One Year Later - Call-in to Susan Gaertner September 1st

[annm4peace]

One Year Later, Keep up the Pressure: Call-in Sept. 1 and Visit Gaertner at the State Fair
by Webmaster ~ August 24th, 2009. Filed under: Events, News.
One Year Later - Call-in to Susan Gaertner September 1st
651-266-3222 | Fax: [phone] | [e-mail]

On September 1, 2008, thousands took to the streets of St. Paul to challenge the Republican National Convention. One year later, the RNC 8 are still facing serious legal repercussions because of their organizing. Authorities typically charge a few activists who take to the streets - this time, they went after the people who fed and housed protesters in the days before.

We are asking people across the country to take a few minutes on Tuesday, September 1 - the one-year anniversary of the RNC resistance - to contact Ramsey County Attorney (and aspiring Democratic candidate for Governor) Susan Gaertner and tell her to DROP THE CHARGES! It’s been a full year of dragging community members through the mud, wasted taxpayer dollars, and embarrassment for Susan’s campaign. Enough is enough!

Tuesday Sept. 1 2009
Contact Susan Gaertner:
County Attorney’s Office: 651-266-3222 | Fax: [phone] | [e-mail]
Campaign Office: 651-645-2010 | [e-mail]
Let us know if you made a call or email by contacting us at [e-mail]

on the interwebz:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15561103028 | http://www.facebook.com/susangaertner
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangaertner2010
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SusanGaertner

Were you at the RNC? Wondering WTF this is still going on? Make a call. Last year Sheriff Bob Fletcher had Susan’s phone ringing off the hook… now it’s our turn.

Susan at the State Fair–Stop by and say hi!
“It’s a Minnesota Thing,” or so the half-baked marketing slogan goes. The Minnesota State Fair is perhaps the biggest event in Minnesota every summer, and Susan Gaertner isn’t missing out. We aren’t either!
Below is Susan’s State Fair Schedule. We invite you to show up to her booth and tell her whether you think prosecuting activists is “a Minnesota thing.”

Thursday 8/27, 1-5 PM at the Education Building, Minnesota County Attorney’s Association booth
Saturday 8/29, 1-2 PM at the Minnesota Farmer’s Union booth, near the DFL booth
Thursday 9/3, 3-4 PM at the DFL booth
For info on getting to the fair (adjacent to the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus), admission prices, and a fairgrounds map, visit: http://mnstatefair.org. We might see you there - look for the RNC 8 t-shirts!
* * * * * * * * *
(P.S. We’ve raised more money than Susan’s campaign for Governor; now help us get more Twitter followers than her, too! Sign up for our feed at http://twitter.com/defendthernc8)

[Scruffy1]

1. Got any ideas?

I think we need to embarrass this asshole in public.

[annm4peace]

2. I hope people remember to call in

As well as calling Gaertner's office, call both Mayors. it was the Bill Rights that was under attack leading up to and during the RNC. Even today I ran into a couple people who worked on Rybak, and Ellison's campaign.. and they just can't stomach working on DFL campaigns anymore because the local progressives have not condemned what the city and law-enforcement did.. nor the fact that Gaertner is still prosecuting and adding more charges.

There are Veterans, one a Korean Vet who a was arrested and who's trial is about ready to start.
Teachers, clergy, and even a Republican delegate was arrested.

[annm4peace]

3. Last year Aug 31st 2009 I still have not forgotten

I stood with National Vets for Peace members listening to Red Wing chapter's President Dr. David Harris introduce one speak after another on the capital steps. The day before the start of the RNC. Behind the stage were many National Iraq (and Afghan)Veterans Against the WAR. some had just come home in the past year. Very emotional, unable to stay with us in the crowd.. some stood and Some sat together behind the stage, .. some crying, some cussing, some laughing at the Military Helicopters circled us over head.. drowning out the speakers. We could see the armed soldiers holding guns in the doorways. on the grass to the side of the stage where soldiers boots lined in rows.. each pair represented a soldier from MN who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.. and the name, date of death, age, and hometown. Lines of cops in Pre-riot gear stood at the back and to the side of the crowd.

I was in an orange jumpsuit as were about 30 of us.. representing those who were kidnapped and sent to Guantanamo to be held and tortured. about 100 held cardboard headstones with names of troops, journalists, and innocent civilians killed in Iraq/Afghanistan. I actually had a placard with the name of a female doctor would was kidnapped, tortured and held in an unknown location until her trial started in NY 3 years after her kidnapping.. and then she was send to TX.
Her children were picked up with her, one was born in the US so is a US citizen. He taken back and left with a person in Afghanistan. the other young child no one seems to know about. I stood for her. and for the other women in Iraq and Afghanistan who were kidnapped, raped and tortured by US soldiers/contractors/etc.

When I stood on stage in that orange jumpsuit, I kept my hood on and said her name. I took off the hood and said I was Monica Bicking, being held with others in the St. Paul jail. My house had been raided illegally by a Sheriff from sT. paul, although I lived in Minneapolis. And that not ONE! Not one Progressive democrat had tried to help me or the others who were organizers for those coming to protest. I was being held for those 5 days and charged with conspiracy to riot and terrorism.
I, Monica Bicking, who organized the 1st "eyes wide open" who had worked for a non-violent organization, was accused of terrorism.

The armed Helicopters again circled us and drown out our speeches.

Fuck you Mayor Rybak, Fuck you Mayor Coleman Fuck you Amy Klobuchar Fuck you Keith Ellison
Fuck you Betty McCollum Fuck you City Council of Minneapolis, and of St. Paul

You do not work for Democracy You do not work for the People
You did not protect our Bill of Rights and YOU DID NOT PROTECT the citizens of the Twin Cities

As I said that day. You should be here with us. Some of you marched with us in previous antiwar marches and rallies. The days you should have stood with us you abandoned us. We abandon you.