Comments on: City Council DOESN’T call for investigation of Minneapolis police over RNC

By: Thomas Good

Thomas Good — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:51:01 +0000

It’s fascinating for this New Yorker to watch this unfold. The entire chain of events was likely scripted months before the fact, if not years before the fact. The “Miami Model” (and its Philly Precursor where state troopers posed as “anarchists”) was applied to NYC in ’04 and to MPLS/St Paul in ’08. The clearly illegal assaults on the first and fourth amendments that transpired before and during the RNC were effected in the light of day because those involved know that once the RNC is over and the charges dismissed most of the victims will move on. The police will review their own conduct and find nothing disconcerting. Rybak and Coleman will break their arms patting themselves and everyone else on the back. A “Success Report” indeed.

There may well be lawsuits but St. Paul has a $10 million Republican Host Committee nest egg so they are essentially indemnified…not sure how this applies to MPLS…but the City Council whitewash is one more nail in the coffin of a real review of alleged police misconduct. It would appear that the City Council is doing a bit of CYA as well – aren’t these folks the very same individuals who approved the police plan to restrict free speech (city council meeting on 6/6)?

What is most disturbing in the events of September 2008 is the level of violence and brutality directed at citizens and journalists. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement to prevent videographers from documenting their methods enough video did survive to show the indiscriminate arrests and abuse of chemical weaponry and tasers – as well as the NLG press conference where arrestees displayed wounds they claim were the result of beatings they received while being held in the Ramsey County Jail.

Although NYC had 1800 arrests (I was one) we did not see this level of violence and brutality on the part of the NYPD – once I was in jail several different officers actually thanked me for protesting (they were quite sincere). There were some incidents on the streets but it did not appear to be a policy decision to use excessive force.

As an observer from afar I am hoping the people of the Twin Cities will demand accountability from their elected officials. In NYC we have a billionaire mayor who was a Republican during the RNC (he proved to be opportunistically ambidextrous later). He made his trademark smug comments (“jail is not supposed to be Club Med” etc) and doubtless ordered police to do things that violated our civil rights but he seems to have exercised more restraint than Rybak and Coleman. And aren’t these two both alleged to be “progressives”?

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:03:38 +0000

I guess this just shows how out of touch with the community that the council continues to be on this topic. They’re congratulating themselves on what they consider a job well done while the MPD refuses to answer any questions that are put to them. The general feeling downtown is that the police are not your friends and that they will do what they want, to whoever they want, with no consequences. The public images of the MPD and HCSD took huge beatings over the convention and it seems no one in office has noticed. People who demand answers and try to talk through this are just called trouble makers who want to cause a stink over nothing. In my mind, Constitutional Rights are the highest of the high and when there is a question of their enforcement, it HAS to be looked into my independant parties. So great, the police are investigating the police. Wonder what the report will say?

By: Colin

Colin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:18:09 +0000

Councilmember Ostrow says the headline was going to be: “City council calls for investigation of Minneapolis Police Department.” Just for that, I would’ve hoped someone would take the hint to make the headline: “Ostrow calls for Police Coverup”. After all, it’s entirely accurate that he dismissed the need to practice any of the oversight duties he was supposedly elected for. I would’ve guessed Councilmembers didn’t need to take a vote to be allowed to ask questions of their police chief, since he answers to them.

Schiff’s jabs about changing the report title to “success report” were truly priceless. You can’t make this stuff up!

By: Eric Ferguson

Eric Ferguson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:35:42 +0000

What Schiff and Gordon asked for was eminently reasonable. In fact, what they tried to add is the core of what needs to be done. I am very disappointed in the mayor and city council response. It seems the St. Paul city government is doing no better.

By: Golden_Valley

Golden_Valley — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:02:06 +0000

It was like a baptism into the New World Order, the way the peoples rights were trounced upon by the military-police was terrible.

The 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The constitutional right of peaceful assembly means that people can gather in public to discuss their opinions about government or other concerns. This right of assemble also guarantees the right of association in groups, such as political parties, labor unions, and business organizations.

The right of petition means that individuals, acting alone or as part of a group, can freely send written criticisms or complaints to government officials. The right of petition also provides freedom to circulate documents for people to sign in order to demonstrate mass support for complaints against the government.

By: daddysteve

daddysteve — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:30:38 +0000

I think the pre-emptive strikes against “potential” protesters was way out of line and made Minnesota look pretty third world in nature. Of all the crap that’s gone on this year, that made me the most alarmed and angry. It surprised even me as to how pissed I became. Much more of that garbage and this republican is going to be willing to take to the barricades.