Protest News

Critical Mass Cyclist Found Not Guilty

Filed under: Protest News

It took a jury all of 10 minutes to determine that the charges against Critical Mass cyclist Gus Ganley (assault on an officer, obstruction of legal process, and fleeing an officer) amounted to maggot-ridden pigshit: "not guilty" on all counts.

During the four-day trial, nine eye witnesses and three videos refuted the Minneapolis Police Department's claim that Critical Mass cyclists attacked police officers. Instead, the evidence corroborated Ganley's claim that the MPD initiated wanton use of force.

Of the 20+ alleged rioters arrested Aug. 31, the city attorney was only willing to charge five. Of those, charges against one were dropped and another pled down to a misdemeanor traffic offense. Two await trial.

Shortly after we broke the story, conspiracy theories swirled that law enforcement's unprecedented surveillance of the ride was due to the presence of a protest group gearing up for the Republican National Convention. The MPD publicly denied this. (In our follow-up on the story, an MPD spokesperson, when asked about the presence of an overhead helicopter throughout the ride, told City Pages: "The police department has never been able to help facilitate their ride because they're always in the back of the riders, so they decided to provide an aerial view to make it a better ride.")

But at the hearing, a Minneapolis police officer testified that police were instructed to monitor critical mass because of intelligence reports on RNC protest-planning, according to a press release circulated by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.

The next Critical Mass ride is April 25th

Posted by Matt Snyders at April 15, 2008 11:08 AM | Comments (0)

 

Anti-Scientology Protesters Take to the Street

Filed under: Protest News

On a miserably frigid and wet day, a protest group calling itself Anonymous staged its third anti-Scientology demonstration in downtown Minneapolis in as many months. Saturday’s protest saw about 50 demonstrators—more than a few decked in Guy Fawkes masks—congeal across from the Church of Scientology on Nicollet Mall, between 10th and 11th Streets.

Dubbed “Operation: Reconnect,” the protest took aim at Scientology’s “disconnection” practice, whereby new recruits are compelled to severe their ties with non-practicing friends and family members

“We’re here to say your family misses you,” said a girl wearing a scarf across her face and a nametag identifying her as Emily. “This is a dangerous cult that enjoys tax-exempt status. Where’s the fairness there?”

A few protestors prowled along Nicollet, handing out fliers to passersby encouraging them to google “Operation Freakout,” “Fair Game Policy,” and other “formal polic[ies] of harassment.”

The demonstration was just one of many to held worldwide on April 12. Similar protests were staged on March 15 and February 10.

Posted by Matt Snyders at April 14, 2008 2:19 PM | Comments (19)

 

Protesters Shut Down Army, Navy Recruiting Offices

Filed under: Protest News

About 20 Macalester College students are taking part in a demonstration outside neighboring Army and Navy recruiting offices on the U of M's East Bank, a move that has effectively shut down the businesses for the day.

Pictures after the jump.

Since around 10 this morning, eight of the protesters--most of whom are members of Macalester's Students for a Democratic Society--have linked arms through PBC pipes reinforced with chicken-wire and duct tape, thereby blocking the entrances. Two members of the crew have fashioned horseshoe bicycle locks around their necks connected to each door handle.

"We think [the Army and Navy recruiters] might have heard about the plan," said one of the non-linked protesters at the site near the corner of Washington Ave. and Oak St. "We know they had recruiting appointments scheduled for today, but they haven't shown up."

Demonstrators say they plan to continue the act of civil disobedience all day or until law enforcement breaks it up. The group has taped two signs to the office windows: "Mission Accomplished: Closed for the Day" and "Five Years is Five Too Many."

Posted by Matt Snyders at March 27, 2008 11:25 AM | Comments (13)