News and Politics | September 04, 2008 | 65 comments

8 Members of RNC activist group charged with terrorism

source: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/4/eight_members_of_rnc_activist_group

Image
asherp
Ramsey County prosecutors have formally charged eight members of a prominent activist group with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. The eight members of the RNC Welcoming Committee are believed to be the first persons ever charged under the 2002 Minnesota version of the federal PATRIOT Act. The activists face up to seven-and-a-half years in prison. We speak with the father of one of those charged and the president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.
  1. groups:
    News and Politics,   Politics,   Current News US
  2. tags:
    News and Politics,  Politics,  Terrorism,  McCain,  5 more
  3. recommended by:
    goldenways
  4.     
    |

65 comments // 8 Members of RNC activist group charged with terrorism

  • rabidlemur
    • 0
      rabidlemur  

    • Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.

      Harry Truman

    • 3 years ago
  • jenrich
  • TerryA
    • 0
      TerryA  

    • Your not really understanding the full implications of what exactly is going on with these arrests. Normally protests are considered local and even those arrests that are made, are on a local level, and heard in State Court. Fines would be levied and the participants released. These are Federal Charges, they will be tried in U.S. District Court, by prosecutors that flaunt a 98% conviction rate. The people involved here "WILL" go to Federal Prison, there is no doubt, and they "WILL" become part of a greater Federal Conspiracy trial involving everyone in the protest, deals will be cut, names named and everyone will be eventually indited and tried as domestic terrorists. This will happen over and over again until every single "Thinking, Caring, American" is in Federal Prison or on Probation.

      This is the beginning of the end of freedom and Democracy as we knew it.

      No matter If you're for Obama or McCain, demands need to be made of these candidates. If our civil rights are not restored, and this Gestapo Police State Mentality ended immediately. If our constitutional rights are not restored and Bush's oppressive wire tapping and NO KNOCK warrant laws repealed immediately, then we collectively will use OUR "Veto Power" our power of the write-in vote, and vote for someone who will.

      It's still our country, it's time we take it back.

    • 3 years ago
  • LMFAO
    • 0
      LMFAO  

    • More people need to lose their fear of the police and Patriot Act and take to the streets and protest to clog up their police stations, jails and courts

    • 3 years ago
  • intelligenceisacurse
  • asherp
  • Enjoy_Cannabis
  • bishopobispo
  • LMFAO
  • frenchfly4
    • 0
      frenchfly4  
    • Image

    • Here's another account of the peaceful student protests. The author recounts how friends engaged in peaceful protest were arrested and are being charged with felonies and terrorism.

    • 3 years ago
  • Marilynn_Murray
  • fiat_lux088
  • fiat_lux088
    • 0
      fiat_lux088  

    • When did America take away our 1st Amendment (similar to euchee's comment)? By the way, I hope your user name is no longer frozen Asherp.

    • 3 years ago
  • helloharveyoswald
    • 0
      helloharveyoswald  

    • i feel so much better about my country knowing that the government spends more time knocking around protesters than say ending poverty and improving education.
      Don't you?

    • 3 years ago
  • Red_Fox
    • 0
      Red_Fox  

    • I went to DNC but not the RNC. I marched in the streets but they were filled with riot police who wouldn't let us go anywhere but cages where no one could see us. We're supposed to have this right to free speech and free assembly, but what good does that do if you're only allowed to go along certain routes, and when you deviate from that, they corner you, tear gas you, and arrest you??

      They think they can control of us and confuse us, but they would not be able to stand up to a new social movement. We can't just hide behind the parties of big business, we've got to DEMAND our rights just like they did to the 30s, 60s and 70s. Even if we face repression, standing up to the monopoly-capitalist class is our last and only chance to fight for our rights. This is the challenge of our generation. Both parties are in on this. We can't depend on them, we can only depend on one another.

      We are ones we've been waiting for...

    • 3 years ago
  • Nephwrack
  • anglcazn
    • 0
      anglcazn  

    • I don't know if this is under the Patriot Act, but it is for sure under the Homeland Security Act. Something like this shouldn't even warrant an arrest. People have the right to protest, even if they don't like it. KKK members are allowed to hold protests and marches, but anti-war activists are not. It doesn't make sense at all.

    • 3 years ago
  • regjoeschmo
    • 0
      regjoeschmo  
    • anglcazn:

      Sure one needs to make sure that two groups are not conflicting their schedules, BUT to determine where and how a protest happens is a violation of first amendment rights (free speech zones). Spontaneous protests are allowed by law. Though this obviously wasnt spontaneous Im sure there were no conflicts of interest on scheduling......... The main issue here is that People were arrested for planning or attempting to plan protests. The word Anarchy does not mean absolute chaos, but moreso a society without governmental interference. The laws governing this Can apply to pro-life/pro-choice demonstrations, or even a school walk-out.... The choice to charge these individuals (and detain them longer than the law allows in an obvious effort to keep them from protesting) with terrorism is the exact thing that so many people faught against the patriot act for. Yes this is under the patriot act it says so in the article.

    • 3 years ago
  • erikjh1972
  • mechanical_bananacle
  • eucheewarrior71
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  
    • eucheewarrior71:

      It's been like this for a while. Like since the 90s at the very least. Probably earlier than that as well.

      (The bridge in Selma, Alabama comes to mind)

      Thanks to the internet, we can see with regularity how frequent and how brutal the quelling of dissent really is in our country.

      The corporate owned media has for a long time given inaccurate reports about demonstrations. Now with a plethora of camcorders and wifi-equipped laptops in the hands of now-empowered citizen journalists, we can see for ourselves.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ricky84
    • 0
      Ricky84  

    • I’m amazed that a willful act of disobedience, a form of protest related to and directly responsible for the birth of this country, is somehow typecast as a foreign or unnatural evil.

    • 3 years ago
  • chivideoguy
    • 0
      chivideoguy  

    • I believe that everyone in the midwest needs to go to the RNC and charge in with demands that the Republican party stop their dictatorship role of not only that city, but our country. Fuck the police there. They have thrown our rights out the window with their decency while those who are inside enjoy the lap of luxury. I only wish there were more protesters than police there. Then something would actually get done.

    • 3 years ago
  • chivideoguy
    • 0
      chivideoguy  

    • That's ironic. Our Republican president invaded another country on false pretenses and when the citizens of the country of his presidency protest his illegal practices his government charges them with terrorism.

    • 3 years ago
  • globewatcher
    • 0
      globewatcher  

    • it seems they are trying to enrage the public so there will be internal violent reactions. then they can put us all in jail-camps-and get us there in trains. we can all starve and die. then there will be stories 40 years from now about the survivors. weve already seen the cold war revisited. now i guess hitlers back in power folks. and oh by the way, i am not exagerating. homeland security and these type of tactics are exactly how hitler got started.

    • 3 years ago
  • anglcazn
  • regjoeschmo
  • jaminb13
  • satanskidney
    • 0
      satanskidney  

    • the founding fathers were terrorists too. if it weren't for all the hard monkeybars training I would probably be an actual terrorist and make these people look like ordinary citizens who feel its their right to peaceful protest. i mean seriously, if im gunna be charged with "terrorism" i might as well be violently protesting right?

    • 3 years ago
  • Releaser31
  • Red_Fox
  • tweets972
  • CalgarC
  • mande
  • erikjh1972
  • mande
    • 0
      mande  

    • there goes are constitional right to organize.

      how can somone be considered a terriorist if they act out non violently against a political party? is that even viable?

    • 3 years ago
  • SilenceNoMore
  • asherp
  • SilenceNoMore
  • asherp
  • jh64487
  • bishopobispo
  • fiat_lux088
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  
    • SilenceNoMore:

      If they had bombs strapped to their chests and walked onto the RNC floor, THAT would be terrorism.

      If they had released powdered anthrax into the ventilation system of the Excel Center, THAT would be terrorism.

      At best you can charge these guys with vandalism.
      I'm not saying they are innocent or right. I'm saying they should be charged with the law that fits the crime.

    • 3 years ago
  • darkhorsejim
    • 0
      darkhorsejim  

    • Just by showing up in riot gear-job security. Without provoking potentially tense situations to a level of anxiety that results in violence or property damage, they might have to resort to being mall cops. Busting the heads of unarmed marchers or protestors exercising their 1st Amendment rights is good Fox News fodder & justifies the existence of both cops & Fox. In fact, isn’t that one of their most popular shows?

      Funny how people protesting their support for the war are patriotic while those protesting against the war are left wing liberal rebels in need of a good beating, lockup, & charges that often result in a criminal record for trespassing or resisting arrest, which will haunt you later in life. People in power will do anything to stay there & create an atmosphere of anarchy around any group that doesn't support them. Fuckers.

    • 3 years ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • First they grabbed the protesters, then they grabbed the baby killers, then they grabbed the homosexuals, then they grabbed me and know one was left too save me. It was too late, The Fascist had complete control...

    • 3 years ago
  • asherp
  • SilenceNoMore
  • asherp
  • Red_Fox
    • 0
      Red_Fox  
    • kennymotown:

      I think they're referring to that famous poem:

      When the Nazis came for the communists,
      I remained silent;
      I was not a communist.

      When they locked up the social democrats,
      I remained silent;
      I was not a social democrat.

      When they came for the trade unionists,
      I did not speak out;
      I was not a trade unionist.

      When they came for the Jews,
      I remained silent;
      I wasn't a Jew.

      When they came for me,
      there was no one left to speak out.

    • 3 years ago
  • asherp
  • CarlosIsDown
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  
    • CarlosIsDown:

      Yeah, I don't understand how on sept 11th, a bunch of saudi arabians flew planes into buildings and killed 3,000 people, and yet Sept 12th, 4 million American citizens became suspects.

    • 3 years ago
  • Robroy1
    • 0
      Robroy1  

    • I hope Obama wins and revisits and the erases the Patroit Act. I hope these rediculous charges bring some light on to how much of an abuse of the American Constitution the Patriot act is. Democracy is a participation sport and demonstrating and free speech are part of a Democratic society. No wonder no other country wants Bush and Co's version of Democracy. In fact no country wants Bush and Co. period.

    • 3 years ago
  • asherp
  • Ricky84
    • 0
      Ricky84  
    • Robroy1:

      Here are all the democrats who voted for the Patriot act in 2001

      AyeHIAkaka, Daniel [D]AyeMTBaucus, Max [D]AyeINBayh, B. [D]AyeDEBiden, Joseph [D]AyeNMBingaman, Jeff [D]AyeCABoxer, Barbara [D]AyeLABreaux, John [D]AyeWVByrd, Robert [D]AyeWACantwell, Maria [D]AyeMOCarnahan, Jean [D]AyeDECarper, Thomas [D]AyeGACleland, J. [D]AyeNYClinton, Hillary [D]AyeNDConrad, Kent [D]AyeNJCorzine, Jon [D]AyeSDDaschle, Thomas [D]AyeMNDayton, Mark [D]AyeCTDodd, Christopher [D]AyeNDDorgan, Byron [D]AyeILDurbin, Richard [D]AyeNCEdwards, John [D]NayWIFeingold, Russell [D]AyeCAFeinstein, Dianne [D]AyeFLGraham, Bob [D]AyeIAHarkin, Thomas [D]AyeSCHollings, Ernest [D]AyeHIInouye, Daniel [D]AyeSDJohnson, Tim [D]AyeMAKennedy, Edward [D]AyeMAKerry, John [D]AyeWIKohl, Herbert [D]AyeLALandrieu, Mary [D]AyeVTLeahy, Patrick [D]AyeMILevin, Carl [D]AyeARLincoln, Blanche [D]AyeMDMikulski, Barbara [D]AyeGAMiller, Zell [D]AyeWAMurray, Patty [D]AyeNENelson, Ben [D]AyeFLNelson, Bill [D]AyeRIReed, John [D]AyeNVReid, Harry [D]AyeWVRockefeller, John [D]AyeMDSarbanes, Paul [D]AyeNYSchumer, Charles [D]AyeMIStabenow, Debbie Ann [D]AyeNJTorricelli, Robert [D]AyeMNWellstone, Paul [D]AyeORWyden, Ron [D]

      Here are all the Democrats who voted for the reauthorization of the patriot act in ‘05

      NayHIAkaka, Daniel [D]AyeMTBaucus, Max [D]AyeINBayh, B. [D]AyeDEBiden, Joseph [D]NayNMBingaman, Jeff [D]AyeCABoxer, Barbara [D]NayWVByrd, Robert [D]AyeWACantwell, Maria [D]AyeDECarper, Thomas [D]AyeNYClinton, Hillary [D]AyeNDConrad, Kent [D]AyeMNDayton, Mark [D]AyeCTDodd, Christopher [D]AyeNDDorgan, Byron [D]AyeILDurbin, Richard [D]NayWIFeingold, Russell [D]AyeCAFeinstein, Dianne [D]NayIAHarkin, Thomas [D]No VoteHIInouye, Daniel [D]AyeSDJohnson, Tim [D]AyeMAKennedy, Edward [D]AyeMAKerry, John [D]AyeWIKohl, Herbert [D]AyeLALandrieu, Mary [D]AyeNJLautenberg, Frank [D]NayVTLeahy, Patrick [D]NayMILevin, Carl [D]AyeARLincoln, Blanche [D]AyeNJMenendez, Robert [D]AyeMDMikulski, Barbara [D]NayWAMurray, Patty [D]AyeNENelson, Ben [D]AyeFLNelson, Bill [D]AyeILObama, Barack [D]AyeARPryor, Mark [D]AyeRIReed, John [D]AyeNVReid, Harry [D]AyeWVRockefeller, John [D]AyeCOSalazar, Ken [D]AyeMDSarbanes, Paul [D]AyeNYSchumer, Charles [D]AyeMIStabenow, Debbie Ann [D]NayORWyden, Ron [D]NayVTJeffords,

      In each instance Joe Biden voted FOR the patriot act. Barack Obama on the other hand only had only one chance to vote for or against the patriot act, he voted aye.

      Stop fooling yourself.

    • 3 years ago
  • Red_Fox
    • 0
      Red_Fox  
    • Robroy1:

      But Obama is NOT against the Patriot Act. He voted to extend it, and he voted for the FISA bill which extends spying programs. The only way we can stop this stuff from happening is to get active ourselves and start to organize, not hide behind a ruling class "savior". These are scary times we're living in, but they're going to get even scarier if we do nothing.

      It's time to stand up!

    • 3 years ago
  • asherp
  • DandelionSalad
  • 1percent
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  

    • This is an interesting case. These are US citizens, and they clearly have nothing to do with 9-11, or any actual terrorism case.

      But the time where political dissidents are charged with terrorism is here now.

    • 3 years ago
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • I wonder if they'll be locked up for years without a trial like the "terrorists" at Gitmo?

      We. as a people and a nation, have got to put a stop to the terrorism from our own government.

    • 3 years ago
  • mrtodd724
    • 0
      mrtodd724  
    • csmonut:

      I agree. But sadly do not see any end with either of the candidates new administrations. I think an act like this would be enough to spark some type of public outcry against the fear mongering and the strong arm tactics of the Bush administration that has changed this country so much.

    • 3 years ago
more from News and Politics:
from the community

top videos