Timeline of Anarchist Actions at the Republican National Convention

Anarchism Symbol

Now that the violence of the street protests at the Republican National Convention is behind us, I thought it might be informative to take a look back at the protests which occurred at the convention, as well as the events preceding and subsequent to them.

Pre-Convention

On August 13th, The Los Angeles Times printed an article entitled: Twin Cities bracing for the RNC: ACLU expects 800 arrests.

As early as August 14th, 2008, articles were being posted on Newsvine, wondering Are Police Ready For Anarchy During The Republican National Convention?

On Wednesday, August 27th, the Berkeley, California Anarchist group 'Longhaul.org Infoshop', (their motto is "Kill Capatilism before it kills you"), was raided by the FBI. More than a dozen computers were seized in this raid. Police also examined lists of people who had purchased books or checked them out of Infoshop's library. This raid was spurred by threats made to UC Berkeley animal researchers.

The Longhaul Infoshop.org are part of a nationwide network of like minded Anarchists. There are many local groups tied together into affinity groups, which meet to work together on specific actions. I include this material on Infoshop.org as they link themselves to organizations which were at the Republican National Convention, most specifically, The 'RNC Welcoming Committee'.

Three days later, Saturday, August 30th, the Ramsey County, Minnesota Sheriff raided the headquarters of the intentionally confusingly named RNC Welcoming Committee near St Paul, Minnesota, only days before the Republican National Convention was to be held there. Police entered with guns draw, and questioned and photographed at least 50 people who were present.

Police raided a house where I-Witness video journalists were preparing to report on police misconduct during the convention.

Newsvine Journalist Stacy Malbon reported later that day that the RNC Welcoming Committee holds a meeting in a Minneapolis Park.

Later that same night, Ramsey County sheriffs raided the homes of 3 Anarchist RNC protesters, making several arrests. One man was arrested for possessing molotov cocktails for use at the protests.

The next day, Sunday, August 31st, Stacy Malbon reported that a Restraining order was sought against police at RNC after independent journalists were repeatedly targeted. .

The Convention Begins

On Monday, September 1st, the first day of the Republican National Convention, Anarchist protesters rioted in St Paul. Protesters attacked delegates, smashed windows, punctured car tires and threw bottles. The Associated Press also reported 5 arrested in protests at GOP convention site . Police responded with pepper spray and arrested at least 56 people, including some reporters and photographers.

Newsvine user AZSKY13 filed two reports that day, A Cultural melting pot and a family affair and The March and the Aftermath

Here is another eyewitness account of the day's events: Taking direct action in St. Paul

That same day, the National Lawyers Guild sought to have a judge review detentions of six anarchist activists in St. Paul. The Judge Ruled the Six Arrested Anarchists would Remain Jailed.

Late that night, police announced they had arrested nearly 300 people during the protests.

The next day, Tuesday, September 2nd, the second day of the convention, The National Guard was called in to help maintain order. The Anarchist group RNC Welcoming Committee also released a statement about the violent street protests up until that time. The authorities released a counter statement, saying that 'splinter groups' were responsible for the violence.

The ACLU issued a statement: ACLU Calls For Investigation Into Raids And Mass Arrests At RNC

That same day, Two of Monday's RNC arrestees appeared in court on misdemeanor charges, while police said that others would be facing felony charges.

On Wednesday, September 3, the third day of the convention, the Anarchist group RNC Welcoming Committee vowed to continue protests at the convention. The sheriff of Ramsey County Sheriff said that Anarchists discussed kidnapping delegates . That night, Newsvine Journalist Ben Josephs reported that 102 people were arrested during a protest after Rage Against the Machine concert in Minneapolis.

On Thursday, September 4th, the last day of the convention, Anarchist group members were charged With Felony Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism . Questions about the police actions were raised, trying to determine the difference between Security and Repression. The group DemocracyNow! filed a video Video report on the individuals charged with terrorism.

The ACLU issued a statement: At RNC, Arraignments Begin And Arrests Continue .

The last protest march of the convention was scheduled for this day. Riot police were ready, and the Protest March was stopped at the Cathedral, blocked from Xcel Center in St Paul. But later that same night, word came that Police used tear gas to disperse protesters in St Paul: 200 Were Arrested,. Stacy Malbon also filed a eyewitness report on the day's events.

Newsweek Magazine also reproted on the week's events in; Having a Riot in St. Paul.

Meanwhile, In Berkeley, California, a rally was held to protest the UC Berkeley police raid on the Long Haul Infoshop the week before.

Post Convention Fallout

On Friday, September 5th, a St Paul Man said that police beat, tortured him in jail.

Despite more than 800 arrests, St. Paul police and mayor call convention a big success.

In an interview with DemocracyNow!, the Ramsey County Sheriff Admits Local Police Used Paid Infiltrators and Spied on Activists for up to a year before the convention.

On September 7, Amnesty International Issued a statement: Use of Force Against RNC Protesters Disproportionate .

On September 9, the University of California Police Department released the affidavit used to justify the August 27th raid on the LongHaul Infoshop. The National Lawyers Guild (NLG-SF) says it is working with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on a legal response on behalf of the Infoshop. Google was mentioned in the affidavit, which led a group called 'Media Activism to question google's privacy policy.

On September 10, 2008, The Dallas (Texas) Morning News Published an article: Texas Governor's Mansion fire probe turns to Austin men arrested at Republican convention . This article says that two men arrested at the RNC for possessing Molotov Cocktails, 22-year-old David McKay and 23-year-old Bradley Crowder, are suspects in the June 8 arson, which gutted the Texas governor's mansion in Austin,Texas. They were due to be released on bail on the molotov cocktail charge, but a Federal Judge ordered them held without bail on the charges. Prosecutors had said that the men were a flight risk.

On September 11, an article was published detailing allegations that a worker at Kinko's in Minneapolis had copied RNC police training documentation and provided that information to the RNC Welcoming Committee. This information was then posted on the website of Infoshop.org. Police later decided not to file felony charges against the Kinko's employee. Misdemeanor charges are still possible.

Also, Homeland Security Director Chertoff, speaking about foreign terrorists in a speech at the National Press Club, framed the issue this way;

What do we do when we find someone in our country.....who is clearly recruiting and advocating for terrorism, but is not yet operating at the level when that person has actually committed a crime? They have not advanced or they have not moved from advocacy into the element of actual incitement of execution of a plan.

On September 12, 2008, The Washington Post published an article, Rule Changes Would Give FBI Agents Extensive New Powers , which describes changes in the way the FBI investigates individuals or groups.. These new powers would allow FBI agents to conduct surveilance in a public place, use wired informants without a prosecutors approval, conduct beginning stage investigations without identifying themselves or seeking a supervisor's approval, and monitoring large scale demonstrations which agents believe may turn dangerous. If National Security is involved, the old rules would still apply.

On September 13, Infoshop.org, in a posting on it's website, said:

Hooligans with the Modesto Anarcho Crew are working the night shift to bring you the class war and a good time. This Friday, there will be a report back from someone with Modesto Anarcho Crew talking about their experiences on the streets of Denver at the DNC and in St. Paul for the RNC. Go beyond the corporate media hype to hear about the riots and direct action that took the fight to the enemy.

On September 16th, The New York Times printed an article; Questions Emerge Over Police Conduct in St. Paul . They also printed an article about an Anarchist Ice Cream Truck entitled; Selling Ice Cream, With Sprinkles of Anarchism .

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced that St. Paul will investigate police tactics during the RNC . This investigation will examine the plan for security at the convention, as well as the implementation and execution of that plan. Both the St. Paul and Minneapolis police plan their own investigations into these questions..

The father of one of the arrested protesters details his perspective of this issue in; First they came for the anarchists ... .

On September 17th, 2008, More details were revealed about the warrant used to justify the raid on the LongHaul Infoshop. The warrant describes a case of cyber-stalking of a UC Berkeley animal researcher by Animal Rights Activists. From the article:

Kasiske cited the e-mail texts as the basis of his determination that the sender had violated section 646.9(a) of the state penal code, which declares "Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family is guilty of the crime of stalking."

This report states that a violation of the state Penal code was the reason for the raid, but that does not explain why the FBI was involved in this raid. No statement of a suspicion of violation of a federal statute is mentioned in this article.

Analysis of These Events

Stratfor Terrorism Intelligence Report has produced a detailed analysis of the activities of the RNC Welcoming Committee before and during the Republican National Convention. This is highly recommended reading material.

Family Security Matters, a National Security information website, has detailed their analysis of these events in; Poisonous Protestors Disrupt RNC – Today bleach, Tomorrow Nerve Agent?.

During all these events, as you will see if you read the comments in each article I have linked, we here at Newsvine have hotly debated the rights and responsibilities of both the police and the protesters and the delegates who attended the convention. One frequent participant in these debates was Newsvine user Maxwell Despard. Maxwell has seeded a link to an Infoshop.Org article; Rebutting Lies and Misconceptions About Anarchists and the DNC/RNC Protests.

My personal hope is that we have put this ugly episode behind us and can move forward to the elections in a peaceable and nonviolent way. Unfortunately, the stated goals of these organizations will almost certainly lead to more violence, if not bloodshed.

Many questions have been raised in the last two weeks. Is there a difference beteen non violent civil disobedience and violent street protests? Are violent protests like these Constitutionally protected activities or Terrorism? Should police, the FBI and Homeland Security start shutting down these activist organizations or tolerate them? How far would you go to have your voice heard? Should people arrested conducting these activities be charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, or be prosecuted under Felony Terror Laws? Are there questions we and the media should be asking regarding these events? Should we ask both our Presidential Candidates their views on this situation?

Back To Top

	Lew Rockwell: Down with anti-market "anarchists"	LewRockwell.com	Tue Sep 9	0
	Cops Trace Republican Convention Security Leak to Kinko's	The St. Paul Pioneer Press	Thu Sep 11	0