bob fletcher

The RNC 8 have finally been given their next court date: Wednesday, August 19 at 9am in room 1040 of the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul.

The scheduling hearing will be the first court date since the motion hearings which concluded on March 3rd - a span of over 5 months between dates (a hearing originally scheduled for May 26 was later cancelled.)

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)

Originally printed in Revolution Newspaper:
http://revcom.us/a/158online/RNC-pt-2-en.html

Read Part 1 here

Part 2: Informants and Undercover Agents: The Government’s Strategy To Disrupt, Set Up and Attack Opposition To The Republican National Convention

by Leslie Rose

3/13: See also article from The Mac Weekly

UPDATE 3-7: New documents acquired: Property Receipt (PDF) | Search Warrant Application (PDF) - The search warrant application reveals the investigation was in relation to a smashed Minneapolis Police squad car at 6th and Wabasha on September 1st. However, none of the items of clothing worn by the saboteur were found in the raided room. The application cites undercover surveillance of the RNC Welcoming Committee and Students for a Democratic Society.

According to a search warrant and first-hand account submitted to Twin Cities Indymedia, St. Paul Police executed an RNC-related raid on February 13 at a Macalester College dorm room, with the cooperation of Macalester staff. Although it appears the occupant of the room was not the initial target of the investigation, political literature was seized and has yet to be returned.

SPPD Sargeant Julie Maidment prepared and executed the warrant for the residence of a person with “tattoos on both arms”; the person living in the room has none. The warrant listed common household items and clothes including torn blue jeans, a black jacket or shirt, and black shoes with red laces. Click here for a copy of the search warrant and below, read the first-hand account.