.

The judge’s tone and statements during the sentence show us all too clearly what the “justice” system is all about–controlling people’s lives and establishing authority over them. Having the audacity to imply that being incarcerated is easy, Judge Warner took what she felt was a more vindictive route to determine her sentencing. Having satisfied herself that she was exercising her authority over other people’s lives adequately, she made sure to rub it in Christina’s and Karen’s faces and talk down to them during the proceedings.

Although we’re glad that our friends do not have to spend more time in jail, we reject the “tough love” approach Judge Warner took, as well as the system of oppression known as the criminal “justice” system that enables her to take it. We will not be satisfied with any judge’s whims controlling our lives. Rather, we stand in solidarity with our friends and will continue to love and support them!

Brad Crower Pleas in MN State Court

On Monday in the Ramsey County District Court, Bradley Neal Crowder plead guilty to 1 count of Aiding and Abetting Terroristic Threats. Brad is one of the Texas 2. The other two counts against him were dismissed by the prosecutor.  The plea deal gets him a 15 month sentence, which he asked to have executed (rather than having it stayed and being sentenced to jail time plus probation).  He will be credited with the 5 days he stayed at the LEC from Sept 1-5, 2008 and with the time from January 15, 2009 to the present. (That leaves about 5 months.)  The remainder of the sentence will be served concurrently with the federal sentence (a couple years) he is currently serving, and the judge’s understanding is that this sentence will be finished “long before” the federal one.  Brad will be transferred to federal custody to finish the remainder of this sentence. He also has to pay a $50 fine plus court costs.

Brad’s defense lawyer, Mr. Sicolli–who took the case pro bono and said he is glad he did–spoke on Brad’s behalf. He said he had gotten to know Brad and come to like him. He said Brad still feels very strongly about the things he came to St. Paul to protest, but that he has come to see that this is not the best way to oppose them, and indeed, he has “paid dearly” for his actions already.

Brad told the judge that he had been “duly convicted,” that he took full responsibility for his actions. He said that no one had been injured by his actions and that there had been perhaps $250 worth of damage. As Mr. Sicolli, said, he had paid a heavy price for it–two years in jail. By contrast, the leaders of the Republican Party had broken national and Constitutional laws, done millions of dollars worth of damage, and caused the loss of many lives. Yet none of them have been sentenced for anything they have done. And as a young person, he could not help feeling frustrated by that disparity of treatment.

Judge Nathanson did not comment in reply; she just enacted the plea that the parties had agreed to.

Brad’s plea agreement came after weeks of being held in the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) awaiting his turn in the “trial call” list, yet another way the state tries to wear people down and coerce pleas by not letting them know exactly when they will go on trial. While being held there, he had access to fewer resources and privileges than he had in federal custody since the LEC is only intended for relatively short detentions for people awaiting trial.

Brad will soon be transferred back into custody to serve out the remainder of his sentence. Once we have his mailing address, we’ll let you know. He could definitely use letters, commissary funds, and other types of support from folks on the outside!

And don’t forget that you can support political prisoners all the time! If you’re in Minneapolis, stop by Arise! Bookstore for letter writing times:

Every 2nd & 4th Mondays
6-8pm
Arise! Bookstore & Resource Center
2441 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls

For more information, email mplsprionsersupport@riseup.net or visit http://www.arisebookstore.org/letters-prisoners.

Next Day 4 Civil Litigation Meeting This Sunday!

Were you one of the hundreds of folks arrested on Sept. 4th during the RNC last year? If so, come to our next civil litigation organizing meeting:

Sunday, Oct. 25, 5:30pm
Mayday Books, 301 Cedar Ave S, Mpls

Several lawsuits have already been filed from incidents that occurred during the RNC, including a large one from Sept. 1, 2008 that will hopefully become a class action. Now we’re working on figuring out which suits to file from the arrests on Sept. 4th, such as the mass arrest on Marion Bridge.

And we need your help! If you were arrested that day or negatively affected by events that occurred that day, join us at our organizing meeting!

For more information, email Day4.Civil @ gmail.com.

Civil Litigation Updates

We’re continuing to make progress on civil litigation!

Recently, Minneapolis lawyer Jordan Kushner has filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County for someone arrested around the time of the Rage Against the Machine concert on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. If you were arrested on this day in Minneapolis and are also interested in filing suit, please talk with Jordan immediately at:

612.288.0545
kushn002@umn.edu

Also, on September 13, the Civil Litigation Working Group had a great meeting about civil litigation from September 4, 2008 with members of the Anti-War Committee and other people who were arrested on the last day of the RNC. We started talking about ways to organize ourselves to get rolling on all the work that needs to be done to get suits filed for Day 4. But we need your help!

If you were arrested on Day 4, please email Day4.Civil@gmail.com or call 651.230.6513.

We’ve also scheduled a follow-up meeting for Sunday, Oct. 25, place and time TBD. Save the date now!

New RNC Aftermath Documentary Released!

Check out what our friends in Chicago did!

One year after the 2008 Republican National Convention, the Chicago Independent Media Center takes a look back over the last year of RNC aftermath work. This documentary shares helpful advice with any activists organizing under state repression.  Includes interviews with legal workers, members of the RNC8 and arrestees, as well as updates on our incarcerated friends.

“Resist! An RNC Aftermath Documentary”
By Chicago Indymedia
Released September 21st, 2009
Runtime: 1hr 12min

http://www.archive.org/details/RESISTRNCAftermathDocumentary

Recent RNC Court Happenings

On Sept. 17, two important events took place in the Ramsey County Courthouse. Check out the word from our friends at TC Indymedia:

“Two decisions related to RNC protests came down simultaneously in Ramsey County Court Thursday afternoon.  Eight demonstrators from the August 31, 2008 Vets for Peace march were found guilty of misdemeanor trespassing, but were sentenced to merely a $100 fine or 20 hours community service.  They had argued their claim of right to enter the secured area around the Xcel Energy Center under international law and the Minnesota and United States Constitutions.  Meanwhile, two floors above, Jesse James Forrey was sentenced to 120 days in jail after being found guilty weeks ago of felony damage to property.  He’ll likely serve 75 with good behavior. The expected sentence was much higher.”

Read the whole article at http://tc.indymedia.org/2009/sep/september-rnc-verdicts-community-service-fine-vets-peace-forrey-gets-120-days

And check out the awesome support letter for Jesse James Forrey!

From http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com/

“Today, Jesse was sentenced to 120 days in jail by Judge Flynn. What this means in Minnesota is that he should get 1/3 of his sentence off for good behavior, and 5 more days off for credit from when he was arrested last year, for a total of 75 days in jail. So our educated guess is that he’ll be free on December 2nd. We’ll keep you posted, of course.

“During the sentencing, Richard Dusterhoft, the Prosecutor, argued for 6 months in jail and just over $10,000 in restitution. Jesse’s attorney asked for at most 60 days in jail. Jesse spoke eloquently on his own behalf. He mentioned how much he’s learned and changed in the past year, how he wants to move on in his life and do what’s really important to him: spend time with the children in his life, his friends and family, and return to his community. He said he’s already experienced distance from his loved ones, isolation, and had time to contemplate the seriousness of the situation, all things that imprisonment is supposed to make you experience. The desire most strongly articulated was that of returning home.

“For the first time in our collective court experience, Judge Flynn took a downward departure from what the prosecution recommended. She originally planned on sentencing him to 9 months, but it seem she was swayed by the massive amount of letters submitted in Jesse’s favor. Thank you so much to friends, family, and supporters for your articulate and emotional letters! They made all the difference. While appealing to authority doesn’t leave us very empowered, if we can take even a day off of a friend’s jail sentence, then we should in any way we can. 5 months off is even better!

“We were all nervous, sad, and scared before the sentencing. We couldn’t all fit into the courtroom, and the indimidating sherrifs, in uniform and plainclothes, took up all the standing room and rudely tried to stop us from entering. The weeks leading up to this have been stressful and emotional, and it seemed that our tension was coming to a head. But after hearing the sentence, many of us felt a weight lifted. Even though our dear friend is sitting in that terrible place, surrounded by unsympathetic guardians of law and order, we know he’s on his way home. The sentence was much less than we expected and were trying to prepare ourselves for. By no mean is this judicial stifling of our lives acceptable, but at least we know that Jesse will soon be free.

“Jesse called us this late afternoon, and while disappointed not to be with his friends and family, he seems to be doing well. He is still in the downtown Ramsey County Jail, which is different than his final destination, the Ramsey County Correctional Facility, a.k.a. the Workhouse. He says he should be transported there tomorrow, so if you want to send him letters as soon as you can, he should get to the jail before your letter does. Letters are immensely important to prisoners, to combat isolation and stay engaged with the world and your loved ones. Send him letters soon and often! Use your common sense with what you write, don’t say anything that could get Jesse in trouble. Photographs can be sent (but not polaroids), and photocopies are accepted, but avoid staples. Also, items with glue, glitter, markers, or general things the jail staff might find annoying won’t be accepted. Stamps, envelopes, writing supplies and money will all be rejected. If they don’t accept mail it should be placed in Jesse’s property and he’ll get it upon his release. This is a good basic guide to writing to prisoners. His address is:

“Jesse Forrey

“297 South Century Avenue

“Maplewood, MN 55119

“Other ways you can help are by donating money via paypal, check, or money order. Contact us for an address and name, or use the paypal link on the lefthand side of this site. Jesse also would like to read the following books, which can only be sent via a publisher such as amazon.com or powells.com

• Custer Died For Your Sins – Vine Deloria
• Living My Life – Emma Goldman
• Any Derrick Jensen
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Jonathon Saffran Foer
• Ward Churchill
• something about traditional/indigenous norwegian peoples
• Mary Oliver
• The Continuum Concept
• The Male Herbal by Jame Green
• The Ohlone Way
• Having Little, Being Much by Lorraine Perlman
• Conquest by Andrea Smith

“and related such and such….

“Tell us if you send any books, so we can take them off the list. Please get in touch with us regarding any concerns or questions, or if you want to schedule a visit. We’re here to help Jesse and all y’all. This is a hard time for many of us but together we’ll come out much stronger for it.

“I’ll leave you with some words written by Jesse on his house’s message board:

“‘Thank you so fucking much. I love you.’

“supportjesse@riseup.net”

RNC One-Year Anniversary Media Packet Now Available!

Our Omnibus Working Group has also been incredibly busy this month! In anticipation of the one-year anniversary of the RNC, we have compiled a packet to provide information and resources to the media.

You can find it by clicking on “RNC One-Year Anniversary Media Packet” in the “Welcome!” box to the right.

The package includes information from:
•Courtwatch: Arrestee Statistics
•Felony Cases Update
•Civil Litigation Information: Pending Suits
•Support Sites and Other Resources
•Multimedia: Still Images and Video for Media Use
•Upcoming Dates
•Contacts for the Media

The information in this packet is free for use and dissemination by your organization, in whole or in part, with
credit to the Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure or as otherwise noted.

An excerpt from the packet:

“One year after the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., the aftermath remains newswor-
thy.  The RNC was for many of us our first taste of a police state; the astounding violence against pro-
testers, bystanders, journalists and others directed by Sheriff Bob Fletcher and other authorities shocked and radicalized many of us.  We have since come to realize that these instances of raids, intimidation and
violence play out regularly in our society, particularly in communities of color and working class commu-
nities, and will almost assuredly replay themselves at upcoming summits such as the G20 in Pittsburgh later
this September. Thus, keeping the RNC in our collective consciousness is critical.”

Click on the link to see the whole thing!

Updates from the Felony Support Working Group

Our Felony Support Working Group has compiled an update on people facing felonies from the RNC. People are currently serving time and more of our comrades are about to be stolen away from us or are being threatened with this, so we’ve gotta stand in solidarity with them. Read on to learn about their situations and how you can support them.

In addition to hundreds of misdemeanor charges, the 2008 RNC has resulted in lasting felony charges against 24 individuals. Ten are still facing charges, including the “RNC 8,” who are all being charged under the same complaint.  Originally facing one charge, then four, and now two (conspiracy to riot in the second degree and conspiracy to commit property damage in the first degree), the 8 were the first ever individuals charged with terrorism under the MN PATRIOT Act, although the terrorism charges were dropped in the spring of 2009 due to political pressure.  The 8 have a support site here: http://RNC8.org; the RNC 8 Defense Committee holds public meetings on a regular basis.

This is the breakdown of the “RNC Others”:

One hundred fifty-nine people were booked into Ramsey County jail with probable cause felonies during the RNC. Two weeks later, the count of 159 was reduced to merely 19, though in the coming year Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner charged three more individuals (one of whom was already imprisoned on federal charges).  Three individuals were also charged in federal court.  Given the history of vindictive prosecution, it’s entirely possible that more felony charges are to come.

Ramsey County

• Two people had their felony charges dropped entirely due to political pressure, a lack of evidence, or both.

• One person successfully had their felony charges reduced and pled guilty to disorderly conduct – a misdemeanor – in January 2009 and was sentenced to a fine and credit for time served.

• One person successfully had their felony charges reduced and pled guilty to unlawful assembly/disorderly conduct – a misdemeanor – in May 2009 and was sentenced to a fine and community service.

• Joe Robinson pled guilty to first degree criminal damage to property and was sentenced to three years probation on December 12, 2008.  Thanks in large part to court solidarity, he received community service and credit for time served with no additional jail time.  Upon successful completion of the sentence, the felony will be reduced to a gross misdemeanor.

• Dustin Matchett-Morales of California pled guilty to first degree damage to property and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation on February 5th, 2009, and taken directly into custody at the Ramsey County Workhouse.  With 4 days credit from his initial arrest and the guideline of serving 2/3 of one’s sentence in the workhouse with good behavior, he was released after 36 days.  For more information, visit his support site: http://supportdustin.wordpress.com

• Glenn Dyer of New York pled guilty in March 2009 to first degree criminal damage to property and was sentenced to 30 days in jail on May 28, 2009.  He was released 17 days later.  Upon completion of five years probation, the felony will be reduced to a gross misdemeanor.

• One person pled guilty to first degree criminal damage to property and was sentenced to 60 days in jail on July 16, 2009 and upon completion of probation the felony will be reduced to a gross misdemeanor.

• David Mahoney originally faced two charges, which were gradually increased to ten counts of assault and terroristic threats, stemming from an alleged incident in which a sandbag was thrown onto a highway off-ramp in front of a delegate bus.  Prosecutor Richard Dusterhoft called Mahoney the “poster boy of the RNC.”  Despite the hype, Mahoney struck a plea deal on June 1, 2009 reducing the ten counts to a single count of second degree assault.  Under the deal, Mahoney received 90 days in jail – reduced to 56 with good behavior and time served – and, importantly, after his release will be able to return to his native England rather than serving probation in the United States.  He is expected to be released from jail September 2, 2009.  For more info on his case, go to: http://helpdavemahoney.blogspot.com

• One person stood trial before a jury on June 26, 2009 and was found guilty of aiding and abetting the obstruction of an arrest (a misdemeanor), guilty of escaping from custody pending a felony arrest (a felony), and not guilty of aiding and abetting an assault on a police officer (a felony). He was the first conviction at either a misdemeanor or felony trial stemming from the RNC nearly 10 months prior. The charges stemmed from an incident in which he went limp – a classic civil disobedience tactic – while being arrested by a lone renegade officer, and then was unarrested by the supportive crowd. On August 4 he was sentenced to 30 days in jail – 17 days counting time served plus good behavior – plus five years probation.  He is expected to be released from jail September 3, 2009.

• Jesse Forrey of California was charged with first degree criminal damage to property and found guilty by a jury on August 6, 2009, despite the contradictory statements of the two state witnesses and no photographic or video evidence.  His sentencing will be on September 17, 2009.  Jesse, like some other felony arrestees, has been stuck in the Twin Cities away from home since September 2008.  He is in need of financial support both for his lawyer and the many witnesses and friends who traveled from California to join him at trial; more information and ways to help can be be found at http://www.supportjessejames.wordpress.com

• Christina Vana and Karen Meissner, both of Milwaukee, were charged along with Bradley Crowder (see below) on January 16, 2009 with aiding and abetting assault in the second degree.  They turned themselves in to St. Paul Police two days later.  They were released on bond later that day and are in need of funds.  Their trial is scheduled for August 31, 2009.  Visit their support site: http://helpmkethree.blogspot.com

Federal

• Matt DePalma of Michigan took a plea agreement in federal court, admitting to unlawful possession of destructive devices, a federal crime.  He was sentenced on March 11, 2009 to 42 months in prison followed by three years supervised release.  It is widely believed DePalma was entrapped by FBI Informant Andrew Darst (who later faced his own assault charges in Hennepin County, MN). Matt DePalma’s Plea Agreement

• Bradley Crowder and David McKay, both of Texas, faced federal firearms charges for allegedly manufacturing molotov cocktails.  Bradley Crowder, held in custody since the RNC like McKay, plead guilty on January 8, 2009.  His plea agreement can be seen here.  David McKay had trial the week of January 26 which resulted in a mistrial due to hung jury.  McKay’s lawyer argued that McKay had been entrapped by FBI informant Brandon Darby .  McKay was released on bond and was scheduled to begin a retrial on March 16, but preempted it by pleading guilty to three charges.  His decision to plead guilty was, we guess, based on the prosecution’s underhanded tactic of compelling his friend Crowder to testify against him in the second trial.  He was taken back into custody at that time.  McKay was later sentenced to four years in prison; Crowder to two years.  Brad and David have a support site here: http://freethetexas2.com. The six people previously subpoenaed to a related grand jury have all had their subpoenas withdrawn. For more info, see the Grand Jury page.  (Crowder was charged on January 16, 2009 with an additional felony charge of aiding and abetting assault in the second degree, along with Christina Vana and Karen Meissner.)

Ramsey County court appearances are all at the Ramsey County Courthouse at 15 W. Kellogg Blvd in St Paul.  Sign up for the CRASS announcements list or watch TC Indymedia to be apprised of upcoming opportunities for court solidarity!

It is a common law enforcement practice to create trumped up charges in the wake of a massive police action like what occurred at the 2008 RNC. The point is to distract from the real issues–e.g., lack of police accountability, and especially the institutionalized prioritization of corporate interests over human life and the lack of government accountability to the people–and to justify the use of taxpayer money ($50 million in federal security grants, this time) to crush popular dissent.

Individuals with felony charges are facing protracted and expensive legal battles, and the possibility of years in prison. In order to fight their charges and win, they need our support.

What You Can Do:

1. Donate to the legal funds of Jesse, Karen & Christina.

Karen and Christina’s fund:

Jesse’s fund: Click here to donate online via PayPal.

2. Write Matt DePalma, still in custody, at:

Matt DePalma

Sherburne County Jail
13880 Highway 10
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330-4601

For tips on writing prisoners, click here.
For Sherburne County Jail writing guidelines, click here.

Write to those incarcerated at the Ramsey County Workhouse at:

[Arrestee's name]

297 S. Century Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55119

3. Seek out folks you know facing felonies and see what they need from you.

4. Spread the word about what really happened at the RNC; educate yourself and your community about resisting State repression (click here for a guide); counter State and corporate propaganda.

5. Watch this website for updates on arrestee support actions.

If you are facing RNC-related felonies and need info or support, or if you want to support those who are, email rnc08felonies@riseup.net.

Twin Cities Legal Support So Far: Updates and Analysis

Our lovely comrades at the Earth First! Journal will be publishing this article in the next edition of the journal, but keep reading to get a sneak preview of our most recent updates and analyses!

The one year anniversary of the Republican National Convention is quickly approaching. Despite having faded from the national headlines, the RNC and its’ aftermath still define much of daily life for the radical community here in the Twin Cities. The people who have been targeted by state repression and prosecution, along with their supporters, carry on the fight that was sparked by riot police last August. Twenty-four people (including the RNC8) are still being prosecuted in Ramsey County, and until their charges are dropped and state repression ends, the RNC will remain ever-present here in Minnesota.

The court solidarity strategy that was formed in the hectic days immediately following the RNC has been one of the most effective community responses to mass arrest in recent memory. The best defense against state repression is a collective one, and arrestees organized to fight their charges en masse. This strategy has succeeded in tying up the court system and forcing the state to drop large numbers of cases against protestors. In connection with the RNC8 Defense Committee, the Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure (CRASS) coalition was created to help coordinate legal support and court solidarity. Mass community meetings, lawsuits, the creation and maintaining of internet archives, and rummage sale fundraisers have been a few of the varied forms that support work has taken over the past year. And though there is much yet to be done, there can be no doubt that we are winning.

Of the 818 people arrested during the convention, only one person has been successfully convicted at trial. In addition, seventy-four people have been forced into plea deals or taken bench warrants. In spite of these losses, an incredible 90% of RNC arrestees have been acquitted, had their charges dismissed, or were never prosecuted. All the cases in Hennepin County (Minneapolis) have been resolved without any convictions because there is absolutely no evidence to justify the mass arrests. In addition, the terrorism charges against the RNC8 were dropped as a result of community pressure aimed at County Attorney Susan Gaertner. Arrestees and supporters should take full credit for the victories thus far, since they certainly did not result from goodness in the hearts of the prosecutors.

The abysmal failure of prosecutorial efforts has pushed the state into new strategies of judicial repression. Politicians and bureaucrats (many of whose careers are riding on their affiliation with the RNC) are desperately seeking to justify the $50 million in federal funds that was spent on RNC policing. Since they can barely seem to convict anyone, malicious prosecution, scapegoating, and retaliatory charges have become favored strategies of the local court system.

The prosecution openly seeks to “make an example” out of the felony defendants whose alleged acts of property destruction have been described by the whitewash Heffelfinger-Luger Report as “the most frightening moment(s) of the convention.” Of course, such statements overlook the pre-emptive raids, state-sponsored shutdown of downtown, and hundreds of brutal injuries caused by police. In addition, this attempted vilification of felony defendants seeks to draw lines between “good” and “bad” protestors and to weaken our solidarity. We will not, however, give up on our friends and comrades who are facing the brunt of RNC-related judicial targeting.

Of the twenty-one felony defendants originally charged, two cases have been dropped and one person has been convicted for the unarrest incident from Sept. 1st. This conviction is currently being appealed. As this article is being written, the RNC support community holds its breath in anticipation of the trial of our friend and CRASS member Jesse James Forrey, whose trial is set to begin on August 3rd. Milwaukee co-defendants Christina Vana and Karen Meissner have a trial date set for the end of August. Their co-defendant David Mahoney is currently serving a sentence from a plea deal he took in order to return home to his native England, and is set to be released back to his friends and family on Sept. 2^nd. In addition, Matt DePalma, Bradley Crowder, and David McKay are three defendants who each took guilty pleas in high profile federal trials involving Molotov cocktails and FBI informants. All three are currently serving federal sentences. Bradley Crowder is facing additional state charges for a separate incident.

The case of the RNC8 highlights the vindictive prosecutorial efforts of Susan Gaertner’s, who is running for Minnesota Governor and whose political ambitions are closely tied to her image as a successful County Attorney. Her efforts to criminalize Welcoming Committee organizers as the supposed masterminds of RNC protests again attempt to fracture and factionalize community solidarity. By dropping the terrorism charges against the 8, Gaertner has sought to reduce media attention and community pressure surrounding the case. However, people in the Twin Cities and across the United States remain strongly behind the co-defendants and regularly attend Gaertner’s public events to remind her of our opposition against her attempts at thoughtcrime prosecution.

One of the most difficult challenges of our court solidarity strategy stems from the very nature of the “justice” system. This slow moving process is designed to force people into accepting plea deals by wearing them down with endless court dates and a “trial call” system which requires you to be on two-hour notice for weeks at a time. The financial and emotional effects of this structure have been particularly difficult for out-of-town arrestees, many of whom have had to move here in order to fight their cases. The RNC prosecutors have deliberately dragged out the cases of arrestees in order to eke out the pleas that they would not otherwise be able to acquire. One arrestee flew up from Miami six times to fight a simple misdemeanor before he eventually was unable to return and had to take a plea. CRASS’s travel fund, which pays for arrestee plane tickets, has helped ameliorate this situation, but this has nonetheless been the most difficult hurdle for coordinating effective court solidarity and helping people fight their charges.

In an obvious effort to cover their asses against future lawsuits, in June the city of St. Paul filed criminal charges against four additional people. One of these, Elliot Hughes, was beaten by sheriff’s deputies in the Ramsey County jail while incarcerated, and his case has attracted media attention and been a thorn in the side of Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher. These defendants had previously signaled to the city their intent to sue over their treatment during the RNC. If any of them are found guilty or plea to a criminal charge, it will be difficult if not impossible for them to successfully pursue their claims against the state. These retaliatory charges seek to discourage others from filing civil suits, and are obviously motivated by the fear of people pushing back against the city, county, and cops.

Civil litigation efforts are in full swing. After a very successful Mardi Gras action in which sixty-five Notices of Claim (forms indicating intent to sue) were filed against St. Paul, city attorney John Choi was overheard complaining that “things couldn’t be worse” for his office. Since then, legal workers and attorneys have been setting up the necessary framework to make the city pay. Group claims for several of the mass arrests are being coordinated by local attorneys, and individual suits have been filed already, including a suit against the Sheriff’s office for the Aug. 29 convergence space raid. In addition to getting money for the movement, civil litigation seeks to make connections to systemic issues of police violence and to change the narrative of what happened in the streets during the convention.

Certainly, civil litigation is not a solution to state violence, nor will it protect us in the streets or give us back the time and energy that has been stolen from us while we fight to keep ourselves and our friends out of jail. Nonetheless, suing the state effectively hits the city bureaucrats where it hurts them most– their coffers and their careers. Lawsuits from previous mass mobilizations such as Seattle and Los Angeles have succeed in wresting millions of dollars from the state’s insurance companies and have changed policing practices in many cities. In addition, local despots like Bob Fletcher can lose their power and paychecks from successful lawsuits. Civil litigation is one of a variety of strategies that we are using to push back against those who would have us imprisoned in jails and “free speech zones”.

The ongoing militarization of the Twin Cities that was enabled by the delegates’ arrival remains the untold aftermath of the Republican National Convention. Police brutality continues unchecked as they turn their RNC weaponry and crowd control devices onto the low income and people of color communities of our cities. Our work must always make connections to the everyday faces of police violence and state repression, and we have begun to engage in these struggles through coalition work with local anti-police violence organizers. However, to our detriment, we have not been able to achieve this on the scale needed to effectively fight against systemic white supremacy and classism.

In addition, we seek to connect our struggles to those of political prisoners elsewhere. The parallels between the RNC8 and Green Scare conspiracy defendants highlight the nationwide commonalities of the state’s repressive campaigns against political organizers and activists. We are privileged to have both local and national support for our struggles, which allow us the energy and resources to fight back as effectively as we have been able to thus far. Many people who face similar state targeting do not have such support structures, and we hope that the resources and knowledge of RNC legal support will spread to future situations of community defense and solidarity.

For more information about RNC legal support (including how to get involved in civil litigation), check out: www.rncaftermath.org and www.rnc8.org

For your very own free copies of Bob Bucks, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Bob Fletcher Sucks!
c/o Coldsnap Legal Collective
PO Box 50514
Minneapolis, MN 55405