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RNC 8 DEFENSE COMMITTEE | RNC8

RNC 8 DEFENSE COMMITTEE | www.RNC8.org. defend the RNC 8. or you could be next!. A little background…. RNC Welcoming Committee: investigation $300,000 Four Paid Informants: FBI and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office; others from IA and TX. Led to imprisonment of McKay & Crowder, DePalma

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RNC 8 DEFENSE COMMITTEE | RNC8

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  1. RNC 8 DEFENSE COMMITTEE | www.RNC8.org

  2. defend theRNC 8... or you could benext!

  3. A littlebackground… • RNC Welcoming Committee: investigation $300,000 • Four Paid Informants: FBI and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office; others from IA and TX. Led to imprisonment of McKay & Crowder, DePalma • Tens of thousands of pages, 100s of discs of discovery • FOIA information

  4. We’re getting ready… …for court

  5. Legally… • Originally charged with 2nd degree conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism • First known use of the Minnesota state PATRIOT Act passed in 2002 – incredibly broad definition of terrorism • In December 2008, 3 additional charges were added:

  6. Legally… • 2nd degree conspiracy to riot (without terrorism enhancement) • 1st degree conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in furtherance of terrorism • 1st degree conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in furtherance of terrorism (without terrorism enhancement)

  7. Legally… • 2nd degree conspiracy to riot (with a dangerous weapon) • 1st degree conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property (over $1,000)

  8. Legally… • Still haven't been arraigned • Several pre-trial motions, mostly regarding discovery and suppression • Joinder • Court watching and legal work for the 8 and other RNC cases

  9. POLITICAL PRESSURE Photo: RNC08report.org

  10. Pressure • Ramsey County prosecutor Susan Gaertner – was running for governor as a Democrat in 2010 • Call-in campaigns, protests to drop the charges • Some DFL party support

  11. Pressure • Presence at Gaertner's events and public outcry leads to terrorism charges being dropped • Gaertner dropped out of the Democratic race after the party convention in Duluth, a stronghold of DFL/labor support for the RNC 8. She consistently ranked at the bottom of the candidate polls.

  12. Currently • Minneapolis: RNC 8 Defense Committee meets regularly; national network of supporters • National Lawyers Guild legal team • Funds needed: $250,000 • Judge Teresa Warner • Pretrial hearings in May, trial scheduled October 25

  13. In Context • Use of informants has a long history • SHAC 7 USA conspiracy conviction for... running a website • Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act cases; Scott Demuth/Carrie Feldman – alleged evidence from RNC raid • Hugh and Tiga – anti-I-69 felonies dropped • France: Tarnac 9; Copenhagen COP15

  14. HISTORICALLYSPEAKING…

  15. In Context The Green Scare: Animal/Earth liberation activists gained ground in the 1990s through sabotage and offering alternatives to speciesism/eco-destruction. Law enforcement and media began labeling and prosecuting activists as “terrorists” via grand jury subpoenas, surveillance, infiltration, entrapment, and imprisonment, despite not a single death.

  16. In Context • 1992: Animal Enterprise Protection Act – created category of “animal enterprise terrorism” • “intentionally causes physical disruption tothe functioning of an animal enterprise by intentionally stealing, damaging, or causing the loss of, any property (including animals or records)… and thereby causes economic damage...” • Peter Young, SHAC

  17. In Context • 2006 – Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act • increased penalties and the range of activities covered by law, includingtertiary targeting • criminalizes whistle blowing, protests, media campaigning, and enforcement actions by advocates; effectively brands civil disobedience as “terrorism”

  18. In Context • USA PATRIOT ACT – 2001 • Expands definition of the federal crime of terrorism to include “domestic terrorism,” defined as “acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws” if they “appear intended to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion”

  19. In Context • USA PATRIOT ACT – 2001 • Regarding immigration control, “terrorist activity” defined morebroadly. Includes support ofotherwise lawful and nonviolentactivities of virtually any group thathas used violence, and any use or threat to use a weapon against a person or property • State PATRIOT Acts, including MN (Any felony with political intent).

  20. In Context “Eco-terrorism”? “Domestic terrorism is the unlawfuluse, or threatened use, of violence….committed against persons or property….in furtherance of political or social objectives.” (James F. Jarboe. 2002. “The Threatof Eco-terrorism.” Congressional Testimony. February 12).

  21. In Context • COINTELPRO • Designed to “disrupt and destabilize,” “cripple,” “destroy,” or otherwise “neutralize” dissident individuals and political groups in the US beginning in '50s • Eavesdropping and surveillance; Bogus mail; Infiltrators; Fabrication of evidence “Black Propaganda” Operations; Assassinations

  22. In Context • McCarran-Walter Immigration Act (1952) • Authorized exclusion of non-citizen anarchists, communists, and others affiliated with groups that embrace such ideas, or who write or distribute ideas that advocate or teach overthrow of the gvmt • Continued racist national origins quotas; barred LGBTQ immigrants from entering nation

  23. In Context • Alien Registration Act of 1940--Noncitizens must register; illegal toadvocate government overthrow --An anti-immigrant and anti-labor law • Immigration Acts of 1917/18--Expanded immigration law to exclude foreigners advocating overthrow of government and those who advocated the destruction of property, members of anarchist groups or who believed in anarchy (first federal law codifying guilt by association and belief)

  24. In Context • Alien and Sedtion Acts – 1798--Gave the Pres. authority to deport any noncitizen judged to be “dangerous to the peace and safety of the U.S.”–Crime for anyone to criticize gvmt. officials. Used sparingly, soon expired. • Enemy Alien Act – 1798--President can detain/ deport anyone whose home country is at war with the U.S (Austro-Hungarians, Germans, Italians, Japanese, and Japanese Americans) supporting nativism and racism. Still on the books today.

  25. In Context • The Black Act – 1723 • Passed by British Parliament vs. deer poaching and tree felling by “Blacks” (masked ‘bandits’) • Traditional crimes became felonies, punishable by death (hanging) • Expanded to criminalize gardens on private land, vandalism, arson, entering private property with a weapon, wearing a disguise while committing a crime • Targeted working classes; became model for terror legislation through British Empire/US

  26. In Context • Why “terrorist”? Why “criminals”? • Our movements' ideas are a threat tothe core cultural, political, and economic values embodied in the concept of property; and threaten the capitalist imperative to colonize all forms of life; • Rejection of hierarchy represents a threat to the broader social order rooted in speciesism, white supremacy, classism, and heteropatriarchy; • Disciplinary message to the general public

  27. DON’T MOURN ORGANIZE!

  28. 8 for the 8 1 EDUCATEyourself and 8 friends about the case: RNC8.org DONATEfind out about the different ways at RNC8.org/donations 2

  29. 8 for the 8 3 CALL or email prosecutor Susan Gaertner: 651.266.3222, RCA@co.ramsey.mn.us; 4 WRITEa letter to the editor, op-ed, orblog post about the case

  30. 8 for the 8 HOSTan event in your community orat your school. 5 SUPPORTthe RNC 8 directly by beingin the courtroom at their pretrialhearings or coming to the Twin Cities for trial in October 6

  31. 8 for the 8 7 ORGANIZEfor justice and liberation inyour local community

  32. 8 for the 8 STAND IN SOLIDARITY with political prisoners andtargets of state repressioneverywhere.For a list of political prisoners in the US, visit the Anarchist Black CrossFederation website: abcf.net 8

  33. Back Home • The work done by the RNC 8 was/is not unique • State repression is ongoing and affectsless visible communities on a regularbasis. • Power concedes nothing without a demand

  34. Moving forward “The best solidarity is to keep the struggle going – and we hope that supporting us can be a small part of broader movements for social change.” Read letters from the RNC 8 at www.RNC8.org

  35. Rob, Erik, Monica, Eryn, Luce, Garrett, Nathanael, Max contact: info@rnc8.org press: press@rnc8.org, 612.886.4565national contacts and more: rnc8.org/contact

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