Minneapolis council members call for investigation of RNC policing
Friday, September 05, 2008 at 4:05 pm
- 6 Comments
Minneapolis City Council Members Gary Schiff and Cam Gordon issued a call this afternoon for an independent investigation of police actions during the Republican National Convention (RNC). Read their full statement below the jump.
Today’s call follows two earlier statements on RNC policing from city council corridors in Minneapolis and St. Paul. On Tuesday, Gordon and City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden decried police intimidation that chills free speech and called on authorities to provide a safe space for political expression. (Gordon also blogged on the topic that day, emphasizing press freedoms, as he did after last week’s raids.)
On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council said in a one-page statement that charges of law enforcement overreaction had been taken out of context, but also promised that “all of this week’s actions will be thoroughly reviewed.”
Gordon and Schiff’s statement is reprinted below.
9-5-08
Minneapolis Council Members Cam Gordon and Gary Schiff Call for Independent Investigation of RNC-Related Law Enforcement Actions
Throughout the Republican National Convention we have seen and heard a number of disturbing reports of actions taken by law enforcement, including the Minneapolis Police Department personnel, against journalists, observers, medics, bystanders, people engaged in peaceful protest and others.
We have also heard stories of patience and flexibility on the part of many law enforcement personnel. We thank and commend law enforcement for the service they provide and the many instances in the past few days where police as well as protesters have shown restraint and the ability to engage in healthy civic protest without incident.
Now that the convention is over, we join others calling for an independent, blue ribbon panel to conduct a thorough investigation into the events, decisions and policies surrounding security issues and the RNC, hold hearings and make recommendations for future policy changes.
The recent reports of law enforcement targeting observers and reporters, engaging in preemptive raids and questionable uses of force show a troubling pattern that is not consistent with our hopes for showing the world how our Cities respect the right to civic debate and are committed to preserving free speech during the 2008 Republican National Convention.
We believe that the health of our democracy depends [on] the ability of a free press to function and understand how our government’s actions encouraged or discouraged people to participate in political speech. While violence and property damage by protesters or others should not be tolerated we also know that safety should not be used [as] an excuse to limit a free press or stifle free speech.
Cam Gordon
Council Member, Second Ward
Gary Schiff
Council Member, Ninth Ward
6 Comments
Comment posted September 6, 2008 @ 2:16 am
I was at the RNC, and I want to thank the police for their GREAT work. I thought they did a outstanding job. Council Members you can't believe all the propaganda you hear and read. Why don't you keep your mouth shut until the real stories are told of how those criminals acted. Next time I will make sure to vote for a Council Member that will support the fine Men and Women that protect me.
Comment posted September 6, 2008 @ 10:56 am
Jeff, you were “at” the RNC? As a delegate or in the protests? What I saw in the streets, both on the protester side and the law enforcement side, should give anyone, regardless of political allegiances, reason for concern. And before you call reports of police overreach “propaganda,” maybe you should heed your own advice. We've had enough people this last week trying to shut the mouths of others.
Comment posted September 7, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Jeff, you're nuts. Have you seen the number of KIDS arrested? The injuries the police inflicted on them? How parents were cut-off from their kids when they blockaded the downtown St.Paul bridges?
Get real…
Comment posted September 7, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
Thank you Cam and Gary…everyone, call your council member to show your support for this investigation! The same needs to happen in St. Paul
Comment posted November 7, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
I was arrested at the RNC protest 2008.
Their reason was that “I looked like a guy they wanted” and I ended up in Ramsey county jail for nearly 48 hours. The charges were never pressed and I was let out. They should have never arrested me in the first place, because they knew from the start they were WRONG.
I even saw the photos of who I was being compared to, clearly I did not match the photos. It was all a big show. It must have cost them thousands just to make this one arrest, and they were wrong. Not only were they wrong, but it’s possible the arrest was ILLEGAL from the get-go.
Thankfully I wasn’t beaten down like many other free-speech supporters. I’m not talking about the rioters, I’m talking about the people there to voice their opinion in a peaceful manner.
Oh and about the bicycles…any property such as backpacks, bikes, wallets, were all held in the property storage, which took a whole week just to get our property back! All for being innocent and thrown in a concrete slammer for 2 days. Not so fun sitting around in an orange jumpsuit (without underwear!) wondering if they would REALLY press the false charges…now THAT’S scary. Then they let you out…what a relief, then you get back in your clothes and call for a ride. What a wonderful vacation, eating grape jelly on white bread and crappy Kool-Aid!
Mmm, what a wonderful visit it was! All for being mistaken for somebody else, despite the clear differences! What a bunch of Dumb Clowns, running around making a big show…
Oh and might I mention, I’m a successful young small-business man. Being falsely arrested completely wrecks a person’s weekend and important events. What a way to treat an upstanding citizen. What a bunch of gooney liars our government is. I own and operate 2 businesses full time, and going to jail over the weekend certainly doesn’t help.
So please do not stereo-type the protesters as, “criminals” because some of us are highly successful entrepreneurs, students, organizers, writers, speakers, etc. Jeff, take your own advice and “keep your mouth shut until the real stories are told.” Obviously you’re making an assumption.
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