Tacoma SDS

WEST COAST SOLIDARITY AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY April 8-9th

ACTION TEAMS RED AND BLACK: The Streetlight is Green
ACTION TEAMS BLUE AND YELLOW: Find the missing Rake

All along the West Coast there is an eruption of anti-state and anti police actions happening in solidarity with Portland's increasingly active attack against the police. This is the emerging support network for anarchists and other anti-state/anti-capitalist revolutionaries to continue their vibrant struggle.

The government of Peru has ordered for the National Police to attack the Amazonian Indigenous peoples. Civilians were shot from buildings roofs and helicopters.

More than 38 people have died so far at 2:00 PM U.S. Eastern time, including 28 civilians and 10 police men -who are also Indigenous. Hospitals collapsing, fights ongoing. Update: now 84 dead people at 6:00 PM US Eastern time.

In what appears to be the first use of criminal charges under the 2002 Minnesota version of the Federal Patriot Act, Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Monica Bicking, Eryn Trimmer, Luce Guillen Givins, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor, Robert Czernik, Garrett Fitzgerald, and Max Spector, face up to 7 1/2 years in prison under the terrorism enhancement charge which allows for a 50% increase in the maximum penalty.

Two PepperSpray collective members, Lambert Rochfort and Joe LaSac, on assignment in St Paul covering the protests associated with the Republican National Convention, were both arrested on Sunday while covering the story. Both are still being held without charges or an opportunity to go before a judge. update: Joe La Sac appears to have been released; no confirmation yet. update: Joe's release has been confirmed, although the police continue to hold his camera equipment and personal belongings hostage.

PRESS RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Repeated attacks on the civil liberties of independent press and activists before and during the election process emerge as a pattern. Video after the break...

The evening of Friday, 19 August 2008, saw police--with guns drawn--busting down doors and detaining all those present in the St. Paul RNC Convergence Center. This raid marked the beginning of a series of actions against journalists and activists in the area, including harassment, detainment, arrest, theft of video and photographic equipment, and raids on other structures. It is clear that intimidation and violence will be "The St. Paul Standard" for the next week in the Twin Cities.

2008/08/31 13:32 PST: In addition to the multiple raids against homes throughout the area, union members and sympathizers are now being targeted. Be sure to check out the ridiculous amount of information linked below...
2008/08/31 14:20 PST: Acumensch provides an excellent summary of raids and raid-related issues to-date at his blog, Hyperborea.

Lots more coverage is available. update: Illegal Police Raid on Anti-RNC Convergence Space in St. Paul; Police break down doors in night-time raid on anarchist meeting ; Rumors circulating of possible police sweeps in Minneapolis this weekend another update: More police raids on Saturday morning - same warrants used as last night; preRNC Raids on Activist Houses; and special coverage in an episode of It's the END of the World AS we KNOW it and I feel FINE yet another update: Twin Cities Indymedia public space was not raided; other police raids are unfolding; Convergence Space Re-Opens, Moving forward with organizing for Sept 1; More journalist detainments - IMC & Democracy Now! taken into custody in St. Paul - mysterious raid against CUAPB; Anti-RNC Activists Respond to Police Raids even more updates: TC-IMC Exclusive: Complete search warrant from Minneapolis raid today; RNC Welcoming Committee Organizers Seek Sanctuary From Illegal Arrests; We stop for no one - a LOLCATS moment; PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY: Motion for Emergency Restraining Order Against Police; Train with reinstated union starbuck barista returning to work today stopped, surrounded by cops update update update (and lots of video): Homes Raided by St. Paul Police; National Lawyers Guild: Police Raid "Preventive Detention"; Police Bust Thru Attic to Detain "Democracy Now" Producer; Police Swarm & Seize Earth Justice Bus in St. Paul; Police Detain Journalists-Amy Goodman Jumps Fence To Question Cops; Activists Laugh At Sheriff's "Criminal Enterprise" Accusation;
"No Knock" Raid Of House Supplying Food To RNC Protesters

via Olympia SDS (http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2008/03/265325.shtml)