http://rnc08report.org/archive/text/index.shtml This website exists to provide a citizen's archive of media reports, government documents, and other resources relating to the 2008 RNC. The source material posted on this website will ultimately used to compile a truly independent, publicly available, citizen's report on what happened during the 2008 RNC. Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:54:40 PST en-us http://rnc08report.org/archive/322.shtml Text At times, they laugh at how ridiculous it seems. But Monica Bicking and Garrett Fitzgerald weren't laughing when police broke down the door of their South Minneapolis house before 8 a.m. Aug. 30, stormed inside and pointed guns in their faces. "I was woken up out of a deep sleep to screaming and banging," Bicking said. "It's scary." Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:30:59 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/322.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/333.shtml Text Seven Minnesota companies gave a million dollars or more to help stage the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities last month. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:18:01 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/333.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/319.shtml Text Reporters Without Borders has learned that a prison term is not being sought for freelance photographer Jason Nicholas. His lawyer, Wylie Stecklow, stated yesterday: "While the Department of Parole was seeking 12 months incarceration, all of the letters submitted in support of Jason and the testimonies of the rehabilitation that Jason has made, swayed the Court to recommend revoke and restore." Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:52:38 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/319.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/325.shtml Text Before the big taxpayer bailout, financial firms wrote large checks to help stage the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, a report revealed Thursday. Insurance giant AIG donated $750,000 to help host the convention, a gathering held only weeks before the firm needed an emergency $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:51:39 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/325.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/326.shtml Text Insurance giant AIG donated $750,000 to help host the 2008 Republican National Convention, a gathering held only weeks before the firm needed an emergency $85 billion bailout from the Federal Reserve. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac donated $250,000 to the RNC, according to newly released financial filings. One week after the convention, taxpayers essentially took over the firm, in order to prevent a financial calamity. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:58:39 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/326.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/298.shtml Text Reporters Without Borders is asking for the judge to show clemency for journalist Jason Nicholas, independent photographer for the New York Post, currently in jail in Rikers Island, NY for parole violation. Jason Nicholas is scheduled for another parole hearing in front of an administrative judge on October 15th. He was one of over 40 journalists arrested while covering the Republican National Convention on September 1st. While most charges against other journalists in St.Paul have been dropped, Mr. Nicholas has not yet been cleared of obstruction to the legal process. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:39:46 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/298.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/324.shtml Text A Washington state man pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree criminal damage to property, becoming the first felony conviction stemming from protest activities related to the Republican National Convention. Joseph Matthew Robinson, 26, admitted in court that he had slashed the tires on an AirBear charter bus for convention delegates at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel at 411 Minnesota St. in downtown St. Paul, the Ramsey County attorney's office said. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:48:41 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/324.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/327.shtml Text A judge will talk with attorneys today about consolidating cases of the eight co-defendants charged with conspiracy to commit riot in furtherance of terrorism during the Republican National Convention. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:11:56 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/327.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/294.shtml Text Six members of the so-called RNC 8 were in court today at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center. The defendants were scheduled for probable cause hearings to determine if there is sufficient evidence to back up the charges that they are facing. But attorneys for the group successfully argued that the hearing should be postponed so that they can have more time to obtain and examine the evidence against their clients. The six defendants are now slated to appear back in court on November 10. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:57:48 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/294.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/334.shtml Text An attorney for St. Paul activist Mike Whalen, whose duplex was raided by police two days before the Republican National Convention, served notice on Mayor Chris Coleman and the city Friday that they intend to file a federal lawsuit. Attorney Ted Dooley said at a news conference Friday that the suit will ask for damages of $250,000. He said claims made in the police search warrant affidavits were "absolutely preposterous." Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:22:36 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/334.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/323.shtml Text The owner of a St. Paul duplex raided by police two days before the start of the Republican National Convention has given notice he will sue the city in federal court. Michael Whalen, 60, claims police came to his property at 949/951 Iglehart Ave. on Aug. 30 and surrounded its occupants, weapons drawn. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:45:28 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/323.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/197.shtml Text They pretended to throw firebombs at cars and buildings. Met in training camps to talk about guerrilla warfare, kidnapping and bomb-making. Drew up maps detailing possible targets. The eight people arrested ahead of the Republican National Convention say they were just exercising their protest rights. But each faces a felony charge accusing them of advancing terrorism, raising questions about who qualifies as a "terrorist" under state law. Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:33:30 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/197.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/196.shtml Text A charge of second-degree assault has been dismissed against a man who had been accused of throwing a 50-pound bag of sand off John Ireland Bridge and onto Interstate 94 in St. Paul on the first day of the Republican National Convention. Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:30:55 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/196.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/195.shtml Text Over the past month, both Sheriff Bob Fletcher and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman referred to “guns and bombs” that “anarchists” brought to the RNC. The massive local, state and federal security presence is credited by both men with saving the city of St. Paul from the people with guns and bombs. But who were these people and how many guns and bombs did they bring? Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:27:57 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/195.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/328.shtml Text After weeks of speculation about missing search warrants for an RNC-related raid on a St. Paul house, the documents finally turned up. So how did they disappear? Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:14:53 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/328.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/200.shtml Text Katherine Kersten, in her Sept. 28 column, "RNC anarchists had friends in 'peaceful' protest groups" (Sept. 28), takes false information and reports it as fact. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:45:06 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/200.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/199.shtml Text Two former federal prosecutors got the go-ahead from the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday to begin their investigation into security during the Republican National Convention. Tom Heffelfinger, former U.S. attorney, and Andy Luger, former assistant U.S. attorney, laid out their plans for the review and answered questions from council members for more than an hour. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:39:57 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/199.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/198.shtml Text Last week, I mentioned the suspected Irish dance instructor, Mike Whalen, who has flung his arms around nearly every woman in St. Paul. What I failed to mention was that I have seen him in action on dozens of occasions, including my wedding reception, where the fiendish Arthur Murray of Irish set dancing twirled the ladies around the University Club ballroom as if there was no tomorrow. Until the beer ran out, anyway. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:36:01 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/198.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/329.shtml Text A commission that will review how police interacted with the public during the Republican National Convention will be "independent," its co-chairs vowed Wednesday night. "Once you engage us, no one can tell us where to go, where not to go, what to write, what not to write," former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger told the St. Paul City Council. "No one will edit (our) report. If we find wrongdoing, we will report it." Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:18:40 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/329.shtml http://rnc08report.org/archive/96.shtml Text Issues drama at its patchiest, "Battle in Seattle" takes the 1999 street siege protesting the World Trade Organization conference as the jumping-off point for a simplistic diatribe. .. The scenes of conflict carry a certain local resonance after the recent arrests surrounding the RC, but the film's ambitions exceed director Stuart Townsend's grasp. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:13:22 PST http://rnc08report.org/archive/96.shtml