Letter to Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan about continuing, post-RNC harassment

[annm4peace]

Source: Indymedia

Today, the so-called "RNC 8"—charged with organizing direct action during the 2008 RNC—held a bike tour of the sites of the pre-RNC house raids in Minneapolis, before planning to cycle on to the sites of similar raids in St. Paul. The two parts of the day were organized to be split with a community lunch at the Walker Church. The participants were a wide range of people including local quakers, community activists, journalists, lawyers, educators, etc.—basically a cross-section of the city.

At 3:00pm today (Saturday March 28th), there were 6 bike police, a police van, a squad car, and a creepy-looking dark sedan stationed outside the Walker Church during the lunch.

It is estimated that 20-30 police officers and federal law enforcement officials took part in this apparently joint powers operation to harass a few dozen people on bicycles eating a community lunch in a church. Is the City's budget not already in trouble enough without this wanton waste of public funds?

Despite all road rules being obeyed and respected, there was one arrest for "disorderly conduct" of someone attempting to leave the event earlier. From what I understand, he was picked off as he left the main group, which continued on the Greenway. The Greenway, for heaven's sakes, an official city bike route with only pedestrian and bike traffic! Is there no sense of proportion left in in the Cities?

Read more: http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/mar/letter-minneapolis-police-chief-tim-dolan-about-continuing-post-rnc-harassment

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amazing,


I guess Chief Dolan and MPLS PD feel they have the right to continue to harass those who organized and spoke out during the RNC, and the people who continue to support them.

I think there are a lot of other things the Mpls PD could be doing with their time. If they have so much money to pay for over times to harass those on a bike ride and to sit outside a church; then please give us back our tax dollars. Give the money those who are losing their homes. I sure Moorhead, MN could have used more help in sandbaging and that that Police paddy wagon could have helped transport people or food.

Those on the ride, and at the church, were a mixture of ages.. from 80 to babies. Many are from the peace and social justice community such as WAMM and Veterans for Peace, and also from Labor.
Sadly, we hear "crickets" from our so called progressive local Representatives.

[annm4peace]

1. Yesterday's play by play update on harassment and arrest by police

UPDATE 5:30PM: Single arrestee has been bailed out; he was arrested for "disorderly conduct" by Minneapolis Police. Besides the one arrest, RNC 8 solidarity events this weekend were called a success and were well-attended! Large police presence included St. Paul Police in Minneapolis plus general confusion, taxpayer money waste and tired old tactics on the part of the boys in blue. Look for a full feature with photos and video on TCIMC in the coming days.

BREAKING 2:45PM: Police still around Walker Church, St. Paul leg of tour called off. Coldsnap has arranged bail and the arrestee will be out in a few hours. Feature story coming up.

BREAKING 1:35PM Sat 3/28: Many police vehicles around Walker Church.

BREAKING 12:30 PM Sat 3/28: At least one arrest on Tour De Fletcher ride. People expecting to continue to Walker Church around 1 PM. Details sketchy. Updates here & to twitter.com/tcimc as available.

Friends of the RNC 8 has called for a National Day of Solidarity with the RNC 8 on March 28, when events will be taking place nationwide. Locally, on Friday afternoon, supporters will deliver a first batch of petitions to drop the charges to Susan Gaertner's office in downtown St. Paul. On Saturday, a bike ride is planned to leave from Powderhorn Park in the morning to visit the sites of Sheriff Bob Fletcher's pre-emptive raids last August. The "tour de Fletcher" will include a stop for lunch and conclude at the site of the anti-RNC convergence center in St. Paul.

More News: Dave Mahoney trial set for June 1 | St. Paul wastes scarce resources for $50 fine | Two more RNC defendants acquitted; reduced charges for third | David McKay found guilty--court report from 3/17 | Macalester dorm raided in February in hunt for RNC evidence | Duluth Central Labor Body passes resolution for the RNC 8 | RNC '08 Report (read more below)

FBI Informant Andrew Clark Darst ("Panda"), thought to be the backbone of the state's case against the 8, was found guilty on assault and property damage charges in an unrelated case last week. Darst opted for a so-called stipulated facts trial, meaning the case was decided solely by judge Dan Mabley, who also found Darst not guilty on two more serious burglary charges. He'll be sentenced in Hennepin County Court on May 18. In other news from court, street medic Sean McCoy of Montana became the first RNC defendant to lose at trial last week - after beating 3 out of 4 charges. From 10 defendants and 34 charges, St. Paul City Attorney John Choi so far has only McCoy's $50 fine to show.

TC Indymedia will continue to cover the RNC Aftermath including remaining criminal cases and pending civil litigation. To watch a new trailer from the TCIMC/GBC film Terrorizing Dissent plus new exclusive footage from the September 2nd Ripple Effect concert, come to Manifestation at First Avenue on Friday night.

[4dsc]

2. Anyone taking pictures??

I believe the best way to get the message out is to include pictures.. Lots of them.. The last thing the police want is their pictures out on the web showing this kind of activity..

Keep up the good fight..

[annm4peace]

4. They did take pictures but working to get the uploaded

I will link once they are up.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. But, stalking protestors is so much safer

than actually protecting and serving the people of Minneapolis, dontcha know?

With violent crime rates approaching those of Oakland, I would think the good people of Minneapolis would demand better service from their police department than harassing peaceniks and community activists.

[KamaAina]

5. Well I'll be double-damned. The woman who introduced me to serious activism was cc'd on that.

Still getting it done nearly 20 years down the road. :thumbsup:

[Downtown Hound]

6. The fascism never seems to stop from that department

Sounds like you folks need a serious house cleaning of your judicial system, police forces, and local politicians.