PRESS STATEMENT FROM RNC WELCOMING COMMITTEE ON CONVERGENCE CENTER RAID
Submitted by haloka on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 23:38.
PRESS STATEMENT FROM RNC WELCOMING COMMITTEE AFTER SHERIFF AND SPPD RAID OF CONVERGENCE SPACE
FRIDAY AUGUST 29 2008
Assitant Police Chief Bostrom has talked about the St. Paul Standard, and on the anniversary of last years’ critical mass police riot, we saw its true face. The ramsey county sheriff’s dept and the SPPD raided the RNC convergence space and detained over 50 people in an attempt to preempt planned protests of the rnc on Monday.
Looking for items found in any twin cities house like jars, paint, and rags, this attempt to portray us as criminals and destroy our credibility has already backfired as evidenced by the masses who have come to support us.
We are now accused of a simple fire code violation -which is outside the scope of the sheriffs department and clearly not justified provocation for a forceful raid with guns being drawn. Children and elderly people were inside the convergence center when the police violently busted down the doors. The police may claim that the raid was executed according to protocol - however, the violence inherent in this action may only be a hint of the violence to be expected on Monday and beyond, and is only a hint at the violence perpetrated daily by the police.
The convergence center is simply a gathering place and is not used for illegal actions - it is a place for workshops and trainings. Tonight we were watching films and sharing food.
This action will not deter us from our plans to protest the RNC on September 1st. We want to invite all people who oppose this police oppression to join us on Septemeber 1st. See you in the streets.
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THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10AM SATURDAY AT HARRIET ISLAND BY THE FLAGPOLE.
Clarification
Thanks to all of you who are trying to highlight the illegal raids and intimidation. Just one request. I saw a video and read a report in which the Sheriff supposedly confiscated guns. I don't see any debunking of this particular claim. While I know that some place priority on solidarity, I think it is important to clarify whether this particular group actually was planning vilenece, whether the group itself is a bunch of agents provacateurs, or whether the police are just planting evidence. Hopefully it is false information (though I think they displayed photos in one video I saw on the web).
THIS REPROT
By HERON MARQUEZ ESTRADA, BILL M c AULIFFE and ABBY SIMONS
Last update: August 31, 2008 - 12:43 PM
"On Saturday afternoon, he displayed a number of the confiscated items: a gun, throwing knives, a bow and arrows, flammable liquids, paint, slingshots, rocks and buckets of urine."
The one I am concerned about is the gun because, if true, it can be used to tar any radical group that goes beyond non violent vigils but does not advocate use of weapons. Hopefully this is just policre provacataion and planting of evidence, but I think it should be addressed, because it surely will be seized upon by the right and homeland security types.
Thanks,
A Japan IndyMedia volunteer
http://japan.indymedia.org
Having read accounts of the
Having read accounts of the police displaying rags taken from under the sink next to kerosene taken from a garage and claiming that they were molotov cocktails, I can only say that many American homes have guns in them, and that's no crime. If one WAS found, it means nothing... Until the police misrepresent the context in which it was found and turn it into another false accusation.