Contents:
- Copwatch Training
- Courtwatch: RNC 8 Defendant Max Specktor
- RNC 8 Waffle Dinner
- Gaertner: Drop the Charges or We'll Drop Your Campaign for Governor
- Two Events for Justice for Fong Lee
- Rally and Court Solidarity for the RNC 8
- Suite of Events for October 22
UPCOMING EVENTS
There are a ton of important upcoming events we need to let you know about. Time to mark your calendar and plan to attend.
CUAPB COPWATCH TRAINING
Saturday, September 26, 4:30 p.m.
Walker Church
3100 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
We'll be holding a training on Saturday for people who want to get involved in copwatching either formally through CUAPB or in your own neighborhoods. We'll go over your rights in general, your rights as a copwatcher and keeping yourself safe, how to copwatch, what to document. A light meal will be served. Then we'll head out to the homeless shelter to practice what we have learned and become familiar with a particular location where police brutality is rampant.
MAX SPECKTOR, RNC 8 DEFENDANT, IN COURT SEPTEMBER 29
Tuesday, September 29, 9:00 a.m.
Ramsey County Courthouse
15 W. Kellogg, Room 1040, St. Paul
In advance of the upcoming hearing for all of the RNC 8, Max Specktor will be in court on Tuesday, September 29. Max and his lawyer Larry Leventhal will argue a motion to suppress evidence regarding the contents of the vehicle in which he was a passenger when the vehicle was searched without a warrant on September 1, 2008.
Come support Max at the first hearing since early this spring! It's in room 1040 of the Ramsey County Courthouse at 15 W. Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul. Arrive early and look for the Defend the RNC 8 t-shirts! For questions about getting there or anything else, email [email protected].
RNC 8 WAFFLE DINNER
Tuesday, September 29, 6:00 p.m.
Walker Church
3100 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
The RNC 8 invite you to a FREE dinner--cooked by them!. Susan Gaertner and Bob Fletcher may have impressively waffled on terrorism enhancements, but we guarantee the RNC 8’s waffles will come out on top! Also unlike Fletcher, we’re not afraid of vegans, and both vegan and vegetarian options will be available.
If you couldn’t make it to Max’s court date in the morning, come to the dinner and find out how it went. See you there!
GAERTNER: DROP THE CHARGES OR WE'LL DROP YOUR CAMPAIGN
Thursday, October 1, 5:00 p.m.
University Ave and Fairview Ave N, St. Paul
RNC 8 prosecutor (or is that persecutor?) Susan Gaertner seems to think that going after community organizers with bogus charges is the way to become our next governor. She needs to hear that prosecuting political activists on bogus charges is not a career-enhancing strategy. She'll be holding an open house at her campaign headquarters at 1821 University Ave W, St. Paul (corner of University and Fairview Avenues). Come out and join us as we hold an banner and remind her potential supporters about what they might actually be supporting--the suppression and criminalization of dissent.
TWO BIG BACK TO BACK EVENTS TO SUPPORT LEE FAMILY'S QUEST FOR JUSTICE:
FUNDRAISER FOR FONG LEE FAMILY
Friday, October 2, 5:30 p.m.
Lao Family Community Center
320 W University Ave, St. Paul
Fellow friends and community leaders, we need your support to raise $5,000 for the Lee family's appeal to the Federal court so they can continue to fight for justice for Fong Lee, who was gunned down by Minneapolis cop Jason Andersen. Cops later placed a gun on the scene to justify the shooting of an unarmed man. The Lee family would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone of you who had supported Fong Lee case in the past and hope you all will continuing doing so until we win the case for the name of Hmong.
This event with band is $15.00 per person including food and beverage, Please come and support as we are one Hmong nation in the world. For more information, contact Nhia Vue Lee at (651)774-1451 or Vang Meng Lee at (651) 329-3172.
UP IN ARMS: A NIGHT OF HIP HOP AND SPOKEN WORD TO HONOR FONG LEE AND END POLICE BRUTALITY
Saturday, October 3, 2009, Doors open 7:30pm, Show begins at 8:00pm
Macalester College, Kagin Commons, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul
http://www.macalester.edu/about/mapbynumber.html
Suggested Donation: $5-$10
All proceeds will to go to the family of Fong Lee to assist with legal and case related fees
Up In Arms: A Night of Hip Hop and Spoken Word to Honor Fong Lee and End Police Brutality seeks to raise awareness and support of Fong Lee’s case while also uniting and activating communities around the issue of police brutality.
In July 2006, bicyclist Fong Lee was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in front of a north Minneapolis elementary school. Last May, an all-white federal jury exonerated officer Jason Anderson of using excessive force on the teenager who was shot eight times in the back. Allegations that a gun was planted near Lee’s body were ruled irrelevant to the case. For more information about the trial http://www.hmongtoday.com/page11504436.aspx
The Lee family’s quest for truth does not end with the ruling given in May, and the family has continued the long path towards legal justice.
The evening will be emceed by Tou Ger Xiong and Amy Hang. DJ Nak will be on the one’s and two’s with performances by Magnetic North (from New York City), Nomi of Power Struggle (from the Bay Area), Michelle Myers of Yellow Rage (from Philadelphia), Maria Isa, Blackbird Elements, Kyle "Guante" Myhre, Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria, e.g. Bailey, Tou Saiko Lee with PosNoSys, True Mutiny, Shá Cage, Kevin Xiong with Pada Lor, Tish Jones, MaiPaCher, Logan Moua, Bobby Wilson, Poetic Assassins, Hilltribe, and other special guests.
This event is sponsored by: Speak!, Lealtad-Suzuki Center, Asian Student Alliance, Ua Ke, DJ Club, History Department, Coalition for Community Relations, The Loft Literary Center, Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, Shades of Yellow, Take Action Minnesota, Communities United Against Police Brutality, and Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign.
For more information please visit Coalition for Community Relations on Facebook or contact Tou Ger Xiong at 651-738-0141.
RALLY AND COURT SOLIDARITY FOR THE RNC 8 ON OCTOBER 8
Thursday, October 8
7:30 a.m. Carpool from Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
8:15 a.m. Rally at Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 W Kellogg, St. Paul
9:00 a.m. Court Watch, Rm 1040 of Ramsey County Courthouse
Originally slated for August and then cancelled at the last minute, the RNC 8's scheduling and motion hearing has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 8 at 9am in room 1040 of the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul. Once again - barring further delays - all of the RNC 8 and their attorneys will be in attendance. Please join them!
The RNC 8 Defense Committee will sponsor a rally outside the courthouse at 15 West Kellogg Boulevard from 8:15-9am on October 8, before we head upstairs to pack the courtroom. To carpool from Minneapolis, meet at Walker Church (3100 16th Ave S.) at 7:30 sharp. Otherwise, the courthouse is near several bus routes from Minneapolis, including the 16, 21, 50 and 94. For updates, sign up for our twitter feed by texting "follow defendthernc8" to 40404.
At the hearing itself, the 8's motion to be tried together rather than separately will likely be addressed. Other motions may be raised as well, and future dates will be set. Judge Warner may or may not rule on the motions immediately.
It's been more than a year since the RNC, and our community has proven that court solidarity works. Show yours! Help remind Judge Warner, Ramsey County Attorney and DFL Governor candidate Susan Gaertner, and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office that the RNC 8 are not criminals and that prosecuting activists is a disgrace! Join us on the morning of Thursday, October 8. It's now been seven months since the last hearing - bring your friends and let's show how much support for the RNC 8 has grown.
Remember that nothing that could be construed as a weapon - such as scissors or tools - are allowed in the courthouse and that all bags will be searched, so check them before you leave. For more info, email [email protected].
SUITE OF EVENTS TO MARK OCTOBER 22 NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY
PROTEST AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY
Thursday, October 22, 5:00 p.m.
Rally at Loring Park (exact location to be announced)
March to homeless shelters and other areas strongly impacted by police brutality
We're in a time when more people are becoming homeless daily through the crooked collusion of banksters and politicians. Yet, homeless people are more under the boot of police repression than ever. Why are law enforcement agencies brutally enforcing private contracts such as foreclosures and evictions? Why are homeless people facing harassment, false charges and worse on a daily basis? Why were seven people brutalized and arrested for standing with Rosemary Williams and fighting her eviction? It's not a crime to be poor and it's not a crime to stand with poor people. Join us for a rally and march to demand an end to attacks on homeless and low income people, people of color and all others who face police state repression. Stand up! Fight back!
COPWATCH TRAINING AND PRACTICE
Saturday, October 24, 4:30 p.m.
Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave, Minneapolis
We'll hold a training for people who want to get involved in copwatching either formally through CUAPB or in your own neighborhoods. We'll go over your rights in general, your rights as a copwatcher and keeping yourself safe, how to copwatch, what to document. Then we'll head out to the homeless shelter to practice what we have learned and to provide a measure of protection for people most affected by brutal policing.
STOLEN LIVES CEREMONY AND SURVIVOR, FAMILY AND FRIENDS DINNER
Sunday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.
Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave, Minneapolis
Join us for a ceremony to commemorate people who have died at the hands of police. They can no longer speak for themselves but we can and must be their voices demanding justice. Family members of victims of police violence will speak on behalf of their loved ones, reminding us that these were people with families that loved them. This solemn ceremony will be followed by a more festive dinner to mark our victories over the past year, to remember old friendships and make new ones, and to fortify ourselves for the work of the coming year. There is no charge for the meal--it will be our pleasure to have you join us for a sumptuous feast, including vegan and vegetarian options.