Haven't confirmed yet but this is what we are hearing from the convention center in st Paul
tania ------Original Message------ From: Zaidee Rose Stavely To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sep 3, 2008 7:04 PM Subject: ICE entering Minnesota jails during RNC????? --- the forwarded message follows --- -----Embedded Message----- From: Carmelo Ruiz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mi lista <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 17:26:24 Subject: Minneapolis SOS - IMMEDIATE CALLS NEEDED This message is from Padme Rain, a friend I made at the Biodemocracy rally in Philadephia in 2005. The events in Minneapolis are an outrage. Help in whatever way you can. I am not crazy about Obama, but I sure hope he beats that a___ole McCain in November. But heck, I live in a US colony, I cannot vote in US elections. When it comes to American politics, we Puerto Ricans are nothing but powerless observers. Begin forwarded message: From: Rain <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: September 4, 2008 5:15:16 AM EDT (CA) Dear friends, I am writing to ask that you take a few moments of your day, your day in which you are free of incarceration, not in imminent danger of brutalization based on your appearance or your gender, and able to take your medicines and to eat the food that nourishes you. Over 300 people have been arrested here in the Twin Cities because of their choices to protest against the coronation of the next Republican nominee, the man who continue to uphold the criminal actions of the current administration. Many and most of these arrests were illegal and without provocation. Many of these arrests did involve exposure to chemical weapons and less lethal projectile weapons. Many of the arrestees have continued to be exposed to further brutalization and denial of medicine and medical treatment, as well as to 23 hour lockdowns and solitary confinement. Three of these arrestees are personal friends, one of whom was tasered two times yesterday and one of whom was stomped on the chest during his arrest and has been coughing up blood. That was Eliot and he was repeatedly denied medical care. Last night eyewitnesses reported that 12 corrections officers entered his cell and that they heard him screaming for 5 minutes before being carried unconscious from his cell and he has not been seen or heard from since. Many of the arrestees were profiled, including street medics. Many of the arrestees were unreasonably charged with felony charges in order to be held the maximum 36 hours before a judge signs off on probable cause. Today, right now is the expiration of the first round of 36 hour holds. As of now, most of these arrestees are still in the system with no indication of imminent charge or release. There are currently two hunger strikes, one of 50 womyn in the block who are in solidarity with a prisoner who is anemic and is being denied supplements. The second is in the men's block who are in solidarity with one another to be taken off the 23 hour lockdown. As of right now the ICE police are entering the Ramsey County Jail and pulling people wtih "foreign sounding names". You know that I am here and that I have been on the streets with the protest, I was detained on the streets and released, only by sheer luck. It could be me in there right now, unable to write this letter and relying solely on the continuing efforts of this legal solidarity effort. Please, please take some moments to call and to make these demands. Your voice does matter. Trust me-the time is now, today, to act. Please consider making a donation to the Coldsnap Legal Defense and Bail Fund so that we might help these people. Again, these are people much like you and I, people trying to hold a political space for the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly. We must stand up to the continuing militarization of police forces and the escalation of state repression against dissent. Feel free to write to ask questions, to investigate local and independent media to see the photos and videos of the police violence. Feel free to forward this letter in a responsible way. In struggle, Padme Rain Please call the following numbers with the following demands. Pressure Campaign Numbers and Demands: 1. Mayor Chris Coleman 651-266-8510 2. Ramsey County Sheriff 651-266-9333 3. Ramsey County Chief Judge Gearin 651-266-8266 4. Head of Ramsey County Jail - Capt. Ryan O'Neal 651-266-9350 Demand: 1. Immediate medical attention. 2. Dismissal of all charges without bail. 3. Arrestees to be allowed to meet as a group or in groups with lawyers. 4. Release of minors from adult charges and facilities. 5. Trans folks be allowed to make their phone calls. -- http://carmeloruiz.blogspot.com/ <http://carmeloruiz.blogspot.com/> http://bioseguridad.blogspot.com/ <http://bioseguridad.blogspot.com/> -----End of Embedded Message----- Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Internet group address: http://groups.google.com/group/ChicagoMayDay To send e-mail: [email protected] To unsuscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
