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• The Ramsey County, Minnesota sheriff's office raided a rented hall in St.Paul, Minnesota, used by a group planning a protest at the 2008 Republican Convention on August 29, 2008. About 50 people from the group known as the RNC Welcoming Committee were detained, searched and photographed at the building, and then released. The cause for the search warrant was not given, but spokespersons for the group said they were accused of a simple fire code violation.

  On Saturday, August 30, 2008, four private Minneapolis homes were raided, and five people alleged by police to be leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee were arrested. The National Lawyers Guild and Communities United Against Police Brutality filed emergency motions to stop police from seizing video equipment.TwinCities.com: RNC protest groups file court order...(August 31, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. RNC Welcoming Committee describes themselves as an anarchist / anti-authoritarian organizing body preparing for the 2008 Republican National ConventionRNC Welcoming Committee Homepage
  2. Seized: three laptops, plus schedules and 7,000 "welcoming guides"San Francisco Chronicle: 5 arrested, dozens detained ... (August 31, 2008)
  3. Charges: suspicion of conspiracy to riot, conspiracy to commit civil disorder and conspiracy to damage propertySan Francisco Chronicle: 5 arrested, dozens detained ... (August 31, 2008)

• Quotes

  "The 'Welcoming Committee' is a criminal enterprise made up of 35 anarchists who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention. These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers. They have recruited assistance in their criminal conspiracy from other anarchists groups throughout the country." — Ramsey County Sheriff Bob FletcherSan Francisco Chronicle: 5 arrested, dozens detained ... (August 31, 2008)

  "I think (Friday night's raid) was a scare tactic to not go to the big demonstration Monday. But I don't think it's going to work." — 22-year-old Monica Trinidad, a University of Chicago student, handcuffed at the sceneSan Francisco Chronicle: 5 arrested, dozens detained ... (August 31, 2008)

  "This is not the way to start things off. This is sending the wrong message. Regardless of how you feel about these people...they had a right to be there." — St. Paul City Councilman Dave Thune Star Tribune: Police raid RNC protest sites in Twin Cities (August 30, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Minneapolis and St. Paul | Minnesota | 2008 Republican Convention | Olympic Torch Protest | RNC Welcoming Committee | DNC Protests 2008 | Amateur Filmmaking | Rage Against the Machine RNC Protest | G20 Protests

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