I'm generally not one to start a politically-charged thread here, but this is scary as hell and is receiving very little media attention, and the only way it's going to change is if more people know about it.
Quote:
Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying.
See:
Massive police raids on suspected protesters in Minneapolis (Salon)
Federal government involved in raids on protesters (Salon)
Dozens Detained Ahead of Convention (New York Times)
When the hell did this kind of thing become okay in the United States of America??
Killface
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 3:33amAround the same time that "protest" began to equal "vandalism" and hooliganism.
http://volokh.com/posts/1220403488.shtml
Furiouso
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 4:42amCan't depend on the media anymore, sorry. And given the conduct of the Bush administration over the past 8 years, this is hardly news anyway, sad that it is. I don't remember anything like this happening at the Democratic National Convention. From quick Googling, there were about 150 arrests of protesters, but I didn't find any mention of homes raided.
Vasya
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 5:41amYeah, the Police are acting like fucking thugs:
http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/oh_oh_oh_im_on_fire
It's pretty maddening.
Fazil
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 5:49amAmy Goodman and two producers of Democracy Now! were also arrested for no good reason outside the RNC.
Here's the story and some nice video of it.
WhisBOOM
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 7:33amYeah. Apparently they can hold people for up to 36 hours without charging them, so, they just are.
Brambles Everroot
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 9:24amThis sucks
not sure what to say, feel bad for Republicans who were not part of this (and who would be against it) and very bad for those who had their freedoms ignored by these raids
Was this mentioned on the Daily show even? (I haven't been watching lately though)
Also thankfully the internet is still pretty free, as spreading information goes
although does anyone have a link to something from the Sheriff's/Federal side? or are they still not commenting?
hope we won't have to don Guy Fox(spelling?) masks in the future if this sort of thing continues
Furiouso
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 9:36amhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/in-st-paul-mayor-and-medi_b_123525.html
Also, please no one bring up Palin, I already have an unhealthy tabloid-like addiction to news about her and her family that I'm hoping to quit sorta cold-turkey. Just so wrong. Also McCain is not thinking right.
Brian
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:07amThis may be a side derailment from this horrible thing, but I don't really recall such actions being as aggressive before the Bush Administration . Am I mistaken?
Vasya
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:07amWay to bring up Palin by asking people not to bring up Palin.
Fap
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 12:21pmso, what's up with palin, amiright?
Timmeh
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 12:57pmHer daughter is cute <3 (is her daughter okay, or does that tie into the whole thing with not bringing her up?)
Qyn
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 1:04pmSpeaking of suppression.
Brambles Everroot
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 1:25pmI pity the fool who goes about banning books
Brambles Everroot
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 1:26pmwell not really... never mind
Qyn
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 1:28pmMISTA BEE!
Brambles Everroot
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 1:37pm?.?
Brambles Everroot
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 1:37pmoh oops XD
Demonskin
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 2:07pmBrian
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 2:26pmI really like how AT&T recently hosted a party basically exclusively for government officials as a thank you for helping them get out of the wire tapping scandal. Don't you love how suddenly all the media dropped information about it once the hearings actually came under way.
Ariwyn
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 2:38pmI was reading somewhere last night that they arrested a 70 year old nun as a protester.
Furiouso
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 3:21pmHer 17 year old pregnant daughter? GG abstinence-only education and cutting of support for teenage moms!
Timmeh
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 3:50pmShe's still cute :(
Also:
Ninety
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 5:09pmI propose we all boycott America. Seriously let's all just up and leave. We'll take everybody who has the will to oppose this nuttiness and up and leave. To Canada!
That'll show 'em!
(*says with tongue in cheek*)
Furiouso
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:23pmhttp://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/25/at_t_throws_party_to_support
Brambles Everroot
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:54amD:
I was hoping I could go to Greece and start a few orchards on a nice little island
Brambles Everroot
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:59amHrm...maybe we need a civil war where the ppl get to beat up on the Democrat and Republican entities until things start to change
punching intransitory things is FUN~!
Qyn
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 5:27pmI am 100% down with this. Let's do it.
Brambles Everroot
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:58pmwoot!
so...Olives, oranges, lemons
and we could have a local fish market too...and make some hiking paths through the mountains on the island...and rocky beaches are my pref to sandy ones...minus the sea urchins
and we'll have to discover an ancient amphitheater and have a touring play group perform there
Timmeh
Fri, 09/05/2008 - 11:45am[14:02] <RockManExe> 200,000 people voted in the gamefaqs characters battle where the L block won
[14:02] <RockManExe> 114,697 voted for Sarah Palin in the Alaska gubernatorial election
[14:02] <RockManExe> The L-Block has a wider base of support than Sarah Palin
Lycannon
Fri, 09/05/2008 - 4:49pmCan't forget the grapes. How 'bout that fine Amaranthian wine?
15
Fri, 09/05/2008 - 9:19pmYEAH FUCK THE GOVERNMENT.
FUCKING NARC COPS ANYWAY!
Demonskin
Fri, 09/05/2008 - 10:07pmYou tell 'em, Toast. XD
Brambles Everroot
Sat, 09/06/2008 - 9:42amSo I'm wondering if the World got to elect and/or vote for the US president (and didn't only consider foreign affairs), how could this possible scenario play out?
Fazil
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 7:54pmObama would get the majority of the EU and Africa, definitely. McCain would get Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Russia. Not too sure how the rest of the world would go.
Vasya
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 8:13pmI wonder if the Orthodox Christians of Russia would actually go for the Palin evangelicals.
Qyn
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 11:44pmVasya I saw a movie the other day with hardcore Russians in it. They were rugged. Ben Kingsley was the main Russian.
Good story.
No, really, it had a good story.
Fazil
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 1:23amOh, the PEOPLE of Russia get to vote? I thought it was just the corporations. :)
The McCain countries are based on the Republicans' seeming stance that we should remain dependent on oil and drill for more of it. Major oil exporters all.
Vasya
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 8:16amFirst of all, Chris, Ben Kingsley is Indian, everyone knows that.
Second of all, Fazil, not to be all tu quoque or anything, but goddamn, that corporations statement is funny.
Third of all, Brambles, looks like someone had that idea as well! Check it :).
http://www.thepollingbooth.org/
Brambles Everroot
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 10:08amHrm...after answering the ethnicity question..it kinda made me want the ability to change my ethnicity on a whim...it'd be entertaining (i guess the change would also alter the mind in its general knowledge/feeling that go along w/ the ethnicity)
Brian
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 10:56amWow Slovenia really loves Obama . Isn't that a relatively new country?
Vasya
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 11:15amIt was part of Yugoslavia until that broke up. So, sort of?
Brian
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 11:40amAhh okay . That makes a lot of sense since a large portion of Yugoslavians (they prefer to retain their heritage when i asked them) I grew up around in my fathers machine shop were die hard democrats .
Demonskin
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 11:52amThose wacky Yugoslavians.
Vasya
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 12:17pmWhatever will they think of next?
Fazil
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 5:09pmMeant it that way. I mean, if the people really had all the sway here, wouldn't we have clean transportation by now? :)
Vasya
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 5:13pmHaha yeah. Or any transportation.
Brambles Everroot
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 2:41pmO_O
"Hi Stephan,
You remember Molly's friends, Quakers, from Lexington VA, Morris and Amy and
their son, Russell (Nate's friend) and daughter (Willa's friend. Russell's
cousin was one of the arrests that was made (remember the link you sent?)
Jane"
"To Maury River Friends -
My nephew, Eryn T****, and his partner, Monica B****, were arrested in
Minneapolis on the Friday before the RNC convention.
Minneapolis is their home. The police busted down their door Friday night
while they were sleeping and arrested them. On Wednesday there were charged
with "Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism."
Eryn was not released until this past Saturday. Eryn and Monica have been
working with others for a year or so to organize peaceful protests at the
RNC. Their primary focus was to help with facilitation and coordination for
protesters from outside the area. Acts of civil disobedience were also
considered. When we spoke in early June he said he did not expect anything
they were doing would lead to his arrest.
I ask that you hold Eryn, Monica, and the others in the light.
If you have connections in the Minneapolis area that might be helpful,
especially legal connections, please let me know.
A few links with some info on the situation:
RNC in Twin Cities: Eight protesters charged with terrorism under Patriot
Act - http://www.inteldaily.com/?c=144&a=8136
http://rnc8.org/
Thank you,
M"
so my friend's friend's cousin was there :(
Qyn
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 3:28pmO_O
Fazil
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 6:48pmfucking patriot act. H8.
Vasya
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 11:23pmAre you fucking kidding me. This is some fucking bullshit. I'm gonna see if I can scrounge up any connections up there.
Timmeh
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 11:39pmI am suddenly really glad my friend didn't go with his dad.
Brambles Everroot
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 7:31amwow, tvm!
I really hope people are not tired as terrorists (although if there is a jury hopefully they will just /facepalm when they realize how ridiculous this is. I hope our next president gets the clue as what to do, and not make horrendous mistakes like this.
Killface
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 8:24amDon't forget to thank the 2001 Republican-led Congress, who signed the PATRIOT ACT without even reading it.
And the Democratic-led Congress of 2006 who renewed it, and even extended some of the provisions.
Don't expect an Obama presidency to give back any of the "new" executive powers gained by the Bush administration, and certainly don't expect anything different under McCain.
Unfortunately, our best hopes for restoring our lost freedoms does reside in the judiciary, through appeals and precedent, and by jury nullification. Sadly, appeals take time, and the average jury doesn't have the stones to nullify in even the most egregious of cases.
Furiouso
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 7:44pmWell things are assuredly only going to get worse under McCain and Palin, who looks more and more like Bush v.2 except worse in every way. Obama seems a bit more measured, so perhaps we'll at least start heading back in the right direction instead of driving the country off a cliff.
15
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 9:30pmI'm voting for Obama, no question about it. For me, it's because for as long as I have been 'politically aware,' we've had a republican in office....one I even voted for when I was 18 because I grew up in a conservative household. Pretty simple and yeah, maybe a little naive.
That said, I wish people would stop talking about McCain being "8 more years of the same." McCain has spent the majority of the last 8 years disagreeing with Bush's policies on all but the most public of issues. He's against Guantanamo, has admitted publicly that shitty intelligence got us into war, and at least acknowledges that global warming does in fact, exist. Palin is a different story, but really. McCain != Bush.
Timmeh
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 9:58pmI think I'd put it on a spectrum.
Bush <--------------> Obama
McCain: ^
Furiouso
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 11:53pmWith all the selling out he's done they may very well be the same. McCain started farming out the idea that Iraq could have been involved in 9/11 like on 9/12, is now supporting the Bush tax cuts, isn't even supporting his own "mavericky" immigration policies... The list goes on, this guy has even hired the same person who smeared him in 2000 with the racist push polling in South Carolina. I'll agree his style of governance will be less savvy and conniving than Bush's but no less scary with the sabre rattling towards Russia. Palin though is a piece of work everyone should be very scared of.
Demonskin
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 1:09amI used to think McCain was somewhat alright, for a Republican. (At least he was actually trying to work proactively with our man Feingold, who's probably the most admirable person in politics I've seen in my lifetime.) Unfortunately in the last year McCain has managed to obliterate what vestiges of integrity he once displayed, in his weaselly pursuit of the oval office.
Timmeh
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 9:06amMike
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 11:27pmWhat is it with Americans and electing war heroes to the presidency? How many have we had so far now? If you guys elect another grey and wrinkly old man to the presidency I will go crazy. Though I do find it rather amusing that McCain has some young woman as his VP.
Brambles Everroot
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 1:11pm>.>
I have yet to vote for a war hero...and have yet to vote-but probably not for a war hero
Qyn
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 1:21pmXD
Timmeh
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 11:02pmWhile we're here, let's talk about the ripple effect in economy.
Brambles Everroot
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 9:07ami kinda laughed at this too:
MARKET DATA - 17:00 UK
FTSE 100
5023.10down
-181.10 -3.48%
Dax
5965.17down
-98.99 -1.63%
Cac 40
4087.40down
-81.57 -1.96%
Dow Jones
10880.55down
-36.96 -0.34%
Nasdaq
2172.72down
-7.19 -0.33%
BBC Global 30
5336.42up
14.09 0.26%
BBC going up (perhaps more success due to the crisis?) while the others listed fall
Brambles Everroot
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 9:16amHrm that also reminds me...since at college i've been missing the Daily Show & Colbert Report (anything interesting happening recently?)
Brian
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 9:30amYou can watch it daily on hulu.com
Brambles Everroot
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 9:54amah cool, i'll have to check that out (and DL hulu, right?)
Vasya
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 10:39amNo need to download anything. Just watch it on hulu. That's where I watch it too.
Brambles Everroot
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 10:43amk
Qyn
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 11:21amWELCOME... TO ZOMBO COM.
Brambles Everroot
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 11:53amQQ...it isn't on a loop