RNC Welcoming Committee

The RNC Welcoming Committee (RNC WC) was an anarchist/anti-authoritarian group based in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota, which coordinated and facilitated discussion for the protests against the 2008 Republican National Convention. By following a more decentralized model for organization, the group's intention was to empower other activist groups to plan their own actions.[1]

The mission of the RNC Welcoming Committee was to create an infrastructure that provided housing, food, medical services, legal aid, counseling, and other forms of support to activists coming to the Twin Cities during the Convention.[2]

The RNC Welcoming Committee was infiltrated by several undercover police officers and informants - Andrew Darst, Brandon Darby, Rachel Nieting, Marilyn Hedstrom and Chris Dugger.[3][4]

The RNC 8 were members of the RNC Welcoming Committee who were the first to be charged with a felony under the Minnesota statute to furtherance of terrorism.[5][6] Initially charged by Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism, three additional charges were added in December 2008: conspiracy to riot, conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in furtherance of terrorism.[7] The 8 were Luce Guillén-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik, and Garrett Fitzgerald.[8]

All charges against Guillén-Givins, Trimmer, and Bicking were ultimately dropped.[9] Oseland, Specktor, Secor, Czernik, and Fitzgerald each pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Archived version of the RNC Welcoming Committee website September 7, 2008.
  2. ↑ "RNC Welcoming Committee Organizers Seek Sanctuary From Illegal Arrests | Twin Cities Indymedia | Movement Media for Minneapolis-St. Paul". Tc.indymedia.org. 2008-08-31. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  3. ↑ "Information on RNC-Welcoming Committee Infiltrators". Indybay. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  4. ↑ "Warrant Applications Give Clues To RNC Raids". WCCO. September 3, 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  5. ↑ 609.714 "609.714 CRIMES COMMITTED IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM", Minnesota Statutes - Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 2012.
  6. ↑ Eight Members of RNC Activist Group Lodged with Terrorism Charges, Democracy Now!. September 3, 2008
  7. ↑ "RNC 8", RNC '08 Report.
  8. ↑ "Friends of the RNC 8". RNC 8 Defense Committee. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  9. ↑ Hart Van Denburg "RNC 8 final four reach plea deals and avoid prison", City Pages, October 20, 2010.
  10. ↑ Emily Gurnon "Last 'RNC 8' protesters admit guilt - but remain defiant", Pioneer Press, October 20, 2010.

Further reading

External links


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