Black Dog RNC photo exhibit
|
Tonight — January 21 — is the benefit reception at Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar in St. Continue Reading
What a riot: Outside panel presents mild critique of RNC policing
|
Nearly 800 people were arrested. Pepper spray and flash-bang grenades were repeatedly utilized to disperse crowds. Store-front windows were smashed and vehicle tires slashed. If nothing else, the four days of the Republican National Convention certainly succeeded in bringing some excitement to the normally sleepy streets of downtown St. Paul. Continue Reading
Top 9 RNC Myths Busted
|
TOP 9 RNC MYTHS: as compiled in advance of the Heffelfinger/Luger report by Friends of the RNC 8The 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. MYTH #9: Although most protesters had peaceful intentions, a few violent radicals ruined it for everyone. This is law enforcement’s favorite myth to perpetuate. On the other hand, you hear very little of this from protesters who were in the streets, let alone from protest organizers. Continue Reading
Whose law? Bob’s law!
|
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher concealed his pre-RNC operations from other law enforcement officials, including the St. Paul city attorney’s office, according to reports published January 13 in a PiPress blog. He now has asked the Ramsey County Board for $300,000 in convention costs, including money spent on agents and informants criss-crossing the country during the year before the convention. The expenditures could not be billed to the $50 million in federal convention financing, since they were secret. As the RNC Commission presents its report to the St. Continue Reading
Brandon Darby, Texas activist-turned-FBI informant for RNC, pleads his case
|
Brandon Darby, a Texas activist who it turns out was working for the FBI as an informant from within groups that protested the 2008 Republican National Convention,statement he released earlier this week. other informants will likely play a big role in the protesters known as the RNC8 who face felony terrorism charges. var mnindyHeadline = “MORE FROM”; var mnindyHeadline2 = “Michigan Messenger”;
Darby’s statement and a short video clip in which Darby, co-founder of Common Ground Collective, advocates for Hurricane Katrina victims.
December 29, 2008
To All Concerned,
The struggles for peace and justice have accomplished significant change throughout history. I’ve had the honor to work with many varying groups and individuals on behalf of marginalized communities and in various struggles. There are currently allegations in the media that I have worked undercover for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Continue Reading
MnIndy’s Best: Top RNC tweets
|
Tweets — the 140-character mini-blog posts sent via Twitter — are very much of-the-moment and therefore often have a fairly short shelf-life. But in reviewing these brief dispatches sent by our reporters during the Republican National Convention, we found that, despite the 140-character restraint and the inevitable typos that result from punching in text on a cellphone while ducking teargas canisters, an RNC-only best-of list was a fitting way to capture the humor, excitement and surreal nature of last summer’s event. Here’s the top ten:
Rybak and Coleman call RNC a “success,” adding, “nearly 100 lbs of Jelly Bellies were distributed to the media during the Convention.” –molly 5:21 PM Sep 5th from web
Overheard by an onlooker [at a showdown between protesters and police]: “I’ve been a St. Paul guy forever. This is TIME Magazine shit!” 7:36 PM Sep 4th from web
Police: “You must go to the left.” Protester: “Your left or ours?” 6:31 PM Sep 4th from web
i’m so hot for the teacher…. Continue Reading
RNC case reviews result in roughly equal numbers of misdemeanor charges, dismissals
|
The St. Paul City Attorney’s office has so far reviewed 241 potential criminal cases stemming from arrests during the Republican National Convention. Nearly half of the reviews didn’t result in charges being filed owing to a lack of sufficient evidence. Of the remaining incidents, 48 have been resolved by either a guilty plea or payment of a fine, while 81 have been formally charged and are headed towards trial. St. Continue Reading
Former agent Colleen Rowley seeking FBI data on RNC policing
|
I was killing time on a back bench of an eighth floor Ramsey County courtroom on Wednesday, waiting with about 50 others for something to happen (all the action in the RNC8 case that day took place behind closed doors, as it turned out), when someone who looked familiar took a seat in the next row. Could it be Coleen Rowley, famed FBI whistleblower, TIME magazine’s 2002 Person of the Year and the Democratic-Farmer-League Party’s 2006 candidate in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District? Indeed it was. I’d met Rowley in 2006, at her campaign fundraiser at my parents’ house. At the time, she seemed fierce and friendly, with a somewhat prim persona akin to her plaid-skirted appearance on the cover of TIME four years before. Continue Reading
Why your city should avoid the RNC!
|
Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Indianapolis, & New Orleans are considering putting their names in the hosting hat for the 2012 RNC. Here in Saint Paul, Minnesota (pop. 250,000) we hosted the RNC, and we have some advice for those cities: DON’T DO IT!! You may ask, “Why not host the RNC?” Here are our top ten reasons. The Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. Continue Reading