RNC Aftermath: 1 of 34 For Choi; RNC 8 Solidarity Events

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.

Notes from RNC8 Solidarity Day: Nigel Parry letter to Police Chief Dolan, Flagstaff AZ anarcho-pillowfight=Teh Awesom!! Philly forms RNC8 Support Committee! Coleen Rowley: Thousands Who Petition Susan Gaertner Include "Minnesota 8" Draft Resisters Much love!

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.