We the undersigned call for the dismissal of the charge of "Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism," which you have filed against the RNC 8, activists involved in organizing protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention. This use of a conspiracy charge seeks to punish political speech and thought. Labeling these members of our community as "terrorists" sets a dangerous national precedent for persecuting political activists, threatens political dissent, and greatly distorts the concepts of violence and terrorism. We demand the dismissal of these charges and condemn the use of police state tactics of infiltration, surveillance, and militarization of our streets and community to suppress demonstrations and dissent.
We the undersigned call for the dismissal of the charge of "Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism," which you have filed against the RNC 8, activists involved in organizing protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention. This use of a conspiracy charge seeks to punish political speech and thought. Labeling these members of our community as "terrorists" sets a dangerous national precedent for persecuting political activists, threatens political dissent, and greatly distorts the concepts of violence and terrorism. We demand the dismissal of these charges and condemn the use of police state tactics of infiltration, surveillance, and militarization of our streets and community to suppress demonstrations and dissent.
We the undersigned call for the dismissal of the charge of "Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism," which you have filed against the RNC 8, activists involved in organizing protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention. This use of a conspiracy charge seeks to punish political speech and thought. Labeling these members of our community as "terrorists" sets a dangerous national precedent for persecuting political activists, threatens political dissent, and greatly distorts the concepts of violence and terrorism. We demand the dismissal of these charges and condemn the use of police state tactics of infiltration, surveillance, and
We signed the "Defend The RNC8! Dismiss the Charges!" petition!
# 2,774:
10:15 am PDT, Jul 28,Liz Anderson (the rev.), Illinois
i've know nathanael since he was a wee kid and i've never been prouder. i only just found out about the rnc 8 and your cause. i'll be spreading the word to as many of my bleeding heart liberal/socialist/Episcopal friends as i can. you guys are now officially on my church's prayer list. may god bless you and your colleagues in your struggle for freedom and justice.
# 2,773:
12:20 am PDT, Jul 28,Kristi Otto, Wisconsin
# 2,772:
7:05 pm PDT, Jul 25,Amy Lauren, Florida
ter⋅ror⋅ism
–noun
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.
This is the definition of the word "terrorism."
Given that, is it too outrageous to ask the question "Who is the GENUINE terrorist in this case?" Because I for one, can find each one of these definitions reflecting the charges and accusations against the RNC8.
DROP THE CHARGES!
# 2,771:
3:46 pm PDT, Jul 24,Kaylee Senior, California
# 2,770:
11:27 am PDT, Jul 24,Mikael Rudolph, Minnesota
If dissent is illegal, democracy in America is dead. If simply organizing for dissenting activism is illegal, America herself is dead.
# 2,769:
6:54 pm PDT, Jul 22,Daniel Tilton, Washington
# 2,768:
4:38 pm PDT, Jul 19,Name not displayed, Alabama
# 2,767:
11:50 am PDT, Jul 3,Chele Isaac, Wisconsin
# 2,766:
10:09 am PDT, Jun 26,Scott Vander Molen, Nevada
I just learned of this, and it's just totally insane! People have a right to peaceful protest. DROP THE CHARGES!!! I don't know why they ( Republicans ) want to control the world. I'm still trying to figure out what planet they hail from!
# 2,765:
2:58 pm PDT, Jun 25,Jakob Smith, Minnesota
standing up for what you believe in is not terrorism. anybody who was at the republican national convention in september could see that these people are the least of our worries. nothing good can come from scaring people out of speaking their minds.
# 2,764:
8:43 pm PDT, Jun 15,Jenna Thorsett, Wisconsin
Dissent is not terrorism.
# 2,763:
1:52 pm PDT, Jun 8,Name not displayed, Washington D.C.
# 2,762:
7:34 am PDT, Jun 4,Dave Hansel, Massachusetts
For more impact, add a personal comment here
# 2,761:
10:10 am PDT, May 31,Colin Monroe, Michigan
# 2,760:
4:28 am PDT, May 22,Richard Norman Talley, Maryland
# 2,759:
3:03 am PDT, May 22,Louis Just, Minnesota
DROP THE CHARGES! By continuing the mindless persecution and prosecution of the rnc eight you are raping the rights of every person in America. This country was founded on dissent whether you like it or not and nothing can stop it no matter what you or anyone else does. I witnessed the atrocities that took place in St. Paul for the first day, and was incarcerated for the other three for the offenses of walking down the street and sitting in a park. Let me tell you, the real people that should be on trial for inciting a riot should be Bob Fletcher and his gang of fascist goons that were shipped in from all over the country. The only violence I saw was committed by them.
# 2,758:
1:33 am PDT, May 22,Zach McNulty, Washington
# 2,757:
11:08 pm PDT, May 18,Dave Bracey, New Zealand
Political activists around the world are shocked by Susan's stance on the charges laid on the RNC8. It is clear that there are motives beyond true justice and her agenda is not in the best interest of the communities she is supposed to serve. I, on behalf of students at Massey University in New Zealand, strongly urge Susan Gaertner to drop all charges relating to the RNC8.
# 2,756:
1:56 pm PDT, May 11,Matthew Day, Minnesota
# 2,755:
3:03 pm PDT, May 10,Lisa Barr, Illinois
The 'operation' was shameful. If not now, then sometime in the future--those involved will hang their heads. Why not drop the charges and go after those who planned this fiasco NOW?
# 2,754:
6:02 pm PDT, May 7,Maya Hasegawa, Massachusetts
# 2,753:
7:02 am PDT, May 7,Robert Wyckoff, Massachusetts
this is an egregious misuse of a very bad law.
# 2,752:
9:01 am PDT, May 6,Jenna Duffy, Arizona
It's anti-American charging the RNC Eight. We really need to re-evaluate the term terrorist in this country before we start charging our citizens with it.
# 2,751:
10:13 am PDT, May 5,Kristi Sweeney, Michigan
# 2,750:
10:00 am PDT, May 5,Patrick Herron, North Carolina
Terrorizing the public by charging protestors with furthering terrorism is a most craven Orwellian absurdity. This anti-American doublespeak gesticulation by Susan Gaertner is not only absurd but dictatorial and downright dangerous. You're tough alright Gaertner, tough like a dumb steak.
# 2,749:
8:44 am PDT, May 5,Devon Saker, New Jersey
# 2,748:
1:37 pm PDT, May 3,Elizabeth Leahy, Minnesota
The right of the people to organize and express dissent it an integral part of this country's political viability. Without an outlet for citizens to stand up for what they believe in without fear of persecution by the government the ideals this country was founded on are extinguished and replaced with the very repression the founding fathers sought to escape from. These eight defendants have done nothing wrong. The charges are an outrage and the time and resources the state is spending on such a frivolous case is infuriating, especially in light of how valuable those resources would be if applied somewhere else in this time of economic turmoil. The upheaval these charges have caused in the lives of these innocent defendants is such a tragedy. DROP THE CHARGES NOW AND APOLOGIZE!
# 2,747:
1:28 pm PDT, May 3,Erica Adams, Illinois
To not permit free speech is an abomination.
# 2,746:
6:56 am PDT, May 3,Emily Rhyne, North Carolina
# 2,745:
7:26 pm PDT, May 2,Zachary Montogmery, Minnesota
# 2,744:
1:06 pm PDT, May 2,Lorca Lechuga-Haeseler, North Carolina
# 2,743:
7:19 pm PDT, May 1,Tanja Katz, Arizona
# 2,742:
10:16 am PDT, May 1,Jennifer Katz, Minnesota
# 2,741:
11:42 am PDT, Apr 30,Angelina Vezzetti, Minnesota
As a local citizen I am ashamed in you for attacking these innocent people who were just speaking their mind, and organizing ways to do it most effectively. Don't you remember why you became who you are today? Because you didn't take the way things were for truth, because you saw your own vision for how this system works. And now, today, are you going to begin doing what's wrong?
Free the RNC 8- Protect Civil liberties and dissent!
# 2,740:
12:18 pm PDT, Apr 27,Katherine Fol, Massachusetts
# 2,739:
8:34 pm PDT, Apr 26,Abith Lopez, Minnesota
# 2,738:
10:12 am PDT, Apr 23,Juliana Peterson, Minnesota
# 2,737:
6:36 am PDT, Apr 23,Sami Oso, Minnesota
# 2,736:
6:52 pm PDT, Apr 22,Jonas Ramone, Minnesota
# 2,735:
11:17 am PDT, Apr 22,Sheida Farabi-Iverson, Minnesota
# 2,734:
7:26 am PDT, Apr 21,Ryan J Hanschen, Colorado
# 2,733:
10:23 pm PDT, Apr 20,Maureen McNamara, Colorado
# 2,732:
9:20 am PDT, Apr 20,Susan Small, Pennsylvania
# 2,731:
8:27 pm PDT, Apr 18,William May, Colorado
# 2,730:
4:46 am PDT, Apr 16,Frank Cutugno, Minnesota
This is nothing more than prosecution for thinking of protesting, a Constitutionally protected activity. I further call for the dismissal of Sheriff Bob Fletcher, whose tactics would have been more appreciated in Germany, circa 1935.
# 2,729:
11:47 pm PDT, Apr 15,Cory Schultz, Minnesota
I witnessed St. Paul's gestapo out in full force before the Rage Against the Machine concert... its hard to enjoy a beer when being stared down by a regiment of horse mounted cops.
# 2,728:
9:20 pm PDT, Apr 13,Bryn Bakoyema, Tennessee
# 2,727:
7:00 am PDT, Apr 13,Peggy Boots-Pettis, Minnesota
I live the the same neiborhood as Garett. I find this hard to believe he would do any distructive.I think he is just ayoung man who wants to help the world be better.
# 2,726:
6:41 am PDT, Apr 13,Andrew Wooten, Virginia
# 2,725:
11:13 pm PDT, Apr 12,Chris Hirose, Washington
# 2,724:
10:02 pm PDT, Apr 12,Nicholas Defilippis, Virginia
# 2,723:
7:02 pm PDT, Apr 12,Joshua Truitt, Massachusetts
# 2,722:
4:30 pm PDT, Apr 11,Daryl Meador, Illinois
# 2,721:
10:54 am PDT, Apr 11,Katrina Jennings, Oregon
preeemptive arrests for crimes not committed by the arrestees? this is justice? ms. gaertner -- you are charged with the duty to uphold the constitution -- you should know better than to stoop to such obvious and heinous attempts to quell 1st amendment activity.
# 2,720:
11:04 pm PDT, Apr 10,Karen McNamara, North Carolina
# 2,719:
8:18 pm PDT, Apr 10,Dale Swinehart, Indiana
# 2,718:
8:02 pm PDT, Apr 10,Name not displayed, North Carolina
The charges being levied against the RNC8 are an outrage. It is shameful that the the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis have participated to such an extensive degree in the criminalization of protest and the silencing of dissent. I don't know how you will be able to live with yourselves unless you drop all charges against these eight.
# 2,717:
6:34 pm PDT, Apr 10,Alexander Essington, Minnesota
the fact that the rnc 8 were dubbed, for a time, "terrorists" only serves to validate their pretense for organizing opposition to the rnc in the first place: the party has too much control over the country and the judicial system. it has too much control over words and laws and free thought. and so if the remaining charges against the rnc 8 aren't dropped i will be organizing against the RNC (and the DNC) in 2012 for this very reason.
# 2,716:
10:12 am PDT, Apr 10,Romy Carver, Oregon
Seems like a waste of Minnesota's resources, both money and time, during a tough economy, to use taxpayer dollars to persecute people for protesting.
Why don't you go after violent criminals. If this is how you run your government, I'm glad you're not running for Governor here in Oregon. There's no way in hell I'd vote for you. AND I'd protest.
# 2,715:
8:45 am PDT, Apr 10,Name not displayed, Massachusetts
Protest is enshrined as a right in the 1st amendment to the constitution. it seems unlikely that this case is worth prosecuting given that the law could likely be viewed as unconstitutional on appeal.
# 2,714:
7:57 am PDT, Apr 10,Diane Black, Texas
People have a right to protest. This is not China! It will never be like China if I have anything to say about it. These are a bunch of trumped up charges. Republicans should be trying to win elections and leave the rest of us alone. This is AMERICA - isn't it?
# 2,713:
7:31 am PDT, Apr 10,Anne Lawton, Minnesota
I was out of the country during the RNC protests and the arrests of the RNC 8, but it seems abundantly clear that they committed no crime. The right to protest and express dissent is vital to this country. It should not be squandered in the name of "state security." Please think about the future and long-term impacts of charging protesters with charges like they ones they have been unfairly slapped with. It is not a future I would like to see materialize.
# 2,712:
9:08 pm PDT, Apr 9,Gregg Jocoy, South Carolina
The first amendment to the US Constitution gives us the *right* to protest, and demand redress of our grievances. Don't trample on our God given rights...they are *not* yours to take away.
# 2,711:
6:16 pm PDT, Apr 9,Paul Armstrong, Maryland
Prosecute the REAL criminals, i.e. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Feith, Bremmer, John Woo, and Karl Rove.
# 2,710:
5:26 pm PDT, Apr 9,Miles Jaffe, New York
Ms. Gaertner,
Please add me to your list of subversives and radicals, a list I no doubt belong on simply because I detest your fascist prosecution that violates the constitutional rights of my fellow US citizens.
# 2,709:
5:24 pm PDT, Apr 9,Debbie Wolfe, Oregon
Freedom of speech does not make us terrorists. We are no longer sheep; we are intelligent, educated people who are in charge of creating a democratic/ humanistic, spititual world to live in. This country is in a state of great change that will ensure our humanity. You cannot jail the revolution there are too many of us that imbody change. We do not support violence, we are not violent, we are driven. Stop the attrocity.
# 2,708:
6:10 pm PDT, Apr 8,Andrew Stachiw, Massachusetts
# 2,707:
5:45 pm PDT, Apr 8,Mark Luciano, Rhode Island
# 2,706:
1:49 pm PDT, Apr 8,Cody Paulk, California
I do not believe that people should be prosecuted for sharing there opinions if it be publicly or not.
# 2,705:
9:04 am PDT, Apr 8,Name not displayed, Texas
I did not hear about the RNC 8 until I saw it on the news TODAY. The more the media expose this information, the more people will learn how important their civil rights are regarding freedom of speech. I sincerely hope County Attorney Susan Gaertner achieve a moral obiligation on her part to dimiss the charges because she is the only one who will live with her decision for the rest of her life, regardless of the external influences. Getting a good night sleep is important to one's health. May God provide her some guidance to do the right thing and provide RNC 8 strength to pursue this unnecessary, unspeakable battle to have the charges dismiss. Trust in God, but good to keep your eyes open.
# 2,704:
9:00 am PDT, Apr 8,Vicki Friedman, Louisiana
It is horrid that a group of young people have been treated so unfairly. We have a right to protest in America. The charges must be dropped immediately for lack of evidence or intent to cause any harm.
# 2,703:
8:45 am PDT, Apr 8,Andrew Jordan, Texas
Any use of the Patriot Act to hamper the public's right to stand up against their government is a violation of America's core values established by the Constitution.
# 2,702:
8:43 am PDT, Apr 8,Ari Cowan, California
# 2,701:
8:42 am PDT, Apr 8,Kevin Powell, Florida
These charges are outrageous. Go after the police officers using thug tactics to peaceful protesters.
