Slog - Comments on Preemptive Strikes in St. Paul http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul Local police, sheriff's, and fire departments have been conducting raids and surprise fire inspections on protest gathering places throughout St. Paul and Minneapolis today, including at least three private homes and this old theater at 627 Smith Avenue: The busted buildings were to serve as meeting points, food distribution centers, internet sites, and bunkhouses for visiting protestors. Branch, a visiting protestor from Portland, was at the building above when it was raided last night. "It was like a SWAT raid," he said, "between 30 and 50 cops with guns drawn and pointed at people's heads." The police, from the sheriff's... Copyright 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:05:33 -0800 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:44:42 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Adam There is a reason the word - pig - still works ...

Of course the cop shop has been bought off by the neocons ...

Some of you people here who are so blase about demonstrators have missed the value of free speech - wait 'till the pigs show up at your house to take your computer - a tool of damage to society - and files...

America the so changed in 8 years. In the past they would have kicked you at the demo, now they chase you away before you exercise free political speech.

Need strong Federal judges to intervene - to stop the pigs

]]> Adam http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117717 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117717 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:25:04 -0800 Comment by John Bailo
I'm glad these domestic terrorists are being identified and routed!

Obama "plumbers" must not be allowed to perform illegal dirty tricks!

]]> John Bailo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117718 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117718 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:29:24 -0800 Comment by elenchos Hey! The toolbar on the pictures doesn't work for me.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117720 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117720 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:34:02 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Fuckin' pig lightaz ass up.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117728 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117728 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:43:19 -0800 Comment by John Bailo Über Alles I wipe my ass with your Bill of Rights!

]]> John Bailo Über Alles http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117729 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117729 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:43:47 -0800 Comment by Cynthia McKinney GP Responds with Top Ten:

http://www.gp.org/tenkey.shtml

1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process." ]]> Cynthia McKinney http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117731 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117731 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:53:39 -0800 Comment by demo kid Wow... the Fascist Party really is living up to its name.

On the other hand, shots of crazy protesters are going to do wonders to further the Republican cause with Middle America. Seems like a remarkable case of shooting oneself in the political foot.

]]> demo kid http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117736 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117736 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:06:21 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo You have the right to free speech as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it.

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117737 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117737 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:07:13 -0800 Comment by John #5 - no you don't wipe any ass with the Bill of Rights - except you own - and thus seal YOUR very own fate.

You think the Fascist state cares about your tiny life - get a clue.

]]> John http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117744 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117744 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:44:51 -0800 Comment by jezbian and another account:

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20080830113009209&mode=print

]]> jezbian http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117749 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117749 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:59:55 -0800 Comment by RainMan So how did the Denver police handle the right wing protesters at the DNC?

]]> RainMan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117755 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:15:52 -0800 Comment by arts reader Thanks for posting this Brendan. One question:
were the people in the theater squatting there? It is so unbelievable that they bolted the door up if they had permission to be there. If they weren't even squatting there this is really scary news. (shaking head sadly at state of the country)

You can send the mayors of st. paul and minneapolis a note of concern at:

https://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/forms.asp?FID=69

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/forms/mayor-opinion/

]]> arts reader http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117762 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117762 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:33:54 -0800 Comment by Brendan Kiley arts reader: They weren't squatting, in fact. They'd rented it.

And, as of a couple of hours ago, the city turned the building back to its owners who, I believe, have turned it back over to the protestors. This is all, obviously, strong-arming and intimidation. Just a calling card from the police, who feel (if my police source has it right) understaffed and a little nervous themselves.

]]> Brendan Kiley http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117766 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117766 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:57:23 -0800 Comment by Heather Did the St. Paul police dept. out source their work to the Bejing Police?

]]> Heather http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117769 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117769 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:08:04 -0800 Comment by MichaelPgh Thanks for posting this. For once, even CNN had the balls to run a story about it on their website.

Weren't we just watching stories about Chinese officials squelching protests at the Olympics?

Jeez.

]]> MichaelPgh http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117782 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117782 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:09:29 -0800 Comment by chicago This is so horrible.

]]> chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117791 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117791 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:42:35 -0800 Comment by Jason Josephes Wow. I grew up five blocks from that building. It used to be a Masonic hall. Let the conspiracies begin.

]]> Jason Josephes http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117801 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117801 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:46:28 -0800 Comment by Heather I know The Stranger likes to take a snarky attitude toward demonstrations and that is of course your right. Since you also seem to take positions against the war and against Bush it might be a good idea to try to find some common ground with progressives in a effort to protect all of our civil liberities.
The raids in St. Paul take repression to a new dangerous level. It is not a big leap from raiding indymedia to raiding media outlets like The Stranger.
Those of us who hold dissident views from the government need to start to stick together.

]]> Heather http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117815 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117815 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:39:00 -0800 Comment by elenchos Great. Now my toolbar is totally gone. How am I supposed to Select or Zoom?

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117847 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117847 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:13:08 -0800 Comment by Josh Gawd, I was just thinking about how brave and prescient Dan was when he wrote this:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=12237

I get all tingly around the prostate just from re-reading it.

]]> Josh http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117860 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117860 2008 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:02:48 -0800 Comment by elswinger This is why Obama must be elected so he can prevent the Supreme Court entirely handing over all powers th the presidency.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117901 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1117901 2008 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:17:30 -0800 Comment by Greg Sue! SUE!!!

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1125707 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/preemptive_strikes_in_st_paul#c1125707 2008 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:44:42 -0800