FREE SPEECH ZONE | Open letter to Susan Gaertner, Ramsey County Attorney

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My name is Susan Mahoney. I am the mother of David Mahoney, who is due to stand trial accused of assault in the second degree and terroristic threats, arising from the Republican National Convention of September 2008.The Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Since David was arrested on September 4th, I have been finding out as much as I can about the RNC and its aftermath. As well as David’s first-hand account of events, I have watched hours of video footage and read much of the extensive media coverage, as well as numerous websites, blogs and the Heffelfinger Luger report. Continue Reading

OPINION | The RNC 8 Railroad

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It’s not speculation that the Republican National Convention 2008 was rigged to be protest proof. It’s practically a truth we hold to be self-evident. Now the courts are playing out that string. Law enforcement acted arbitrarily, immune to account. Cops pepper-sprayed and handcuffed citizens like it was lunch, perceptibly, storm troopers putting down an uprising. Continue Reading

Terrorism charges against RNC Eight will be dropped, conspiracy charges remain

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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. Continue Reading

RNC Eight case wades into murky legal waters of conspiracy theory

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In the eyes of law enforcement officials, they were the core of a vast criminal conspiracy that for two years plotted to violently disrupt the Republican National Convention (RNC).But in the view of their allies in social-justice circles, they were dedicated activists seeking to shine a bright light on war, poverty and other injustices. Those competing visions of the so-called RNC Eight (pictured above) will be at the heart of any criminal trials for the defendants — Erik Oseland, Eryn Trimmer, Garrett Fitzgerald, Luce Guillen-Givens, Max Specktor, Monica Bicking, Rob Czernick and Nathanael Secor. The defendants were rounded up in a series of police raids in the days leading up to the GOP gathering in St. Paul. Led by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department, the officers seized smoke bombs, sling shots, bolt cutters, bottles of vinegar, buckets of nails, two-way radios and other items. These, prosecutors contend, were the tools of a criminal enterprise that planned to kidnap delegates, assault police officers and attack buses during the four-day gathering. Continue Reading

RNC triggers search of Macalester student dorm room–five months later

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At 10:50 a.m. on February 13, Bassam Khawaja was called from his music theory class, where he was completing an exam, and told that police were waiting for him. At his dorm room, he was met by the Macalester Dean of Students, the Macalester Head of Security and four St. Paul Police Department (SPPD) officers, two of whom were in uniform. As they stood outside the room, waiting for a search warrant to arrive, the officers refused to tell Khawaja the reason for the search. After half an hour, SPPD Sergeant Julie Maidment arrived with the warrant. Continue Reading

Tour de Fletcher in solidarity with RNC8 in Minneapolis

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About 35 people met at Powderhorn Park to ride as part of the National Day of Solidarity with the RNC8. The TOUR de Fletcher started to visit the three homes in Hennepin County raided by Sheriff Bob Fletcher of Ramsey County, along with the FBI. Bikers kept an amicable, slow pace ride with some of the bike police cordially mixing with some of the back field. At the first stop, with the bike police stationed across the street, there was some explanation of events that took place during the weekend prior to the 2008 RNC (Republican National Convention). Then the group moved on to the next site, ambling along at a leisurely pace. Continue Reading

Duluth labor group passes measure backing RNC Eight

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The Duluth Central Labor Body, which represents roughly 17,000 workers, has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the prosecution of the RNC Eight (pictured). The measure also calls for repeal of the state law under which the defendants have been charged with criminally conspiring to disrupt September’s Republican National Convention (RNC). Describing the prosecutions as “politically motivated,” the resolution implores labor unions across the state to oppose the actions of the Ramsey County Attorney’s office. Chad McKenna, field coordinator for the labor body, says that they were motivated by a concern that such prosecutions could lead to people being arrested for engaging in routine protest activities such as walking picket lines. “We work with the peace movement quite a bit in our area,” he says. Continue Reading

RNC Eight FBI informant found guilty on three criminal charges

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Andrew Clark Darst, a key informant in the conspiracy case pending against the RNC Eight, has been found guilty of three criminal counts stemming from a January altercation in Minnetrista. Hennepin District Court Judge Daniel Mabley ruled today that Darst is guilty of a gross misdemeanor charge of damage to property, as well as two counts of misdemeanor assault. The 30-year-old Minnetrista resident was acquitted on two burglary counts. Darst, better known in activist circles as “Panda,” was a key informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in building a case that eight area anarchists (pictured) were engaged in a credible criminal conspiracy to disrupt September’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul. His subsequent arrest, however, has raised questions about his credibility as a potential witness in the cases. Continue Reading