Massive police raids on suspected [RNC] protestors in Minneapolis

[joshmay]

Saturday Aug. 30, 2008 12:44 EDT
Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis
Glenn Greenwald

"Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying..."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html


down with the GOP! this is ****ed, dude.

[cobert]

This is absoloutely ****ing disgusting.

[Mr. Ron]

I am soooo glad our brave soldeirs r fightin' 4 our freedumbs

[spitfirejunky]

Holy hell. Since when was planning a protest a crime? After all that they only got charged with fire code violations?

Hahahaha something is damn fishy.

[Danger Bird]

Well you have to expect this kind of thing when you live in Batista's Cuba.


...oh wait

[McP3000]

Saturday Aug. 30, 2008 12:44 EDT
Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis
Glenn Greenwald

"Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying..."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html


down with the GOP! this is ****ed, dude.
are the GOP in charge over there or are you just baselessly relating the party with the actions of the police.

[BassRevelation0]

who knows what those radical leftist idiots are planning?

anywho its not a crime to demonstrate (calmly)

I'd have no problem in a police state if they just did away with the "freedom" talk

wait I take that back id still have a problem

[thunderzstruck]

Ok, yeah this was on the front page of my newpaper today and somehow, the story has been terribly spun the wrong way. That's not the whole story and they aren't just "innocent citizens"

I can't find the article online but I'll quote what it says in the Minneapolis Star Tribune

"On Saturday afternoon, he displayed a number of confinscated items: a gun, throwing knives, a bow and arrows, flammable liquids, paints, slingshots, rocks and buckets of urine. 'We know these things are going to be used as weapons, Ramsy County Sheriff BobFletcher said.'
"Fletcher however, stressed the he and other agencies has informants played inside this and other groups for a long period of time
"Fletcher said the RNC Welcoming Committee is a 'criminal enterprise made up for 35 self-described anarchists intent on cimmitting criminal acts before and during the RNC. These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers"

[Hababi]

yeah they should just have cops beat them up like the dnc did to journalists and protesters.

[Aaron]

Bow an arrow? :lol:

[Already_Taken]

so they were planning to shoot up the RNC. oh okay.

[Avalanche.]

Wow I wonder how they failed to mention that

[thunderzstruck]

Bow an arrow? :lol:

If I saw someone walking around looking to fire an arrow into a crowd, I'd probably leave haha

[Aaron]

I'm no knave, sir!

[Reaganista]

yeah they should just have cops beat them up like the dnc did to journalists and protesters.

very incisive zerokewl always cuts right to the heart of the issue

[BillyBonebrake]

i think they had similar police action at the Democratic Convention. many of these protesters aren't really protesting the GOP or DNC or w/e just America and w/e they think it stands for or against in general

i don't really have a problem with the police action although entering homes is kind of severe. i would prefer they let them protest and if it comes to blows or some beatings go for it. i mean you can't be a protester and expect not to be knocked around. its a tradition :)

but this other stuff? all i can think is the cops had some "actionable" information and went to make some arrests. no one died so i guess its ok if they had search warrants or "probable cause."

and fire code violations are vv serious. i mean what if a fire started and dozens of protesters died? then they'd be protesting the fire department!

it never stops :(

[Already_Taken]

for real i think you're asking for it when you go out there.

[pppoe]

How so?

[spitfirejunky]

Ok, yeah this was on the front page of my newpaper today and somehow, the story has been terribly spun the wrong way. That's not the whole story and they aren't just "innocent citizens"

I can't find the article online but I'll quote what it says in the Minneapolis Star Tribune

"On Saturday afternoon, he displayed a number of confinscated items: a gun, throwing knives, a bow and arrows, flammable liquids, paints, slingshots, rocks and buckets of urine. 'We know these things are going to be used as weapons, Ramsy County Sheriff BobFletcher said.'
"Fletcher however, stressed the he and other agencies has informants played inside this and other groups for a long period of time
"Fletcher said the RNC Welcoming Committee is a 'criminal enterprise made up for 35 self-described anarchists intent on cimmitting criminal acts before and during the RNC. These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers"

Were they or were they not only charged with fire code violations?

[Already_Taken]

How so?

because when you try to intimidate someone, and push them to start something, it could be described as asking for it.

[Give me Beer]

Were they or were they not only charged with fire code violations?

I like it how 'paints' are among the confiscated items. Slingshots as well ... quick, arrest Bart Simpson.

[siva_chair]

If I saw someone walking around looking to fire an arrow into a crowd, I'd probably leave haha

Lol Ted Nugent.

[joshmay]

Ok, yeah this was on the front page of my newpaper today and somehow, the story has been terribly spun the wrong way. That's not the whole story and they aren't just "innocent citizens"

I can't find the article online but I'll quote what it says in the Minneapolis Star Tribune

"On Saturday afternoon, he displayed a number of confinscated items: a gun, throwing knives, a bow and arrows, flammable liquids, paints, slingshots, rocks and buckets of urine. 'We know these things are going to be used as weapons, Ramsy County Sheriff BobFletcher said.'
"Fletcher however, stressed the he and other agencies has informants played inside this and other groups for a long period of time
"Fletcher said the RNC Welcoming Committee is a 'criminal enterprise made up for 35 self-described anarchists intent on cimmitting criminal acts before and during the RNC. These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers"

thats bullshit dude. if the police raided my house right now theyd find guns and throwing knives along with alot of other blunt objects that could be "used as weapons," hell theyd probably claim my bong was a pipe bomb in the making.

these were peaceful citizens that got ****ed with but i would go so far that the RNC deserves violent protests, as much evil as they have brought to the modern world, and for the fact that they are waging a campaign to secure four more years of trading hope in america for lined pockets.

[thunderzstruck]

thats bullshit dude. if the police raided my house right now theyd find guns and throwing knives along with alot of other blunt objects that could be "used as weapons," hell theyd probably claim my bong was a pipe bomb in the making.

these were peaceful citizens that got ****ed with but i would go so far that the RNC deserves violent protests, as much evil as they have brought to the modern world, and for the fact that they are waging a campaign to secure four more years of trading hope in america for lined pockets.

Did you not read the rest of it?
"Fletcher however, stressed the he and other agencies has informants played inside this and other groups for a long period of time

The police had fake members in the Welcoming Committee for a period of time and it was obvious that they were going to use those items for something more than shooting action figures with their sling shots.

And from what I remember nobody was charged with anything

And no, the RNC does not deserve violent protests, it doesn't matter what they brought. I hate to think an innocent bystander getting hurt because of some dumbass "Welcoming Committee"

[Reaganista]

lol when nixon had undercovers infiltrate fringe opposition groups it was like a big controversy
now undercovers are used as an excuse/explanation for mass arrests of fringe opposition groups
if i didnt know better i'd use the term fascism improperly right about now

[cobert]

lol when nixon had undercovers infiltrate fringe opposition groups it was like a big controversy
now undercovers are used as an excuse/explanation for mass arrests of fringe opposition groups
if i didnt know better i'd use the term fascism improperly right about now

i like the way you talk bro

[spitfirejunky]

Did you not read the rest of it?
"Fletcher however, stressed the he and other agencies has informants played inside this and other groups for a long period of time

The police had fake members in the Welcoming Committee for a period of time and it was obvious that they were going to use those items for something more than shooting action figures with their sling shots.

And from what I remember nobody was charged with anything

And no, the RNC does not deserve violent protests, it doesn't matter what they brought. I hate to think an innocent bystander getting hurt because of some dumbass "Welcoming Committee"

You've failed to explain why the only charges filed against them were fire code violations.

[cobert]

The fire code violations were charged against the people in the community center or whathaveyou, the people arrested later in the houses, were arrested on grounds of 'conspiring to riot' or some other vague constitution-dodging bullshit.

[thunderzstruck]

lol when nixon had undercovers infiltrate fringe opposition groups it was like a big controversy
now undercovers are used as an excuse/explanation for mass arrests of fringe opposition groups
if i didnt know better i'd use the term fascism improperly right about now

isn't that how they do drug busts/prostitution rings

[Reaganista]

yeah....

thats what made it controversial when nixon did it to his opponents

[Mr. Ron]

wait whats wrong with shooting arrows at cops that are using violence unjustly against its own citizenry?

[thunderzstruck]

yeah....

thats what made it controversial when nixon did it to his opponents

so why dont people get all angry and whiny and shi when they do drug busts or something

this is the same thing, just a different manner

[Reaganista]

this is the same thing, just a different manner
no it's a different thing being handled in the same manner

[thunderzstruck]

okok yeah, thats what i meant

i still dont see the big issue here tbh
the people who are arguing civil rights should also be protesting human trafficing busts too

[Reaganista]

human trafficing is a civil right?

[thunderzstruck]

they knew the people were going to use violence etc to bring out their "message"
protesting is a civil right, but not violently

[pppoe]

human trafficing is a civil right?

of course.

[Reaganista]

they knew the people were going to use violence etc to bring out their "message"
protesting is a civil right, but not violently

even if it's true they couldn't have known that before they sent in the secret police

[Radiobass81]

Ok, yeah this was on the front page of my newpaper today and somehow, the story has been terribly spun the wrong way. That's not the whole story and they aren't just "innocent citizens"

I can't find the article online but I'll quote what it says in the Minneapolis Star Tribune

"On Saturday afternoon, he displayed a number of confinscated items: a gun, throwing knives, a bow and arrows, flammable liquids, paints, slingshots, rocks and buckets of urine. 'We know these things are going to be used as weapons, Ramsy County Sheriff BobFletcher said.'
"Fletcher however, stressed the he and other agencies has informants played inside this and other groups for a long period of time
"Fletcher said the RNC Welcoming Committee is a 'criminal enterprise made up for 35 self-described anarchists intent on cimmitting criminal acts before and during the RNC. These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers"

I'm sorry, but the story you are giving comes directly from Minnesota's police, so we can't see that as the big picture, either.

[Danish]

This stuff is pretty common. We had a confrontation with the police at our Labour Day rally yesterday. I was threatened and pushed! And they had cops on horses! Totally unnecessary, especially considering how many children were in the crowd...

[Amit]

fufcking frascists

(those of u who dont know it's a play on the words "facist" and "rascist"

[siva_chair]

This stuff is pretty common. We had a confrontation with the police at our Labour Day rally yesterday. I was threatened and pushed! And they had cops on horses! Totally unnecessary, especially considering how many children were in the crowd...

Oh NOEZ!!!

[Danish]

Oh NOEZ!!!

For doing something that the court specifically ruled that we were allowed to do?

[siva_chair]

You act surprised that it happened, man.

If I went to a protest I would certainly have the sense to mentally prepare myself for cops beating the crap out of me because it (historically) comes with the territory. It should be no surprise that they shove and threaten.

Danish, my friend, you of all people should realize that those with power are going to try to ensure they keep their own power. A loud angry mob is an obvious threat to them, if only by their numbers and the strength of their voice. No one is gonna give it to you, you gotta take it!

Ok that is my pseudo-Marxist-powertothepeople rant for today.

[gregulus]

You act surprised that it happened, man.

If I went to a protest I would certainly have the sense to mentally prepare myself for cops beating the crap out of me because it (historically) comes with the territory. It should be no surprise that they shove and threaten.

Danish, my friend, you of all people should realize that those with power are going to try to ensure they keep their own power. A loud angry mob is an obvious threat to them, if only by their numbers and the strength of their voice. No one is gonna give it to you, you gotta take it!

Ok that is my pseudo-Marxist-powertothepeople rant for today.

You might as well change your avatar to the picture of the Soviet soldier raising the flag over the Reichstag, Pinko.

[siva_chair]

You might as well change your avatar to the picture of the Soviet soldier raising the flag over the Reichstag, Pinko.

Probably should to avoid hypocrisy shouldn't I?

[TBrown87]

buckets of urine? I wonder if those still reside with the Police Department.

[robo2448]

I got tear gassed at the RNC last night. Crazy stuff going down.

[Mr. Ron]

yeah those bloc anarchists that destroy property are morons.

[BridgeToSolace]

even if it's true they couldn't have known that before they sent in the secret police

I'm not sure what point you're making.

Just that nixon did it as well?

Should police not be allowed to infiltrate groups to better discover their intentions and see if they pose some sort of physical threat to other groups?

Just wondering your thoughts :)