Great News! The terrorism charges against the RNC 8 have been dropped!

[Bjorn Against]

Last week I wroteabout my meeting with Susan Gaertner in which I asked her to drop the charges against the RNC 8, and I indicated my belief that I believed she was having second thoughts about the prosecution.

Well I have some great news. She WAS having second thoughts, and today she dropped the terrorism charges against the RNC 8! The defendents still face conspiracy charges so the battle is not over yet, but we just won a huge victory. Thank you to everyone who has stood up to voice their support for the RNC 8, your voices have been heard and we are going to win this battle.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office is preparing to drop terrorism charges against the so-called RNC Eight, according to a source close to discussions about the high-profile prosecutions. The group of activists, who have been accused of a criminal conspiracy to disrupt the Republican National Convention, will still face felony charges of criminal conspiracy to riot and damage property.

This means that the defendants will no longer be subject to a possible 50-percent enhancement in their prison sentences if ultimately convicted of the charges. The RNC Eight (pictured) are believed to be the first defendants ever charged under the Minnesota version of the federal PATRIOT Act.

The decision to reduce the charges comes as the terrorism prosecutions have received heightened scrutiny from the media. It also comes as the calendar for Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party gatherings gets crowded, including a debate for gubernatorial candidates next week at St. John’s University. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is hoping to win the party’s backing for governor and has been receiving criticism from party activists for the prosecutions.

Jordan Kushner, an attorney for one of the RNC Eight defendants, believes the decision to reduce the charges is entirely political. “She obviously got too much bad publicity about it and she’s backing away,” he says. “But the problem is that all the charges are politically motivated and unjustified.”

http://minnesotaindependent.com/31596/breaking-terrorism-charges-against-rnc-eight-will-be-dropped

[cliffordu]

1. They don't need to take it any further - the message has been sent and recieved

by everyone that if you assemble peacefully you can be charged with terrorism.

If you PLAN to march peacefully you can have your homes invaded, your personal affects confiscated.

[Bjorn Against]

3. That is true, and that is why we are going to keep fighting.

We won a huge victory today, but the battle is far from over.

[cliffordu]

6. No. It was a complete loss. The cops and the others should have been

DRILLED on the stand to see exactly what happened and who ordered the arrests, and the DA should have been forced to name who it was that pressured him into charging a group of law abiding citizens with TERRORISM.

Now the rats who caused all this are free to do it again, maybe to you.

We lost a lot more than we gained today.

[Bjorn Against]

7. Don't think we are done fighting this, we are still going to be demanding answers from them.

And unless Gaertner drops all the charges (in which case we win) this will be going to trial, and we still will have an opportunity to bring these people to task while they are on the stand.

[Danascot]

21. Not only do the charges need to dropped but

those arrested should sue those responsible for harassment, false arrest and violation of their civil rights. There needs to be consequences for that bullshit.

The protesters should be given medals for trying to disrupt the criminal enterprise that is the repiglican party.

[Bjorn Against]

22. I agree, and I will be writing about the next steps later as this is far from over.

[Danascot]

26. That's great news

Let us know how it's going. I'm sure many of us here would support your efforts with whatever help you might need.

[Swagman]

32. good news !. Sounds like there was a conspracy to deprive this

lot of their freedom...no backing down..get the truth out ! Good luck.

[HillbillyBob]

2. I m glad to see the charges reduced, they should be dropped

altogether. Its pure polyticks(many bloodsuckers).
Honestly the rpigs have committed crimes justifying just about anything done against them as we all know, why are they not being charged with treason, murder, corruption, etc etc?

[BeFree]

4. Hah

They are running scared!!

They have a clue that a people's court would find the DA, et al, in violation of the "Trumped Up Charges Act" that would send to prison all those gov employees who violate the people's rights.

[LiberalFighter]

5. The law needs to be eliminated.

[Bjorn Against]

8. And that is what we are working on, and we will keep fighting the law until it is repealed.

[create.peace]

9. thank you.....nt

[Gregorian]

10. You rock!!! I am so damned proud. Congratulations.

You may very well have been that catalyst that nudged her. And by being so neutral and open, you may have just cracked that door open.


Congratulations again!

[Bjorn Against]

14. Thanks, although I definitely wouldn't say I was neutral.

I was fair but I was most certainly not neutral, I made it very clear to her that I believed this law was unconstitutional and that she needed to drop the charges. I am really proud to have played a role in this, but I certainly don't deserve all the credit. There are so many people who have been working on this case, and they all played a role in making this happen. I must say though this is one of the greatest moments of my life, and I look forward to the even greater moments when all the charges are dropped and the Minnesota Patriot Act is repealed. We are not going to rest until that time arrives.

[Gregorian]

15. Ah, but you were emotionally neutral. I mean you were willing to sit down.

At least that is my sense of it. You were not hostile. You accepted her presence in a dialogue. That is saying a lot. It's the basis for a platform of discussion. A place where too many people never go.

It's definitely progress.

[Peace Patriot]

11. CONGRATULATIONS! And kudos and laurel wreaths to you for continuing the fight

--to end all charges, to get this nazi law rescinded and to hold police, prosecutors and Puke and Dem "deciders" to account for these illegal and unamerican actions!

I hope that the victims of the treasonous 'Patriot' Act--the RNC 8--sue the hell out their persecutors, for all our sakes and on behalf of all of us. I know this is a difficult, exhausting, expensive kind of struggle. I applaud you and the others for undertaking it. You are my heroes!

:applause: :patriot: :applause:

[barbtries]

12. happy day!

activism and terrorism are, after all, two very different things - and all the evidence i've seen suggests that it was the "law" during the days of the convention who were terrorizing many. just last night i went to a talk given by Amy Goodman and she told the story of her and her producers' arrest.

way to go Bjorn - you do good work.

[Downtown Hound]

13. Never underestimate the role you might have had in this

when you spoke to her. Good job. I'm sure it wasn't all you but you might have been one of the forces that tipped her over the edge. God bless you for it.

[H2O Man]

16. Definitely.

I agree, 100%.

[Bjorn Against]

19. Thanks so much.

I certainly can't take credit for this, but it does feel good to know that I may have played a role in pushing her to do this. I know there were a lot of other people that worked hard on this case too though, and they certainly deserve every bit as much credit as I do. Coleen Rowley, Michelle Gross, Mordecai Specktor, and of course the excellent lawyers who are defending the RNC 8 deserve a great deal of credit as well. There are thousands of people who spoke out on this case and without them this would have never happened, so while I am proud to have played a significant role I recognize that I was working as part of a movement and I am extremely proud to share this victory with all those who participated in that movement.

[sabrina 1]

20. Congratulations, to you and everyone, especially

those who were wrongfully prosecuted, who spoke up for the Constitution.

I remember your diary on this and wondered what would happen.

This case should end the argument once and for all, that the Patriot Act would never be used against US citizens (which was the argument always made by Bush supporters from the beginning and even after two US citizens WERE prosecuted under it, they were still in denial).

It should terrify all Americans to know that simply using your 1st Amendment rights to speak out against policies you disagree with, can get you prosecuted as a terrorist.

I hope someone who is willing to uphold the Constitution is planning to challenge this prosecutor in the election. She should never be in a position of power. Good that she finally saw the light, but the very fact that she would even consider bringing such a case, and only dropped the terrorism charge when her political ambitions were threatened, should eliminate any chance of her being elected.

Again, thanks for all you did to help bring about this result.

[kenfrequed]

17. There is still no way in hell...

That I am backing her for her quixotic run for governor. She is waaaayyy to conservative for my tastes.

[mzmolly]

18. I can't imagine the terror THESE people suffered being labled "terrorists"

for any amount of time. :(

They must be incredibly relieved.

K and R.

[426HemiGuy]

23. Seen the light

Great news, we cannot allow the right to pressure prosecutors into following their agenda.

[intheflow]

24. Great news!

An enthusiatic K&R from me! :kick:

[pleah]

25. K&R!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Time for change]

27. Wow! That's great news

Clearly, your meeting had something to do with this. I wonder how much? Congratulations!

[winyanstaz]

28. They should never have been charged in the first place..

This is another waste of taxpayers money as well as a crime against the right to protest/petition the government.

[bjobotts]

29. Those are some hard core looking indicted terrists there eh.

[bjobotts]

30. MN gave us a really good view of a "police state" during the convention

[bjobotts]

31. Faceless mindless militrarized police, many of whom were sadists looking to harm

[peace13]

33. Fantastic!!!!

And hats off to the RNC 8 for standing up for America. These folks have gone beyond the call of duty. Thank you!!

[TBF]

34. That is great news. K&R! n/t

[WoodyD]

35. Do you suppose

any of the "Tea Party" folks will be up on terrorist charges? Or bashed in the MSM for "not supporting the president in a time of war?" Oh, wait. Silly me. Their so-called "principles" do a 180 when their party is out of power. Protesting your government has gone from a terrorist offense to a patriotic duty.

As Jon Stewart put it, "You're confusing tyranny with losing."

Good news for the RNC 8, free speech and constitutional rights.

[Downwinder]

36. So when is she going to file conspiracy to riot charges against

the Sheriff and his stooges?

[Bjorn Against]

38. We actually asked her that question, unfortunately it won't happen.

That is why we are going to support all those who sue them.

[xxqqqzme]

37. Well that answers my first question....

"...Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is hoping to win the party’s backing for governor and has been receiving criticism from party activists for the prosecutions...."

[geckosfeet]

39. Ahhh. Another excellent use of the taxpayers dime. Nothing a little political

pressure can't fix though.