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RNC Day 2: Mass Arrests and Jail Resistance

IMC-US, 03.09.2008

The second day of the RNC presented more of the same repressive tactics and mass arrests by the police and national guard. Arrests included at least 5 medics on Monday, freelance journalists, and peaceful protesters outside the Republican Convention Center.

According to the ColdSnap Legal Collective, there are reports of abuse of people in jail, including many civilians caught in mass arrests. At least 15 people are on hunger strike since this morning to protest their incarceration. Over a hundred people were charged with felonies on Monday. Most of these folks were charged with Felony Conspiracy to Riot. ColdSnap has gotten many reports that people are not getting proper medical attention, are being refused their medication, and/or have been separated from the rest of the group.

A heavily guarded Poor People's March through St. Paul ended with an organizer placing an order for a citizens arrest for George Bush for crimes against humanity under the barricades surrounding the Xcel Center. Following the march, a massive riot police presence at the end of the march attacked those who did not disperse fast enough with tear gas, pepper spray, and concussion grenades. VIDEO: 1 | 2

On the evening of September 2, police chose to prohibit Rage Against the Machine from following several other bands at an existing concert, going backstage and shutting off power. This sent an infuriated crowd of 2,000+ marching on the RNC.

Despite the crackdown, civil disobedience to disrupt the RNC from anarchist affinity groups has continued.



One Indymedia reporter was arrested to be later released. However, reports keep coming about an impressive pattern of police repression of the media during and previous to the Republican National Convention. Three videographers from PepperSpray Productions were arrested early Wednesday morning.

Also on Tuesday, members of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) of the Dakota Oyate reclaimed Coldwater Spring and the surrounding land by launching a four-day ceremony. The Dakota people are claiming their inherent right to their sacred sites as well as the rights preserved in the Treaty of 1805.

RELATED: Breaking News from Twin Cities Indymedia | Chicagoans Join Anti-RNC Actions, Decry Violent Crackdown | Police Terrorists Trained to Hate Protesters and Anarchists | Resistance in the Streets of St. Paul Despite On-Going Police Violence | FreePress launches a campaign to drop all charges against Amy Goodman, Independent Journalists





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