RNC Eight

The street battles that took place in St. Paul, Minnesota over the course of the Republican National Convention are now a memory--battles hard won by those brave protesters who defied the thousands of police and National Guard in place throughout the Twin Cities to guard what is most precious to those in power: law and order.

This just in: on Friday afternoon, St. Paul City Attorney John Choi dropped 323 charges stemming from the mass arrests on September 4 at the RNC, according to the Pioneer Press. However, another story indicates Choi may be forwarding 2 cases to Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner for felony charges.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, FBI informant and RNC Welcoming Committee infiltrator Andrew Clark Darst (aka "Panda") had a hearing in Hennepin County District Court on felony burglary and assault charges. Darst's hearing was postponed until March 16, the same day as the re-trial of David McKay is set to begin. Considering the hung jury in the first McKay trial, the revelations about Darst's violent behavior, and pending civil litigation actions from CRASS, the state - and particularly the FBI, when they aren't "spying" on anarchists in Powderhorn Park - seems to be on the defensive.

RNC 8: Luce Guillen-Givins and Jordan Kushner discuss the RNC 8 case on Democracy Now! (VIDEO, AUDIO, TRANSCRIPT) | FBI Informant Andrew Darst Faces Break-in Charges | RNC 8 Legal Update and next court dates

Dustin Matchett is first RNC Arrestee Sentenced to Jail: Letter from Dustin | Support Blog | Benefit Show for Dustin Friday

Civil Litigation: Betsy Raasch-Gilman Sues Sheriff Bob Fletcher | City of St. Paul settles Mick Kelly suit | CRASS Civil Litigation Workshop Sunday | Notice of Claim Mardi Gras Action Tuesday | Why STP City Attorney John Choi is a Danger to Public Safety by Nigel Parry

from Friends of the RNC 8

--please forward to student groups in your community!--

Here's a compendium of reports from the RNC 8's scheduling hearing this past Wednesday. With the new felony charges, the 8 face a maximum penalty of 12 and a half years in prison. Their next court date is a motion hearing on January 26.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Dec 10 - 11 AM - KFAI will feature "Clearing the Courts... and Our Consciences" hosted by Andy Driscoll and Lynnell Mickelson, talking with lawyers and defendants. With attorneys Larry Leventhal and Gena Bergland, Michael Friedman from the National Lawyers Guild and Legal Rights Center. Tune in FM 90.3 (Mpls) or 106.7 (St. Paul) or streaming live @ KFAI.

Last night's rally and dance party outside RNC felony prosecutor Susan Gaertner's gubernatorial fundraiser in downtown Minneapolis was a smashing success from the perspective of protest organizers. At 4:00, the RNC 8 held a press conference satirically endorsing Gaertner's run for Governor, and presenting a giant check for "Eight dollars and zero sense." Soon thereafter a banner was dropped from a nearby parking ramp, and the crowd for the CRASS-organized rally swelled to about 100. A large police presence of nearly two dozen MPD officers with a booking van and flexicuffs was also on the scene, but the crowd avoided arrests and ended the party at about 6:30, chanting "We'll be back!"

Meanwhile, the number of cases dismissed by St. Paul City Attorney John Choi this week is at 30 according to CRASS, all but three of which were scheduled for trial on December 15. Many of the cases are from the Shepherd Road and 7th/Jackson parking lot mass arrests. A minimum of 63 misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor cases have now been dismissed and a dozen others declined for prosecution.

Press Statement from the RNC 8 | CRASS | Petition to Susan Gaertner: Drop the Charges | "your felonies, your fault!" | Photos by kostyaissoli | (did you take photos or videos of the rally? publish or link to them on TC Indymedia and we'll add them here!)