The police in Minneapolis/St. Paul are proving to be just as brutal as their Denver counterparts. First the police in Minnesota made preemptive and unlawful raids on homes of people who were planning protests. Without search warrants they entered homes arrested people, and seized private property.
From SalonProtesters 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.
Go to Salon to read the whole article.
Not only did they unlawfully arrest protesters, they arrested journalists as well. The host and producer of the daily news program Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, was arrested for simply asking an officer to speak to his superior officer. Two of Goodman's co-workers were arrested for filming the police's crack down on protesters, and as she was trying to point out to the officer that her co-workers were press, the police arrested her as well.
Not only did they unlawfully arrest protesters, they arrested journalists as well. The host and producer of the daily news program Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, was arrested for simply asking an officer to speak to his superior officer. Two of Goodman's co-workers were arrested for filming the police's crack down on protesters, and as she was trying to point out to the officer that her co-workers were press, the police arrested her as well.
Part 1
Part 2
These three are lucky that they didn't get extradited to Guantanamo Bay. Eight members of the RNC Welcoming Committee may not be so lucky. They are being charged with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. And thanks to the Patriot Act, they could go to jail for seven years. Just for planning protests, these people could go to jail. Thank goodness we don't have the thought police yet.
This 17 year old protester was injured by the police.
This 17 year old protester was injured by the police.
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