Although this isn’t music related news, it’s important enough for me to post up here. This summer, a bunch of people called the RNC Welcoming Committee got together for a few months (years, actually) to plan ways to disrupt the RNC Convention ‘08 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Before and during the protests, organizers were harassed non-stop, beginning with a police raid on a convergence space which was hosting a free food sharing (via Food Not Bombs) and film screening, but ended up with parents, children, and tons of others lying on the pavement in plastic handcuffs for no reason. After the St. Paul police admitted during day one of the conventions that they had “lost control” of the city due to the well-planned mayhem of autonomous anarchists and organized protest efforts, eight members of this RNC Welcoming Committee which helped facilitate the planning for such disruptions were arrested and charged with “conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism,” a charge put in place by Minnesota’s (you guessed it!) PATRIOT Act. Now, after months of politicking the main prosecutor (who is not coincidentally running for governor as well) has decided to drop the terrorism charges completely! Yay!

Unfortunately two charges of conspiracy still remain, proving that in this country organizing dissent is considered a crime. Solidarity with RNC 8 and all political prisoners!

Full story here

For more info on the organizers, the case, and how you can help: Defend the RNC 8