Beginning Saturday, Aug. 30, Minneapolis and St. Paul area police and sheriff departments began systematic repression of people believed to be planning actions during the Republican National Convention.
Five police raids Saturday included private homes, the RNC Welcoming Committee convergence space and the Food Not Bombs house. In all of these raids, improper, illegal and overzealous police procedures were reported. The Minnesota Independent reported that six activists were arrested and several hundred others were detained. During the raids, police shackled occupants with plastic handcuffs, forced them to lie face down on the floor, conducted extensive searches and confiscated items. Some report that children and elderly persons were among those detained at some locations.
Bruce Nestor, chapter president of the Minnesota National Lawyers Guild stated, "Police seized political literature, cellphones, computers, cameras, personal diaries, and many common household items such as paint, rope, and roofing nails. These items are present in almost any home in south Minneapolis and are not evidence of a crime. Seizing boxes of political literature shows the motive of these raids was political. Sheriff Fletcher has staged a publicity stunt, violated constitutional rights, and misrepresented what was seized during the raids." Link to source post.
Five police raids Saturday included private homes, the RNC Welcoming Committee convergence space and the Food Not Bombs house. In all of these raids, improper, illegal and overzealous police procedures were reported. The Minnesota Independent reported that six activists were arrested and several hundred others were detained. During the raids, police shackled occupants with plastic handcuffs, forced them to lie face down on the floor, conducted extensive searches and confiscated items. Some report that children and elderly persons were among those detained at some locations.
Bruce Nestor, chapter president of the Minnesota National Lawyers Guild stated, "Police seized political literature, cellphones, computers, cameras, personal diaries, and many common household items such as paint, rope, and roofing nails. These items are present in almost any home in south Minneapolis and are not evidence of a crime. Seizing boxes of political literature shows the motive of these raids was political. Sheriff Fletcher has staged a publicity stunt, violated constitutional rights, and misrepresented what was seized during the raids." Link to source post.
According to the MinnPost, Minneapolis council member, Gary Schiff, issued this statement about the raids, which were conducted within his ward."I'm disappointed, to say the least," Schiff said. "Targeting political organizers in a pre-emptive strike is a tactic from the '60s. This country is better than that."
Several police vehicles parked outside of the Seed of Peace kitchen, which is providing free meals to those involved in RNC actions, causing those inside to think a raid was imminent. There are also reports of law enforcement conducting questionable traffic stops and vehicle searches and interfering with independent journalists covering the RNC actions.
Click here to view a video reaction by a few of those detained.
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