Interesting This American Life about RNC protests in St. Paul and FBI

[Muttocracy]

Just caught it on the car radio. Audio should be up later, or I know it replays different times during the week.

http://thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=381

381: Turncoat

A well-known activist—an anarchic, revolutionary activist—is accused of spying on other activists for the FBI. The strangest thing about the rumor is, it's true. How Brandon Darby transformed from cop-hater to federal witness. Plus, a story by Etgar Keret, about a boy who betrays his people with a pair of shoes.

[X_Digger]

1. My wife and I listen every week..

..though we laugh sometimes and call it 'This american suicide' or 'This gay life' when it gets too drama-ey. (Seemed like there for six weeks it was all about being gay and / or committing suicide.)

Wonder if the Showtime show was canceled.

[Muttocracy]

2. I think I get your point

but many could take offense at that, esp. given the suicide rate among young gay people, and the gay=overwrought drama stereotype.

[X_Digger]

3. No, we love the show..

.. just wish it weren't so damned depressing sometimes. We actually got to meet Ira a couple of years ago as members of the local NPR affiliate. Someone else in the meet'n'greet audience commented on the dark topics and he mentioned that he'd went through some personal issues that kind of bled over into the show.

eta: That piece on the FBI informant was compelling. On the one hand, he was trying to covertly convince the kid to not go through with the violence, but the kid took it as a challenge.

[readmoreoften]

4. Brandon Darby was never a "revolutionary activist", he was an unstable loudmouth

opportunist, disliked by many, who was either always a provocateur or always just acted like one. He is the absolute scum of the earth. He, a 30+ year old man, basically encouraged and entrapped two young men and opened the doors for police to assault and, in some cases, torture protesters for preparing blockades and such. He is the scum of the earth. Total scum. Nothing less. A disgusting opportunist. He sickens me worse than any Republican ever could. At least they're open about who they are.

[Muttocracy]

8. you should write to TAL

I haven't listened to the whole thing yet (just caught part of it on the car radio and the archive wasn't up yet last night) but I figured DUers would be interested.

[annm4peace]

5. He helped entrap 2 young naive men who now face 2, and 4 years in Prison

It is sickening. He is sickening. http://rnc08report.org/archive/987.shtml

After informant Brandon Darby's divisive, shadowy role in post-Katrina relief work was revealed during the McKay trial, the FBI has pushed back with media spin of its own to push a narrative of the AK-47-toting<13> Darby as an 'alarmed activist' rushing to volunteer to defend 'public safety'. NPR's "This American Life" is slated to run a story on Darby—called "Turncoat"—this Saturday and Sunday. We will see if public radio gets in line with other media outlets, to sell Darby's story while overlooking the nationwide informant program and the threat it represents to political and philosophical freedom.

Sadly, the railroading of David McKay and Bradley Crowder represents just one more chapter to be added to the ongoing history book telling of dubious government tactics used to discredit dissent. CRASS, the Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure<14>, and its community allies, will continue to expose the government's spin agenda against all RNC defendants, and support lawsuits seeking justice in the aftermath of the mass abuse of Constitutional rights at the Republican National Convention.

Contact: Melissa Hill 612-250-7178, [e-mail]
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Educate yourself and watch this very telling and disturbing of what is was like just before and during the RNC in the twin cities. Several independent film makers put together footage from videos, and pictures during the RNC and added in great interviews. It should be played around the country.

http://www.terrorizingdissent.org/ it is free to watch and you can down load from the computer.

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Help the spread the word and support the 2 young adults entrapped by FBI.
http://www.freethetexas2.com/

[Raksha]

6. Very interesting - thank you for posting this.

My daughter Rebecca (aka Riyana) and her boyfriend Jason were among the 818 people arrested at the RNC in the Twin Cities. Jason was also tasered multiple times for allegedly "resisting arrest" (he wasn't) and badly hurt. It may show that in the video--I'm going to down load it and watch it. I knew their group was committed to nonviolence, and I've suspected provocateur activity and entrapment all along. I had no idea there was a nationwide FBI informant network until I read the article, but it doesn't surprise me.

[annm4peace]

7. There is a guy getting tasered 6x is in this video, and it is very sad to watch

I don't know if that is your Jason but it is horrific, that and the use of horses to "grab" people.
It is somewhat medival looking.

I'm in my parents who are in their 60's had to stop the video 3 times to ask questions and take a breather from seeing the law enforcement go way overboard.

There was a puppet investigation, but other than that no real independent investigation to this day of law-enforcement.

And so many innocent people having to suffer from the illogical justice system. We have so many young poor people having to stay in the twin cities for months and months awaiting their trials. Partly from the prosecution using the courts for manipulation and partly cause they don't have the funds to repeatedly go home. CRASS tries to take care of them but how do you help severe homesickness and depression from your own government attacking you?

[Muttocracy]

9. Thanks for that post - TAL is produced by PRI, not NPR

so I'd say write directly to TAL and PRI. I wonder if Amy Goodman might get through to Ira Glass.