Posted on 09/03/2008 9:59:07 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Eight members of the RNC Welcoming Committee, a self-described anarchist organization, each one faces four charges for their alleged plans to disrupt the convention.
Each individual was charged Wednesday with second-degree furtherance of terrorism, conspiracy to riot, conspiracy to commit civil disorder and conspiracy to damage property.
Those arrested were Robert Joseph Czernik, Monica Rachel Bicking, Erik Charles Oseland, Garrett Scott Fitzgerald, Nathanial David Secor, Max Jacob Speckton, Luce Guillen-Givens, and Eryn Trimmer.
The eight were arrested after Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies raided four homes in Minneapolis and St. Paul on Aug. 30 and 31. They are all being held at the Ramsey County Jail, each on $75,000 bail.
If convicted, each faces up to five years in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both.
In a media released issued by the RNC Welcoming Committee called the charged members the ‘RNC 8.’ The group promised to reveal their identities and share their stories behind their message during a question and answer session with the media on Friday.
The sheriff's office said it confiscated weapons including a machete, hatchet and several throwing knives, empty glass bottles, rags and flammable liquids, homemade devices used to disable buses, metal pipes, axes, bolt cutters, sledge hammers, empty plastic buckets made into shields, an Army helmet, and large amounts of urine.
Protesters said deputies also seized materials including laptops, protest literature and sign-making materials, bus schedules and a topographical map of St. Paul, site of Xcel Energy Center, and the convention hall.
In a statement, Sheriff Bob Fletcher said authorities moved to head off planned illegal acts.
"These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers," Fletcher said.
The RNC Welcoming Committee has taken credit for several violent protests, resulting in police intervention, during the first two days of the RNC.
Thursday will be ugly,violent...
For no good reason.
They prefer to be called “Community Organizers.”
Sounds to me like a conspiracy... wonder who funded them?
Can’t help but notice an interesting name in that group of miscreants - Garrett Scott Fitzgerald.
Scott Fitzgerald, the famous writer, was actually born and raised in St. Paul, just a short walk from the 2008 GOP Convention.
Which authors’ works were found in their homes?
Freedom to protest is one thing. Wanton vandalism is another.
Hang ‘em high.
Their parents must be so proud.
Does anyone have a few minutes to check this list of names against the list of hussein campaign contributors to see if they’ve given him money?
(can’t remember the website...)
K
BTTT My friend, who is a delegate, just called me to say that the Republican bus going back to the hotel is stopped. Up ahead are lots of police... Sounds like our home grown terrorists..er...anarchists again. Anyone have any info?
Just when you feel that security is under control, something like this happens. They need to look into this one.
Has anyone ever had a wooden nightstick shampoo from a Minneapolis cop? I think somebody’s gonna get one.
As someone deftly pointed out last week, these yahoos can’t even do anarchy well, they all dress alike, etc. A sorry bunch, for sure.
They stopped my car. There was a “rage against the machine” concert at the target center which is very close to where the vast majority of delegates are staying.
I saw about 1000 police on the street in riot gear while on my way to a party.
Nothing much happened, and the area cleared out, but there was a huge police presence.
Appreciate the update, staytrue. Glad you are OK!
Most of’em stop at stoplights, too. “Given over to deception” that they are unique and enlightened, but really puppets with a bad destination ahead.
Great. The world reeeeeeally needs more nekkid hippies. < /s>
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