An update from yesterday: Amy Goodman, and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have all been released. The Free Press is calling for all charges to be dropped against them. Updates on the case are also being posted at Democracy Now! and GregPalast.com.
The Green Party of Minnesota issued a statement late last night which was picked up by the Green Party of the United States as well:
Green Party of Minnesota
http://www.mngreens.orgFor Immediate Release
September 1, 2008Contacts: Rhoda Gilman: (651) 224-6383; Dave Bicking: (612) 276-1213, Spokespersons, Green Party of Minnesota
DESPITE POLICE RAIDS AND ARRESTS, MINNESOTA GREENS JOIN ANTIWAR, ANTIPOVERTY PROTESTS AT RNC
Greens have been among those targeted for harassment and intimidation by police in a wave of pre-emptive actions taken before the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
On Saturday police surrounded the home of Michael Whelan, a long-time Green Party supporter, whose Arise Bookstore at one time housed the party's office. He was host to a group of independent journalists. The police broke down doors and subjected occupants to house arrest. "You figure this would be going on in South Africa, or Russia, not in St. Paul," Whelan said. "St. Paul is nice."
The previous night, police had invaded a meeting space in St. Paul rented by the anarchist RNC Welcoming Committee. They seized equipment and subjected some fifty people to handcuffing and search. Next day Monica Bicking, a leading member of the organization, was jailed along with three friends, and her home in Minneapolis was boarded up for alleged violation of city codes.
Meanwhile, the group's nonviolence consultant and trainer, Betsy Raasch-Gilman, expecting arrest, took "sanctuary" at the meetinghouse of Twin Cities Friends (Quakers). As of this morning Bicking had been released, but those arrested with her and several others remain in custody. Both Bicking and Raasch-Gilman are daughters of former Green Party candidates and present spokespeople.
According to Minnesota poet and writer Richard Broderick, who is a member of the Green Party and has also been one of its candidates, "The erosion of civil liberties and constitutionally guaranteed rights in this country makes all the eloquent calls we heard from Denver for unity and restoring the American Dream little more than hollow rhetoric."
Despite the efforts at intimidation orchestrated by federal authorities and carried out by DFL administrations in both Hennepin and Ramsey counties, Minnesota Greens have united to bring their VP candidate, Rosa Clemente, to the Twin Cities. She addressed the antiwar marchers in St. Paul today and tonight appeared with the National Truth Commission on Poverty. She will be participating in the Poor People's march from Mears Park tomorrow.
Here's a disheartening experience from a Green who contacted her elected officials about what's going on:
I just have to share stories of my phone calls with my elected reps, and let me preface it by saying that I don't have in-depth knowledge of how RNC security works, just the bits and pieces gleaned from the media. I didn't want to let that deter me from raising my concerns, but I didn't know what I was in for!:
My city councilperson (Betsy Hodges): I called and described to the aide who answered my concerns about the Minneapolis Police (who arrested the DN journalists while on duty doing RNC security in St. Paul) being used in activities that intimidate journalists and inhibit press freedom. "Well, everything I've seen indicates there hasn't been anything done outside legal limits," the aide replied. I disputed that and described what happened to the DN journalists and asked again if she'd assure me she'd pass along my councern to Hodges. "Well, what your saying is all second hand, so it's hard to say what really happened." I agreed that the police have their own stories, but said that my information was first hand, straight from the people who'd experienced it, and backed up by video documentation. Well, she then said I should instead call the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. I explained again why I thought the City of Mpls should have some oversight or influence over what their own police force is doing, and asked if I could have her assurance she'd pass my concern along to my council member.
I then called Sen. Amy Klobuchar's office to urge her to investigate how the federal authorities are interfacing with local police and what their protocols are for treatment of journalists. The person who answered there said "I'll pass your concerns along to the Senator, but just so you know, all of the security is being coordinated by the City of St. Paul police." Since the Secret Service were the ones who took the DN reporters' press passes, that's federal govt right there, but I also know that the FBI has been coordinating with local police on all this (and I doubt that orders are coming coming FROM the St. Paul Police TO the FBI). I pointed this out to the aide and she simply repeated "All of the security is being coordinated by the City of St. Paul." I really didn't know how to respond to this, since I had just explained why this didn't seem possible, (unless her talking point was some sort of semantic trick--they're "coordinating" it but not "overseeing" it?). So I said I was sorry but I thought she was mistaken on the facts and she said "I'm very familiar with the situation and I'm certain that all of the security is being coordinated by the City of St. Paul, but I'll pass your concerns along to the senator."
Now, it's been a long time since I answered phones as a college intern for Congressman Martin Sabo, but rule number one was don't engage in debate with callers. I'd have welcomed an explanation from either of these staffers that would help me understand how security is actually working for the RNC, and who's giving orders to whom, but both were totally unhelpful and made me doubt whether the my elected reps hear only the concerns deemed legitimate by these seemingly uninformed gatekeepers. I did have a brief but satisfactory conversation with Keith Ellison's office.
Anyway, I want to contrast it with the couple times I've called Cam Gordon's office (not even my ward!) and spoken with Robin Garwood, which has been nothing less than delightful. He's amazingly well informed and insightful on a whole range of issues, not to mention thoughtful, helpful, and empowering. What a treasure! Convinces me once again that we need more Greens in office!
Green Party member Tom Cleland gives his take on the Monday RNC march.
Marjorie Cohn has a piece about the raids in CounterPunch today as well.
Continuing coverage of the RNC can be found at theuptake.org (lots of videos), Twin Cities Daily Planet (where Green Richard Broderick is blogging), and Twin Cities IndyMedia. Also listen for coverage in the Twin Cities on KFAI 90.3FM Minneapolis/106.7FM St. Paul, especially Truth to Tell, hosted by Green supporter Andy Driscoll.
