CUAPB

Communities United Against Police Brutality
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
September 21, 2008
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It has been a month since our last newsletter and very much has happened in that month. On a rather personal note, this editor has had some difficulty summing up all that has happened and getting to the point of being able to write about it. It's also just plain difficult to be in the middle of action and write about it at the same time.

While police brutality is the daily reality of people of color, homeless, low income people and others, the sheer coordination and repressive conduct of police during the RNC harkens a new level efforts to crush dissent. No free speech was tolerated during the RNC and new levels of terror and brutality were rained down on community activists just for opposing the Republican agenda. This conduct was supported and aided by elected officials including mayors and council members on both sides of the river. Now some are trying to worm out of what they unleashed by holding bogus "public" hearings (with hand-picked speakers), naming partisans to phony "independent" investigations, or calling for investigations they know will never materialize.

Both mayors have been effusive in their praise of police conduct--the same conduct that has left many activists bruised and battered and facing serious criminal charges. In this new climate, all police need do is invoke the "terrorism" word and they get a free pass to raid, beat, bomb, gas and arrest, with the grinning assent of elected officials. In the run-up to the annual October 22 National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality, CUAPB will examine this new climate, what it means for all activists (not just those opposed to the current administration), and how it is likely to spill over toward people already feeling the boot of police oppression.

UPDATE 4:30 PM: Reports that i-Witness people got released as well as the people at Iglehart House. National blogs are starting to pick up on the situation as it's really unfolding, while police have an aggressive messaging strategy. [Probably developed by contractors :-D ].
http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/30/inside-an-rnc-raid/
http://cliffschecter.firedoglake.com/2008/08/30/video-food-not-bombs-pro...
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/

4:40 UPDATE ON Press conferences: Reportedly, NLG Lawyers got tossed from a law enforcement press conference, while attendance by press at important press conferences for all groups needs to be bolstered. The 'press conference mode' seems to be increasingly important in the whole arena - playing out globally over the next days.

We are currently hearing that at least three Indymedia journalists have been detained near Marshall & Snelling Avenues - specifically Snelling & Pascal, near Macalester College. They have been detained for at least an hour.

Additionally Coldsnap has reported that a reporter from Democracy Now! has been detained at the house in St. Paul on Inglehart. There were reports this was because the police had a warrant for the wrong side of the house. Yes, in fact they are still bothering with some paperwork, at least at some occasions. (Coldsnap reports police have just raided the inglehart house) Although sometimes not they are not bothering with the paperwork:

Importantly, there was a break-in into the garage of Communities United Against Police Brutality organizer Michelle Gross, while she was under detainment at the Convergence Center last night. Those who committed this act did not take any things thieves would like, but papers were clearly rifled through. More details at link. We are deeply concerned that this indicates secret political police forces are moving into action.
http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/activists-convergence-space-rai...

There was a report that at least one Welcoming Committee member was picked up by an unmarked snatch squad of police.

And it STILL isn't 4 PM. At 4 PM there will be a press conference at the Convergence Center on Smith Ave. It is expected that the Welcoming Committee will issue more information at that time.'

It appears that there is an emerging police strategy to eliminate as much 'off message' media as possible in the Twin Cities before the RNC gets underway. In Denver the police were particularly interested in seizing signs and banners - obviously part of a PSYOPS style agenda to remove the TV visuals of our message.

Situation developing - thanks to all our friends both here and away, as the whole damn police state comes down on the Twin Cities.

EMERGENCY COP WATCH NEEDED TONIGHT AT CRITICAL MASS!
It would be especially helpful if we can have people with cars who can drive nearby carrying videographers/copwatchers.

Friday, August 29 (Tonight) - Meet 4:30 p.m.
Loring Park, Harmon Place side near the dandelion fountain

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AND MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMUNITIES UNITED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY - ARISE! BOOKSTORE

EMERGENCY CALL FOR CITIZENS OF THE TWIN CITIES TO COME OUT ON BIKES TODAY AT 5:30 PM AT LORING PARK TO DEFEND THE RIGHT OF FREE ASSOCIATION AND PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY

Call for the people of Minneapolis-St. Paul to come out to tonight’s Critical Mass bike ride. Minneapolis police plan mass arrest of bike riders.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (August 29, 2008) – Emergency call out for citizens of the Twin Cities to come to Berger Fountain at Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis at 5:30 pm to ride with Critical Mass and defend the right to assemble. First Amendment rights are being suspended by the Minneapolis Police Department, which has promised to “clean up the streets” of political protestors in the lead up to the Republican National Convention. Credible information has been received that a mass arrest is expected to take place at tonight’s monthly Critical Mass group bike ride.

Any mass arrest would continue a pattern of intimidation and preemptive raids on potential protestors of next week’s convention.

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Contact: Michelle Gross 612.703.1612
Jude Ortiz 612.655.6904

ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR RNC ACTIONS!
During the Republican Convention, CUAPB will play a number of important roles. Along with copwatch as noted above, we'll be involved in jail medical support, jail exit support, documentation of cases through our hotline, court watch/court support, and even assisting homeless people being swept aside in both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. It will take a lot of hands and we really need your help. You can plug in by coming to one of the copwatch trainings listed above or coming to our volunteer meeting on Saturday, August 23 at 1:30 p.m. at Walker Church. If you can't make it to the trainings or meeting, please email us back with your contact phone number and how you'd like to be involved.

First event on the list will be the Critical Mass on August 29th. This will be the one year anniversary of the attack on Critical Mass that resulted in many injuries and 19 arrests. It will also be a kind of kick off event for protests against the RNC. As such, we think the MPD may have "special plans" for this event and we need all copwatchers out with us that day.

Copwatch at Critical Mass
Friday, August 29
Meet 4:30 p.m.
Loring Park, Harmon Place side near the dandelion fountain

For the past several months, Communities United Against Police Brutality has been documenting the use of low level offense ordinances such as lurking, loitering, trespass and public urination ordinances against homeless people near shelters. Darryl Robinson of CUAPB heads up the project. At about 10:45 last night, Minneapolis police attacked Darryl, slamming him in the head and face and repeatedly choking him to the point of unconsciousness. He was allowed to go home from the emergency room early this morning after sustaining head, neck and jaw trauma along with other injuries.

from Communities United Against Police Brutality

UPDATE: Today (Wednesday) the Minneapolis City Council's PS&RS Committee forwarded an extremely watered down resolution, keeping the protections from 2000 off the books. They allow cops to steal cameras for use as "evidence" even without an arrest; enables police to use rubber bullets, tasers and chemical weapons provided they deem it "reasonable"; and allows them to infiltrate and compile dossiers when it is constitutional to do so. (Of course, cops will do all these things and more whether legal or not; this resolution simply moves any pretense of accountability.)