We have a convergence center! It’s a beautiful building close to downtown St. Paul, located at:

627 Smith Ave S
St. Paul, Mn 55107

phone: (651) 293.3968

This is a space for people to gather during, before, and after the RNC. There will be computers, limited bag storage, bikes, food and more. Open hours are from noon-10pm through August 29, 9am-10pm on the 30th and 31st, and will possibly be extended again on September 1st.

The convergence center is also a space for workshops, spokescouncils, sector meetings and other events. We would like to encourage people to use the space!

The current schedule of Convergence Center events is posted on the right sidebar of this page.

If you want to schedule a workshop, event, meeting, etc. please email convergencespace@riseup.net with your needs and we will work with you to schedule it.

We reinvented the wheel for our housing board but didn’t feel like we needed to for a rideboard. We know that plenty of resourceful folks have already figured out how they are coming to the Twin Cities. If you haven’t thought about it yet, try taking advantage of the resources that already exist online to post your rides or find one:

Craigslist (Official Sponsor of the Crash the Convention strategy)

Share your Ride

eRideShare

There are plenty of other ways for folks to get here. The Twin Cities is serviced by Greyhound, Amtrak, Megabus, Jefferson Lines, an airport, and other forms of transportation come in and out everyday! Want to come in at the last minute for the 1st? There are buses that are traveling to the March on the RNC to Stop the War

The RNC Bike Space

About the project:

The RNC Bike Space is a community bike shop that formed to get bikes to those who need them for transportation before and during the RNC, and intends to continue as a resource beyond the RNC. For the month of August open hours will be exclusively for repairing and distributing bikes for those participating in RNC resistance.

We consider EVERY bike that goes out of the space to be a LOANER and a community resource. When you return the bike after using it during the RNC it will go back to the local community where it will be put to good use. Bike drop off locations will be available around town after the RNC and will be communicated to you at the Bike Space. Note: the police in the twin cities are not known to be bike-friendly , we understand and apologize if they misbehave and steal this valuable community resource from you/us.

Location:
Corner of 36th St E & 5th Ave in Minneapolis

View Larger Map

UPDATE:

The folks at the RNC Bike Space have been busy as bees putting together bikes for the RNC. We have tons of energy in our great space and have seen a lot of bikes go out our doors, but we are starting to run low on the raw materials themselves (we’re down to frames, which take a while to become bikes). If you are in town already and looking for some way to help, start asking around to everyone you see for bike donations. We are also calling on all of the folks that are coming from out of town to network with their local community bike shops and to bring/send as many as they can or bring their own. Demand will be high in the next few days and we hate to see sad faces.

September 1-4: Any bikes left over will be at the Convergence Space. Bike Space folk and tools will be at the Convergence space to help with tune-ups and flats as much as we can and intends to have roaming bike fixers around St Paul as much as possible.

Getting a bike:

For the moment the only way to get a bicycle is to come in person to the space during open hours. The demand seems like it will be HIGH and we most likely will not have bikes for all those who desire them. One bike will be available for every one person who comes in. We know that you need a bike; here is what we need to keep the space running:

• 2-5 hours of work-trade
• monetary donation$
• bikes, parts, & tools

You will be asked for one of these things if you come to the space for a bike. Also, we expect these bikes to be returned when you are finished with them. If you are going to leave it around town in places where it might be tempting for others to appropriate this community resource you should plan on locking it up (please provide your own lock).

At this time we will only consider requests for multiple bikes from groups organizing for RNC resistance. Each separate request will need to be talked over at our collective and this doesn’t except groups from thinking about our needs in running the space. Talk to us or email us with who you are, and what you are organizing, what your request is and we will see what our capacity might be to fill this request. Please be realistic.

Donating:

The space depends and operates entirely on donations (of time, bikes, parts, tools, money, sustenance, good thoughts, etc). Donations can be dropped off at the RNC Bike Space during open hours. If we happen to be closed right when you want to drop something off you can bring bike donations to Arise! Bookstore during their open hours .

Getting involved:

To carry this project through to completion, we need to expand and grow! Have time or knowledge to spare? Come during open hours and help build some bikes. Stay and help us organize if you want to see a lasting community project and bike shop to be born out of this work. Donations of money and other material things are always welcome and helpful, but your time and energy is the most important thing that you could contribute to this project for it to succeed.

Contact the collective:

The #1 way we vastly prefer to be contacted is by coming to the space and talking with us in person. Otherwise, if necessary, email: rncbike -atsign- riseup.net

Seeds of Peace, Sisters’ Camelot, and Minneapolis Food Not Bombs –with the help of friendly volunteers– will be providing two nutritious meals a day beginning a few days before the RNC and continuing through the convention and a few days into its aftermath. You can help us by working in the kitchen: choppig vegetables, delivering and serving food, washing dishes, etc. Additionally, we can use donations of bulk food and money. Because of the large amount of food we will be preparing, however, we can only use relatively large quantities of bulk items (e.g., 25-100, not 5, pounds of rice). Some of the basic bulk items we will need are:

• cases of soy and/or rice milk
• 25-50 lb. bags of potatoes
• 25-50 lb. bags of onions
• 1-5 gallon jugs of oil
• 1-5 gallon jugs of cooking vinegar
• soy sauce
• tons and tons of garlic
• tea and coffee
• 25-50 lb. bags of pinto, black, red, and garbanzo beans
• tofu and tempeh
• sugar
• 25-50 lb. bags of rice
• 25-50 lb. bags of flour
• 25-50 lb. bags of oats
• 25-50 lb. bags of quinoa, polenta, lentils, and split peas
• cases of fresh fruit and vegetables

If you are interested in volunteering and/or donating food, email us at seedsofpeace@riseup.net or call us at 208-220-2133 or 208-240-3253.

Here we post as much information as possible about the Republican National Convention. Do with it what you will.

We welcome and encourage any relevant information you can send our way, but please note that we do not post or distribute stuff until we have verified to the best of our ability that it is true.  If you have questions about anything posted here or would like further information, email rnc08@riseup.net.

• Maps
• From the RNC
• Police
• RNC Welcoming Committee Powerpoint Presentation: if you’d like to use this presentation but need further information on slides, email rnc08@riseup.net for accompanying notes. also browse the rest of the material on these pages, as they may contain more up-to-date info.
• Miscellaneous

Basics
(from the Host Committee)
Dates: Sept. 1-4, 2008
Convention facility: Xcel Energy Center
Headquarters hotel: Hilton Minneapolis has been recommended
Delegate Experience venue: Minneapolis Convention Center
Hotel rooms needed: 20,000 per night at 95 hotels have been secured specifically for the convention
Number of hotel rooms in the metro area: Approximately 35,000
Cost: Approximately $50-$80 million-15% in goods and service, and 85% in cash- plus federal security dollars
Expected attendees: (all are approximate & estimated numbers)

• Total: up to 45,000
• Delegates: 2,000
• Alternate delegates: 2,000
• Volunteers: 10,000
• Media: 15,000
• Staff, families, guests, etc.: 15,000

Economic impact: Differs according to attendance and the host city. According to the Democratic National Committee, the 2004 Democratic National Convention held in Boston resulted in direct spending of $156 million.

• Corporate Sponsors
• Strib article on Day One schedule: the RNC will have an afternoon session on Day One!
• Bush Speaks on Day One: another Strib article
• RNC Park Rentals
• Guide to Metro Area Protest Ordinances (also see: Extra Credit)
  

Following is information about law enforcement preparations for the RNC.

• Detention Plans: for Ramsey and Hennepin Counties
• List of Departments sending officers to the RNC
• SIU Procedural Manual: the SPPD’s updated procedural manual for the Special Investigations Unit.
• Article on RNC Policing Shortage

The following info comes from the Convention planners themselves.  Also check out: http://www.msp2008.com and http://www.gopconvention2008.com.

• Spring Media Walkthrough: a hefty guide given to members of the Media by the RNC, spring ‘08. full of maps.
• GOP Express: a March 2008 proposal for delegate transportation, produced by the City of St. Paul in response to a Data Practices Act request in a lawsuit filed against them by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War.
• List of Delegate Hotels: an April 2008 press release
• Additions to RNC Senior Staff: from Fall 2007

• 3S Sector Map of Downtown St. Paul (ffi on 3S and Sectors, click here.)
• Downtown St. Paul
• City of St. Paul Convention Maps: includes the vehicle restriction zone, the permitted Day One March route, ramp closures and relocations, and more. Let us know if these links go down!
• Points of Interest in Downtown St. Paul
• Delegate Hotels
• and check out Google Street View of Downtown St. Paul! and Downtown Minneapolis!
• Latest on Day One March Route (not most current info)
  

There are a lot of ways to get involved in anti-RNC, anti-authoritarian work:

1. Swarm, Seize, Stay: Blockade Downtown St. Paul and deny delegates access to the RNC on Day One of the Convention.
2. Bikes: Check out the Bikes page for ways to help the anti-RNC bike effort.
3. Medics: Check out Northstar Health Collective for info on plugging into street medic infrastructure.
4. Legal and Jail Support: Check out Cold Snap Legal Collective for info on legal/jail support efforts.
5. Childcare: Email childcarerncprotest@riseup.net to help out with childcare during the RNC.
6. Media: Email IMCatRNC@gmail.com to get involved in independent convention media.
7. House a Protestor: Post available housing on our housing board.
8. Fundraise/Donate: Use the Paypal link on our sidebar to donate money, or check out our Wish List for items to donate.
9. Announcements List: Email rnc08-subscribe (a) lists.riseup.net to add yourself.
10. Keep your eyes and ears open for any logistical information- about the convention, related events, and responsible parties- that might help us plan and prepare.
11. Come to a WC Meeting and find out more. The RNC Welcoming Committee’s meetings are open to anyone who agrees to our Points of Unity. Meetings are EVERY SUNDAY, alternating 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., at our beautiful convergence center, 627 Smith Ave. in St. Paul. Check the calendar in our sidebar to see where we’re at in the rotation, or email rnc08 (a) riseup.net. Please note that we try to arrange childcare for all meetings, but would appreciate a heads up if you plan to bring kids, so that we can guarantee appropriate accommodations.
    We DO NOT allow members of the Media, acting in that capacity, to attend WC meetings. If you are a member of the Media, looking for info on the WC, please see our “Media FAQ. “

Twin Cities residents are now organizing childcare for radical parents coming to Minneapolis in September, and we’re happy to say we have a space secured for this purpose. The location is large and includes lots of child-friendly outdoor space, and is accessible from down town St. Paul but distant enough for safety and comfort.

Volunteers with significant childcare experience will provide safe and respectful supervision between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the four days of the convention. Vegetarian or vegan food, organic milk and snacks will be available. Parents should provide diapers if needed, and any special food or medicine.

We’re asking parents to pre-register by sending us an email with the # of children you plan to bring and their ages. This form, is to bring with your children when you arrive, and asks for emergency information, etc. We hope to provide for all those who need childcare, but in order to know how many volunteers are necessary, early head counts will help us help you.

For more details, to volunteer, or to send in preregistration contact us at: childcarerncprotest@riseup.net

Registration Form: http://www.nornc.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rncchildcareregistration.pdf

Sector Calls and Adoptions

Sector One
contact: rnc@organizepittsburgh.org
Calls:
POG
NEAN

Sector Two
contact: indy_tact08@yahoo.com
Calls:
Indy-TACT

Sector Three
contact: ua.midatlantic@gmail.com
Calls:
UA Mid-Atlantic

Sector Four
contact: UAintheBay@lists.riseup.net
Calls:
UA in the Bay - updated 7/31 with maps!
Sector 4 Barricade Building Contest
Karz SuX, karzsuxbrigade@safe-mail.net

Sector Five
contact: mwclusterup@riseup.net, bashbackchi@riseup.net, snowswarm@riseup.net
Calls:
Midwestern Cluster
Bash Back!
Snow Swam

Sector Six
contact: no.rnc.nw@gmail.com
Calls:
Grey Coast
CAN

Sector Seven
contact:
Calls:

All Over
Funk the War @ the RNC

Wait! If you don’t know what “3S” means, read this first.

So what’s up with Sectors?
Per the request of pReNC attendees, we’ve divided Downtown St. Paul into sectors based on its topography. The motivation of mapping sectors was to provide reasonably-sized areas in which various groups- large and small, public and private- could start to plan 3S actions, with the idea that they could coordinate amongst themselves within these sectors. This removes the need for any existing organizing body to act as a central point of coordination for September 1st, while still avoiding needless overlap and haphazardry. This map is meant to be descriptive, not prescriptive, and should be understood as a working model with the potential to grow and change organically from here on out. We welcome thoughtful input, as well as information about developing public plans whose incorporation into the map would help in organizing efforts. For more detailed descriptions of each sector, email rnc08@riseup.net.

Here’s the Sector Map (if that link doesn’t work, try this one).
Here’s a “How-To” Guide.
Here’s a list of Sector Calls and Adoptions.
Here’s a Second Call for Sector Activity.
And here’s a 3S/Sectors flyer. Download it, print it out, and spread the word.

Sector One: Northeast corner of Downtown St. Paul. Mostly condos, with a few churches and small businesses. Contains several freeway off-ramps and overpasses.

Sector Two: Southeast corner of Downtown St. Paul. Contains two bridge entrances, Kellogg Blvd. E., Shepard/The Great River/Warner Rd. Bordered on the South by the Mississippi River; Includes the bluff and and the narrow riverfront area just below it.

Sector Three: Southwest riverside section. Includes Eastbound Shepard Rd., and many parking ramps and lots, back allies, and parks. Primarily residential, with lower-income area starting as you head West from Irvine Park.

Sector Four: Southwest I-35E section. Contains several freeway off-ramps. Also contains a hospital, with some businesses around that service it and the surrounding neighborhood- primarily residential off main streets.

Sector Five: Northwest corner of Downtown St. Paul. Contains several freeway off-ramps, and on a normal day traffic from Minneapolis would enter via this sector. Borders the “Free Speech Zone,” contains the Dorothy Day Center (homeless shelter), a hospital and the Cathedral. Sits on a downward slope toward the Xcel.

Sector Six: Northern section of Downtown St. Paul. Contains several overpasses and freeway off-ramps, and part of the march route. Also contains a hospital, some elderly care apartments, and high-rises.

Sector Seven: Central section of Downtown St. Paul. Gridded traffic from all directions. Contains part of the march route. Mostly high rises, and includes the police station.

The How-To Guide

Adopt a Sector
The purpose of dividing Downtown St. Paul into sectors is to decentralize coordination of blockades on Day One of the RNC. The intention is that organizing develops organically, and so it will look different from sector to sector. Ideally, one large group or cluster planning a large blockading action will “adopt” each sector, positioning themselves as a focal point for coordination of that sector. This doesn’t mean their action needs to or should fill the entire sector or that they will be directing intrasector activity but, rather, that it establishes an open avenue of participation. It would be great if the group were willing to facilitate planning for the entire sector but, at minimum, this group needs to be open to communication from others planning actions within the same sector, and to be committed to respecting a diversity of tactics.

Sector adoption should happen by mid-July (mid-July update: while a lot of progress has been made, we still need more groups to step up- it’s not too late!) and entails releasing a public statement containing the following information:

1. What sector you’re taking, and what you want to name it.
2. Contact information, both for the summer months and the convention itself.
3. Your capacity and intentions in terms of intrasector coordination, e.g., are you planning a public, participatory action? are you planning spokescouncils?

As the convention nears, you are responsible for releasing updates on your sector- this may be done through the WC, if you wish. Updates should include an honest assessment of sector strength and of your needs- if you do not feel that your sector will be filled, say so. Delusions of grandeur are not permitted.

Plug into a Sector
Those wishing to plug into a sector without adopting it should establish communication with any group that has done so, and should make every effort to organize in complement with other intrasector activities.

What is the RNC Welcoming Committee’s role?
The Welcoming Committee will post the sector adoptions on our website and update the map accordingly. We will make contact information for each sector available, help connect organizing groups and individuals where prudent and, upon request, provide any information that we can about Downtown St. Paul and convention plans, including detailed descriptions of sectors. We will not recognize or, in any way, facilitate the plans or organizing of groups who are willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the repression of dissent.

a call for Crashing the 2008 Republican National Convention

The playbill has been printed, the tickets have been sold, and on September 1st , 2008, the Republican National Convention is scheduled to open in St. Paul, MN. The RNC is political theater- meant to showcase the GOP’s finest actors and send their chosen into a spectacular final round of campaigning before the November election. But what is spectacular about hiding the repressive show of force necessary to keep this system on its bloody course? Republicans, like all politicians in this two-act tragedy, exist to maintain systems of oppression that keep us down- at any cost. Our Earth is not for sale and we are not mere spectators in this brutal charade….who is going to pull the final curtain in September?

The RNC Welcoming Committee calls for anyone and everyone who cares about a better world than the politicians claim to offer to “Swarm, Seize, and Stay,” on September 1st. Our goal for Day One is to blockade Downtown St. Paul, so that the only show worth watching is the one we create in the streets. Generally, Swarm Seize, Stay (3S) means:

1. Move into/around Downtown St. Paul via swarms of varying sizes,  from multiple directions, and with diverse tactical intentions.
2. Seize space through both hard (e.g., lockboxes) and soft (e.g., congestion), fixed and mobile, blockading methods.
3. Stay engaged with the situation in downtown St. Paul as long as necessary. Regroup. Reinforce.

The RNC-WC has divided Downtown St. Paul into sectors, so that organizing bodies throughout the country can coordinate their actions and make sure that every inch of the map is covered come September 1st. Now it’s up to you. Pick a sector, gather your comrades, and start planning.

For a sector map and further info, see the Sectors page.

See you in September,
the RNC Welcoming Committee

The Saint Paul Principles

Historic “St. Paul Principles” Agreed upon by Key Twin Cities Groups

At an anti-RNC conference held over the weekend of February 9th and 10th, a broad spectrum of groups revealed what are being called the “St. Paul Principles” of unity for resisting the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC). Key organizations including the RNC Welcoming Committee and The Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War are signed onto the principles which seek to unite and strengthen the partnerships amongst those planning to confront the RNC. This is a departure from the sectarian squabbles that have plagued past years’ anti-convention organizing. Pitting groups of differing political beliefs against each other has been a frequent tactic of state repression since the days of COINTELPRO.

By drafting the principles together, the co-signing organizations are taking historic steps to actively extinguish divisiveness from their respective groups. The principles will ensure respect for the soon-to-be-permitted march on September 1 by people planning non-permitted activities, and in turn, participants in the September 1 march will adhere to the principles and do nothing to sow division among the many activists coming to the Twin Cities to protest the RNC.

The principles are:

1. Our solidarity will be based on respect for a diversity of tactics andthe plans of other groups.
2. The actions and tactics used will be organized to maintain a separation of time or space.
3. Any debates or criticisms will stay internal to the movement, avoiding any public or media denunciations of fellow activists and events.
4. We oppose any state repression of dissent, including surveillance, infiltration, disruption and violence. We agree not to assist law enforcement actions against activists and others.

The RNC Welcoming Committee, The Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, The Anti-war Committee, SDS-U of MN, Communities United Against Police Brutality, The Welfare Rights Committee, and Unconventional Action – Chicago were among the first to sign on to these principles. As other groups sign on to these principles, a unified, effective, and radical front will form.

This is a list of some of the things that we’ will need and are working on collecting. Please note that we don’t have space right now to store everything that you might be able to send us. If you send a note to rnclogistics(a)riseup.net to let us know what you have, we will come up with a plan to get it here safely when we need it. Our mailing address can be found here .

FUNDS

• our number one need right now is cash , all that you can spare. donate online using the paypal button or send us some love in the mail .

TRANSPORTATION

• your insured car/van/truck/bus for use during August and Sept. email rnctransport(a)riseup.net
• bikes , lots of them. start responding to those craigslist ads and building up your collection. we would also like to network with community bike shops who might be able to send us larger shipments. check out the RNC Bike Space information here
• bike locks, padlocks, and chains . we wouldn’t want all of these bikes to walk away. read how to donate here

STORAGE

• the name says it all. if you have a garage, basement, or warehouse to spare in the twin cities email rnclogistics(a)riseup.net

FOOD -email seedsofpeace(a)riseup.net

• check out this post for needs
  

HOUSING -visit http://nornc.org/stay

• your bedrooms, living rooms, warehouses, treehouses, yards, garages, RVs, houseboats, farms or anywhere else that we can store bodies from out of town.
• your friends, families, and neighbors to offer up the spaces above too

NETWORKING - email rnclogistics(a)riseup.net

• image designs for graphics
• free printing
• copiers
• local copy machine codes

TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATION

• fancy video editing computers
• computers that can run at least win 95
• routers
• wireless routers and hubs
• everything needed to run computers
• donated fast internet connection (did we mention we need money?)
• radios and scanners
• phone cards
• phone cards for GO! phones

Cada 4 años el Partido Republicano y el Partido Demócrata hacen una convención nacional como parte de las elecciones presidenciales, gastando millones de dólares para juntar sus miembros en un show mediático, bajo el nombre de la “democracia”, para hablar mucho y hacer poco en beneficio del pueblo. En septiembre del año 2008 (¡este año!) el Partido Republicano viene a hacer su convención en Minnesota.

Nosotros, juntos con miles de personas de todo el país, vamos a hacer una manifestación. Vamos a llenar las calles protestando un sistema injusto, racista, y desigual, en contra de las distintas formas de opresión y autoritarismo, y por un mundo mejor, luchando a favor de los valores de igualdad, autonomía, solidaridad, y ayuda-mutua entre la gente. Condenamos las redadas, las deportaciones, las separaciones de familias, y apoyamos la lucha de la comunidad inmigrante de Minnesota y de todo el país, como una parte de la lucha nuestra. Como siempre se dice: “¡El Pueblo, Unido, Jamás Será Vencido!”

Quienes Somos/Puntos de Unidad
El Comité de Protesta de la Convención Republicana (”RNC Welcoming Committee” en Ingles) es un cuerpo anti-autoritaria que se formó para prepararnos para la Convención Nacional Republicano en St. Paul, Minnesota en septiembre del 2008. El comité es conformado sobre todo por anarquistas y anti-autoritarios y funciona como un centro de información, logísticas, y otros asuntos relacionados con la resistencia a la Convención Republicana (RNC),que incluye la coordinación de comida, transporte, hospedaje, y educación.

Lo que sigue son nuestros Puntos de Unidad. Les invitamos participar en nuestro comité a todas y todos que están comprometidos a estas ideas.
1. Un rechazo del Capitalismo, Imperialismo, y el Estado.
2. Resistir la explotación abusiva de nuestra tierra.
3. Trabajar bajo los principios de descentralización, autonomía, sustentabilidad, y ayuda mutual.
4. Trabajar para poner fin a las relaciones de dominación, incluyendo los con raíces en el/la racismo, clasismo, homofobia, y patriarcado.
5. Oponer los abusos de la policía y la industria carcelaria, y mantener solidaridad con todas las personas impactados por la represión del estado.
6. Confrontar directamente los sistemas de opresión, y respetar la necesidad para tácticas diversas.

Aunque nuestro comité esta enfocado en un evento específico, esperamos que nuestro trabajo transcienda la convención misma, contribuyendo al desarrollo de movimientos en contra del autoritarismo y a favor de la ayuda-mutua, con redes locales y globales. Estamos en contra del Partido Republicano tanto como el Partido Demócrata. Invitamos que nos acompañen en la resistencia todas y todos que comparten nuestra visión.

Changed your mind? Well, we hope you come back!

See you in the streets,
the RNC Welcoming Committee

Thanks! See you in the streets,
the RNC Welcoming Committee

note: these reportbacks have come out of a variety of radical anti-RNC efforts; not all of them are written- or endorsed- by the WC, but we are archiving them here in the interest of facilitating a diversity of tactics in anti-authoritarian organizing against the convention. we do obsessively comb the internets looking for new material, but you can help us out by sending your reportback to: rnc08 (a) riseup.net.

************************************

NoRNC-IA Consulta:

A Summary of the NoRNC-IA Consulta

************************************

November 07 Milwaukee Consulta:

MKEtoRNC Reportback

TransFolk and Queers to Blockade RNC!

************************************

2007 pReNC

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Are you interested in designing some eye-candy for us?
Check out our Call for Submissions here.

-The Unconventional Action Paper: http://www.hackasheville.com/nornc/uaftp/downloads/paper_spreads.pdf

-Stickers and Posters:

Statement on the ICE raids of May 19, 2007

The RNC Welcoming Committee- a group of Twin Cities-based anarchists and anti-authoritarians formed to organize resistance to the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul- stands firmly with immigrant communities in opposing the recent wave of nativist repression led by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch. To those people impacted by the raids, to those people resisting this new wave of anti-immigrant activity: we would like to offer our bodies and our infrastructure in whatever way is most constructive. As community turnout on May 19th demonstrated, you are not alone. We are always ready and willing to support you in your struggle for justice; we maintain a politics of solidarity, and believe we have common ground with all targets of State and systemic repression.

To ICE and the Minneapolis Police Department: We want to make clear our opposition to the raids that occurred in South Minneapolis last weekend, to all raids, and to this system that denies certain people and their families their basic right to survival. We condemn the practices of both ICE and the MPD, recognizing that the raids weren’t a break with policy so much as a continuation of the long-standing law enforcement tradition of terrorizing communities, for the sake of maintaining an unjust social order. Our communities have always been terrorized by law enforcement, whatever their initials; this terror is furthered daily, on the streets, in our workplaces, even in our homes. We know that it will continue- tomorrow, next week, at the RNC in 2008, and into the future- as long as our communities are not able to sustain and defend themselves. Thus, we are committed to building alternatives that render law enforcement agencies obsolete, and in the meantime to resisting State terror however it manifests itself, by whatever means are available to us.

—-en español—–

El “RNC Welcoming Committee” - un grupo de anarquistas y anti-autoritarios de las Ciudades Gemelas, formado para organizar en contra de la Convención Nacional Republicana en 2008 – se pone firmemente con las comunidades inmigrantes para oponernos a la ola reciente de represión nativista, encabezada por la Migra.

A aquellos impactados por las redadas, a aquellos resistiendo esa ola de actividades anti-inmigrantes: les ofrecemos nuestros cuerpos, y nuestra infraestructura de la manera que sea más útil. Como se demostró por tanta gente el 19 de Mayo, es verdad que ustedes no están solos. Siempre estamos listos para apoyarles en su lucha por la justicia; mantengamos una política de solidaridad, y creemos que tenemos causa común con todos los que son objetos de la represión estatal y del sistema.

A la migra y a la policía: Queremos aclarar nuestra oposición a las redadas que ocurrieron en South Minneapolis la semana pasada, a todas las redadas, a ese sistema que les va negando el derecho básico al sobrevivir a ciertas personas y sus familias. Condenamos la práctica del ICE y de la policía, reconociendo que las redadas no eran cosa nueva, si no que eran una continuación de la tradición ya muy establecida de las fuerzas de la ley, del aterrorizar comunidades, para mantener el orden social, tan injusto que es. Nuestras comunidades siempre han sido aterrorizadas por las fuerzas de la ley, ni modo el nombre que llevan; el terror se avanza diariamente, en las calles, en el trabajo, hasta en nuestros propios hogares. Pues ya sabemos que eso continuará- mañana, la semana que viene, en el RNC en 2008, y en el futuro- mientras no hallamos como sostener y defender nuestras comunidades. Entonces, estamos comprometidos al construir alternativas las cuales les harían obsoletas las fuerzas de la ley, y mientras tanto resistimos el terror estatal de cualquier forma, por cualquier medio disponible.

An Open Letter to Labor Organizations in the Twin Cities
Spring 2007

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Labor Movement,

As you know, the Republicans have decided to befoul St. Paul with their national convention in 2008. Make no mistake, this sordid affair has nothing to do with the ‘democratic process’ or the selection of a presidential candidate: that will have been done seven months earlier. We in the RNC Welcoming Committee are a group of anti-authoritarians organizing direct resistance to this evil brood preparing to descend on our cities.

No surprises on Labor Day 2008: the RNC will be their opportunity to spew hateful propaganda through the airwaves for free. They will brag about undermining working families while giving permanent tax cuts to the rich. They’re going to take over a host of other local institutions and public spaces so that they can celebrate the devastation they have wrought on our communities. It’s a Karl Rove Special: taking a swing at a labor stronghold on Labor Day.

On issues like collective bargaining, health care, minimum wage, and immigration rights, the Republicans have attacked us on every front, while they poison our earth both here and abroad. They have led us into an illegal and unjust war where oil corporations and Bush-Cheney cronies rake in profits generated by our tax dollars, while our sons, daughters, and working families pay with their lives.

Unions have historically been at the forefront of struggle against those who inflict poverty and oppression by consolidating their power and wealth on the backs of the workers and the less fortunate of our society. We’re doing our own organizing, and you’re invited to join us. But perhaps even more importantly, we want to know how we can support you. In the spirit of mutual aid and collective welfare, we know that our strength is your strength, and that our freedom increases with your power.

Some of your locals and leadership have already received letters from the Republicans or local government asking for pledges not to strike, walkout, or protest. Many of you have already declared that this is ridiculous, and we agree. It is ridiculous. The Republicans have done everything they can to hurt and beat us into submission; why should we agree not to disrupt their party? Our power is in our solidarity, and our weapon is our ability to halt the work that we do every day.

The Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee wants to work with all interested workers, locals, and other labor organizations to display our collective power, formulate new directions, and show the bosses what’s what. We want to pursue a genuine coalition with Labor, to help you achieve your aims, which are ours as well. With Labor and activists working together, we can pursue a public victory the likes of which hasn’t really happened since Seattle in 1999.

If you are interested in working with us directly, you can find more information about us on our (developing) web page, at www.NoRnc.org . Check out our Points of Unity, especially. But even if you’re not interested in formally endorsing us or affiliating, don’t be shy about letting us know how we can help you. We see radical union activity as one of the keys to a better world, and we’re in your corner. We can’t wait to meet up and get things cranking.

Let’s show the Republicans what a real party looks like!

In Solidarity,
The Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee

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No RNC, No DNC- down with all politicians!
A resolution of support for those organizing against the DNC
from the Twin Cities’ RNC Welcoming Committee
Summer 2007

Many people believe that we should protest the RNC because the Republican Party is the party of warmongers and CEOs. But as we prepare our resistance, we do so against all government. We would resist just the same if the Democrats were planning to use our city to scheme and push their agenda. As anarchists and anti-authoritarians, we recognize that representative politics, and therefore all politicians, undermine the ability of people to organize their own lives. This is true whether they are outright fascist, or if they preach a “liberation” that only they can provide. The false opposition that the Democrats espouse against war, poverty, environmental destruction and corporate domination- the realities of capitalism- only makes them more dangerous than the Republicans. Politicians talk of hopes and dreams, using our desires for a better world as a means to control and pacify us. We see through them all- there is nothing that they can give us that they haven’t already taken away. So as we make plans to show the Republicans just how welcome they are in Minnesota, we act in solidarity with those doing the same to the Democrats in Denver, for no politician can give us our freedom.

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pReNC Press Statement
Read by Bea Bridges
08/27/07

Good morning, members of the Press. Thank you all for coming. My name is Bea Bridges, and the RNC Welcoming Committee has asked me to show you this video and read a statement.

The Welcoming Committee is a group formed specifically to respond to the 2008 RNC in St. Paul. However, we hope the work we are doing fosters the growth of stronger radical communities in the Twin Cities and beyond. We are not single-issue focused, and we will not be satisfied by merely stopping the war or ending Neocolonialism (although that would be a great start). Instead, we focus closer to the roots of oppression. We believe in radical change- in ending Capitalism, Imperialism, Patriarchy, and all other forms of hierarchy, and in replacing them with direct, participatory democracy, sustainability, individual autonomy, and personal relationships built on empathy and a desire for mutual aid.

As you know, the RNC Welcoming Committee is hosting the pReNC this coming weekend. The pReNC is a gathering of anarchists and anti-authoritarians one year in advance of the Republican National Convention. Its purpose is to share skills, network, and develop a strategic framework for the 2008 protests. Many of you have wondered if we plan violence, confrontation or mayhem for this weekend. We do not. The pReNC is not intended as an arena for protest and direct action. Rather, it is a time for learning, building, and planning for next year.

We expect a few hundred people to attend the pReNC, and we estimate about half of the attendees to be coming in from out of town. It is hard to give a more exact number, given that some people might just come for a workshop or two, or a meal, while others may participate for the entire weekend.

The main feature of the pReNC is Sunday’s strategizing session, where individuals from every region of the country will bring together the plans and ideas they have been developing. Together, we will establish an anarchist goal for September 1-4, 2008, which attendees will bring back to their communities and develop into action over the course of the following year. We cannot provide you with further details because we don’t know, and don’t want to make assumptions about, what will come out of the strategizing session.

Some of you have asked how we plan to prevent police infiltration of the pReNC. Though it is not foolproof, we have a security protocol in place and a security team to facilitate said protocol. Further information about our security practices has already been made public and is available on our website.

We are aware of the Patriot Act and its relation to the “National Security Event” designation of the RNC. As you know, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are also making attempts to further codify repression. However, we will not allow the state to regulate our resistance. You will not find us in the protest pens nor will you find us asking permission to demonstrate. The State asks that we only resist in ways it finds convenient and easy to contain, promising repression of those who act outside the parameters it sets. This is a threat- a violent threat with which the State hopes to terrorize us into submission. Therefore, there exists no “peaceful” option. Some among us may choose to resist State violence using pacifist tactics, while others use whatever methods they deem necessary and appropriate. But, no matter how we respond to it, violence is already present at the protests through no fault of our own.

Lastly, we know some of you have been wondering about our media policy, which has been one of “no real time engagement.” Media will not be welcome at the pReNC; this is so that the pReNC remains an event for participants, and not a spectacle for the press. We don’t know yet what will come out of the pReNC, but we will be having a poStNC press conference next Monday, September 3^rd, at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol. We may have more to say about the weekend at that time, and hope to see you all there.

We will not be taking further questions today, but if there is anything else you’d like to know regarding anarchism, our media policy, or our group, we have extensive info available on our website, www.NoRNC.org.

Thank you and good day.

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poStNC Press Statement
Read by Sandra Brown-Rivers
09/03/07

Thank you, ladies, gentlemen, and otherly-gendered of the press, for joining us on this, most glorious of occasions. This Labor Day weekend, anarchists and anti-authoritarians from every city, every town, every hamlet, every last Hooverville of this great nation convened a grand congress. Together, we have magicked into being a detailed plan, worthy of note, to receive the 2008 Republican National Convention. Like many a good plan, it is broad in scope, aimed at nothing less than complete control (!!) of this hallowed turf, our fair city. Today, we declare our first victory, having achieved a complete shutdown of government services citywide. This we have accomplished whilst wading in the dark tide of the State and their attempts to crush us on the first eve of our festivities, when the gentle flesh of our comrades was met with hard metal and penetrating volts by members of the self-appointed police force – a foreshadowing glimpse. Yet here we stand, and our chariots ride on. Much as a phoenix rises from its own ashes, we admit that tomorrow the city will function anew. But know this: its hegemony, like all but the truest of loves, is fleeting, ephemeral.
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Organizing for the 2008 RNC Protests: A Report and Reflections

from Media Mouse

October 3 2007

Over Labor Day weekend this year, some folks from Grand Rapids made a trip to the Twin Cities to attend the “pReNC,” a meeting organized by the RNC Welcoming Committee¹ to make plans for protests surrounding the 2008 Republican National Convention. What follows is the official report from the meeting issued by the RNC Welcoming Committee, as well as some thoughts and reflections on the planning process as it compares to other recent mass mobilizations. By way of a disclaimer, this piece reflects the thoughts of one local person who attended the meeting and is not meant to influence any of the local organizing which will no doubt follow. Moreover, it’s important to be up front–both the RNC and the DNC will, and indeed should be–protested. Neither is “better” than the other. To that end, visit Unconventionalaction.org² and Recreate68.org³ for more on organizing against the DNC.

Media Mouse formed in the fall of 1999 following the protests in Seattle that shutdown the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting⁴. While no official count is available, it would probably be safe to assume that thousands of people got involved in hundreds of groups around the country that formed following Seattle. Like many of these groups, Media Mouse formed to work on what could be generally described as opposing neo-liberal economic policies both abroad in the form of undemocratic and imperialist trade agreements such as NAFTA and locally with the outsourcing of jobs to Mexico. Media Mouse also took inspiration from the Indymedia movement (http://www.indymedia.org) and was formed with the understanding–learned from the streets of Seattle and rooted in the struggles of the Zapatistas⁵–that the corporate media was not going to report on the burgeoning social movements in an accurate manner.

Like the groups that formed around the country, Media Mouse quickly began working on local issues connected to the large goal of challenging neoliberalism. One of our first actions was a “Rally for Alternative Transit⁶” that protested the shutdown of US-131’s “S-Curve” through downtown Grand Rapids and the routing of traffic onto Division in Grand Rapids’ densely populated Heartside Neighborhood. For us, it was another example of the needs of profit taking precedent over the concerns of people, embodied by the popular slogan of the post-Seattle movements “People over Profit.” This organizing continued locally with a protest held against the World Bank and the IMF⁷ in solidarity with demonstrations happening in Washington DC in April of 2000⁸. While Grand Rapids’ event was small–100 people or so–and nothing compared to the militancy of the several hundred person “black bloc” in DC⁹–there were arrests at the unpermitted march and indeed it seems hard to imagine being able to mobilize 100 people for a march against the World Bank¹⁰ in 2007 in GR.

At the risk of being overly nostalgic, the post-Seattle climate was considerably different than now. Without going into the causes of this shift in consciousness–of which numerous causes from 9/11 to burn-out can be analyzed–the post-Seattle period was considerably more exciting. Coming off of what was a clear victory in Seattle–the delay of the WTO Summit and its overall failure–there was an unmistakable sense that direct action and organizing could confront some of the most powerful institutions in the United States. Aside from the aforementioned anti-World Bank march, a protest held outside of a speech by a former World Bank economist in May of 2000 attracted fifty people, no small feat for an event at noon in downtown Grand Rapids.

In the post-Seattle period, it was not uncommon to see people travel great distances to attend the rash of demonstrations held, so it was not a surprise to see people at the World Bank event from Detroit. Similarly, when groups in Detroit and Windsor issued a call to oppose the Organization of American States meeting in June of 2000¹¹ thousands showed up to protest the two institutions¹². While this idea of “summit hopping” (http://nefac.net/node/84) was justly critiqued within the movement, thousands of activists mobilized to confront a variety of entities including the RNC¹³ in Philadelphia, he DNC in Los Angeles¹⁴, the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue in Cincinnati¹⁵.

By 2001, Media Mouse made the decision to attend and report (photos¹⁶, video¹⁷) on the April 2001 protests (http://www.infoshop.org/octo/ftaa.html) against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)¹⁸. The city had been turned into a veritable fortress, with miles of fencing enclosing the Summit site and the police geared up for a confrontation. On the day before the protests, the police reported on the arrests of a “terrorist” group that allegedly planned to use bombs against the Summit. Despite the rhetoric of the police and the militarization of much of the upper city, within an hour of the first protest beginning, Media Mouse was able to witness demonstrators knock a substantial hole in the fence and surge towards the site of the Summit. Despite being pushed back, repeated attempts on the fence would take place over the two days and nights of protests as protestors engaged in running battles with police. In the end, the demonstration overshadowed the Summit and the FTAA is dead.

Following 9/11, this energy lessened, perhaps understandably so. Many in the movement temporarily shifted their energy to antiwar work, while a debate flourished over the place of militant protest in the post-9/11 climate. However, this did not keep the movement silent for long, in January of 2002 some 10,000 protests attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in New York City¹⁹ to protest against global capitalism.

Media Mouse attended the 2003 protests against the FTAA in Miami²⁰, and while several thousand protestors turned out to protest the FTAA meeting, the intense police repression minimized the effectiveness of the protests. Following the FTAA protest in the fall of 2003, there was significant attention placed on the 2004 RNC protest as a chance for “the movement” to steal back its moment. However, the 2004 RNC protests lacked strategy and despite hundreds of thousands of protestors in New York City, little of consequence happened. Media Mouse observed²¹ a combination of mass arrests and masses of protestors wandering around without any clear idea where their interests should be focused, a fact that clearly showed that the strategy for the RNC–including a “direct action” day–had failed. Energy was briefly rekindled for the 2005 inauguration protests, but despite an attempt to “crash” the parade route²², those protests largely failed as well.

With the so-called “summit” protests, there was always a tension between those who prioritized organizing in their own communities and those who focused on the “summit” meetings. Criticisms can certainly be made–and should be–of the “summit” organizing model, but in thinking about the post-Seattle period, it seems clear that they served an important function in giving inspiration to local organizing efforts and fostered a greater sense of “a movement” than what exists now. Certainly, with Media Mouse coming out of that context, the post-Seattle period to 9/11 was incredibly exciting–with numerous protests planned and a sense that either “we are winning” or that we could win. To be sure, a lot of us–myself included–never really stopped to think about what “winning” meant, but the energy was infectious and thousands of folks got involved–and in many cases–participated in demonstrations and organizing campaigns that seem unheard of in the contemporary political climate. There have been antiwar convergences since 2003, but they have largely been unable to inspire people to action in the manner that the anti-globalization movement did.

Out of this context, I attended the “pReNC” in Minneapolis-St. Paul, in part to avoid the simple tactical failures of the 2004 RNC protests, but also with a desire to rekindle that energy and sense of excitement that I had in the post-Seattle period. Coming out of the “pReNC,” I am quite excited and impressed by the work that has been done thus far. I left the “pReNC” feeling that there is a potential for the RNC to rekindle the energy of the anti-globalization movement and take a step towards building a stronger anti-authoritarian “left” movement in the United States. Aside from the inspiration that always comes from interacting with radicals outside of Grand Rapids, there were a lot of conversations that were far more promising than those proceeding pre-protest discussions in recent years. There was considerable talk of having a clear strategy, and indeed, a clear call to “shut down” the RNC²³ was issued and an overall strategic framework was adopted to facilitate this. Like the best of the post-Seattle protests, people expressed a willingness to learn and be self-critical of previous protests, and the plan for the RNC builds off of recent successes at the G8 in Germany²⁴.

Moreover, there was a strong sense that the protests cannot simply be about the RNC, but rather, that they must look forward to the future. In other words, organizing in the Twin Cities and around the country must focus not only on the RNC but using the protests as a tool to involve more people and build a stronger movement. This is perhaps the most exciting aspect of the meeting, that there was a willingness to look beyond street protests and look at how we can build hundreds of decentralized and autonomous groups around the country that are capable of acting locally to achieve clear victories.

RNC Welcoming Committee Call Feb 14, 2007

Every four years, in two very lucky cities, big money gets thrown around while look-alikes from opposite ends of a closed circle step up to their podiums and spout nonsense. RNC. DNC. Whatever. The point is that once the conventions are over, once November is come and gone, once the inauguration is only an unpleasant memory, people across this stolen land find themselves in pretty much the same place as before: a bad one.
And we’d like to offer up a movement- some real, tangible change. Unfortunately, the reality is that we’re rundown at best, hopeless at worst, and though we see liberation shining off in the distance, we don’t know how to get there.

But we want justice, and we want freedom, for life everywhere. And we’re tired of spinning our wheels in this rut.

From September 1st through 4th , 2008, the Republican National Convention will be held in St. Paul, MN. You can expect the usual: sign-holding, protest marches, rhythm-less chants, false raid scares at the convergence space.

But damned if the resistance stops there.

As residents of the Twin Cities, as anti-authoritarians and anarchists, we, the RNC Welcoming Committee invite folks from all over the country to show up and make something happen. Pull this movement out of its rut, or start something new. Let the up-tops know that we could give a shit about their suits, their speeches, their money. Bring your (A)-game, cause 2008 is ours.

We’re calling for:

1. Whatever skills you’ve got: medical, food-prep, legal, soapboxing,
circus tricks. You name it, we wanna see it.
2. Intelligence gathering. Seriously.
3. Big numbers: your presence makes a difference, even if you aren’t
doing anything but sending good vibes our way and bad vibes to the
RNC.
4. Decentralized actions: both coordinated and independent; these
cities are a playground, and you wouldn’t want to miss all the fun.
5. Surprises: Republicans, cops, starry-eyed youth- everyone likes a
surprise.

These are the rules:

1. Know the area. Come early, come often. Or if you can’t do that, study up from home (Al Gore invented the Internet for a reason).
2. Respect local communities, develop your knowledge of local background, and remember that, good or bad, the effects of your actions endure long after you’ve left town.
3. Strategize: Be smart. Be creative. Get a sense of what other organizing is going on.
4. Take initiative.
5. Keep your privilege in check. Recognize socialized systems of domination, and work to undermine them.
6. Respect. Respect. Respect. Where it’s due. But no capitulation, and do what you have to do.
7. Keep the bullshit to a minimum. Elitism is not security culture.
No vanguardism, no unnecessary infighting, no loose lips.

REPORTBACK

pReNC 2007: Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

http://www.nornc.org

rnc08@riseup.net

FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST 2007

After the months we spent interwebbing, building bikes, sitting through endless meetings and fundraising, the pReNC was finally here. The main meeting space, the Jack Pine Community Center, on Lake Street in South Minneapolis, was buzzing with excitement as folks checked-in, borrowed bikes from our stockpile, and grabbed literature. The kick-off to our weekend gathering was going swimmingly and we hadn’t even had dinner yet. At 5:30pm a group of attendees left to ride in the monthly Critical Mass bikes ride, usually a low key affair in the Cities, begrudgingly tolerated by the PoPo and even ridden in by liberal politicians.

Not this month.

Accounts vary but, basically, over 50 cops from multiple agencies showed up and arrested 16 Adults and three minors- most were held on PC Riot, though a couple adults were tap-charged with disorderly conduct, instead. They used mace, pepper spray and Tasers on dozens of people. And they just happened to have a State Patrol helicopter patrolling in the sky from almost the very beginning of the ride. Many of us feel that the police, knowing that the Critical Mass was being promoted as a kick-off to the pReNC weekend, attacked the ride in order to smear the Welcoming Committee’s image in the larger Twin Cities community, disrupt our conference, and practice for next year. The police of course deny this, and it didn’t work anyway. We recovered instantly- when the first calls of arrests and mace came in to the crew back at the Jack Pine, everyone got on their (A)-game. We found great support in the community (that the cops maced, Tasered and arrested non-pReNC participants and even bystanders didn’t help their cause), and learned some valuable lessons for 2008. Much has been written and analyzed about the August 31^st Critical Mass, and we’d encourage people to see our website, TC Indymedia, and rev up the ol’ Google engine for more info.

SATURDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2007

Welcoming Brunch

An amazing pancake breakfast was served to a small horde of bleary-eyed anarchists, while the welcoming presentation began. The presentation was an informational session to orient the participants for the strategizing session on Sunday. It included info on the pReNC and the registration process for the strategizing session, a rundown of the local RNC protest scene, and some basic convention numbers (i.e., delegates, members of the media and other participants, statistics on economic impact and costs, police expectations). Maps were pored over, detailing points of interest in downtown St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis and everywhere in between, and visuals of specific “weak spots” between downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis were utilized (thanks UA!). The RNC-WC then went on to describe what they have been doing for the past nine months: outreach, fundraising, information gathering, coalition building, planning the pReNC, organizing events and trainings, legal organizing and a little more. After Q&A, registration for the strategy session began.

The Afternoon

After breakfast finished, we broke up and scurried off to workshops such as Protest 101, Security Culture, Shutting Things Down to Open Things Up, Street Art, Street Medics, and Off the Sidewalks and Into the Streets. Workshops, of which only four fell through, were generally well-attended. There was also a much-lauded, guided bus-tour of the Twin Cities, highlighting points of interest for the 2008 RNC, occurring twice during the afternoon.

After cramming our skulls with ludicrous amounts of activist knowledge, we crammed our stomachs with a delicious spaghetti dinner. With our heads and bellies filled to the brim we scampered around town playing night games and practicing our new strategies and skills.

SUNDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2007

Strategizing Session

The strategizing session began a little after 11:30 am on Sunday with approximately 75 individuals in attendance. It began with report backs from several consultas, and presentations from groups planning around the RNC.

Folks from Unconventional Action talked about the Carolinas Consulta and their ideas on how to take advantage of certain geographic vulnerabilities. Information from this consulta, can be found online at: http://www.unconventionalaction.org/downloads/carolinas_report_back_for_reading.pdf

Next, a man out of Idaho representing the Beard Theater Troupe, discussed his group’s zany musical production of their play “Nobody for President” which they will be performing at both the DNC and the RNC in 2008. He added the specific message his group is attempting to get across with the play: “The feeling we are trying to generate is that each of us, actors and audience alike, are independent, self-reliant individuals capable of governing ourselves. We are promoting nonviolence and nonparticipation as tactics in the struggle against the state.”

The Seeds of Peace Collective reported on their intentions to help provide food and medical support for the RNC protesters. Some of the collective members will likely move to Minneapolis several months prior to the RNC so they can help lead street medic training.

A representative from the local IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) chapter told us about the potential for the annual GA (general assembly) to be held in the TC as a lead-up to the protests. This would mean around 1,000 folks from “one big fighting union” here and ready to stand strong in resistance to the convention.

Representatives from Students for Democratic Society (SDS) shared their plans to hold strategizing convergences in both Ohio and Connecticut to prepare for the party conventions in Denver and the Twin Cities.

The Pittsburgh Organizing Group (POG) briefly discussed their main goals for the weekend of protests at the RNC. They want to put their focus on disruption of the convention, hitting the hardest on the first day of the convention when the largest group of protesters will be in attendance. That being said, POG maintains that it is essential to operate under a radical anti-authoritarian framework and not fall under the predominant liberal umbrella of the more mainstream groups.

The RNC Welcoming Committee reiterated its commitment to providing infrastructural support to facilitate successful actions. The RNC-WC is organizing direct action training in late July 2008 with ex-Ruckus Collective folks. One Welcoming Committee member expressed her intentions to coordinate a family-friendly area for radical parents, kids, and people who are unable to be arrested.

Lastly, a contingent of folks from Madison, WI talked about the People’s Convention that they’re going to be holding in early August 2008. Following on the heels of this, they’re planning a two-week bicycle ride from Madison to Minneapolis, visiting different communities along the way and building up momentum before the protest.

It was very inspiring to hear the groups share their ideas with the larger session, many of which were concrete and well on their way to taking form for next year. In working towards these goals, the Welcoming Committee presented some tactics which might help facilitate these outcomes including: forming a temporary autonomous zone (or free state) in the vicinity of convention headquarters; hosting a counter convention; targeting unexpected places; working in a larger allied connection with other left groups both locally and nationally; and communicating the idea that we are an ungovernable mass.

The floor was again opened to discussion from all parties with the “ungovernable mass” slinging ideas at the facilitators faster than they could be written down. In all, the goals from the larger group materialized and seem to fit into four different categories: 1) action-oriented, 2) building allies, 3) post-convention movement-building, and 4) how are we getting our message out. After a break-out of smaller groups, much discussion on specific wording, and deep breathing, the session consensed (with 15 stand asides) on the goals…so here they are: We will eclipse/crash/disrupt/rout/shutdown the RNC, allowing for maximum participation with different zones of safety and encouraging a diversity of tactics. We will get our message out and be the ones to tell our own stories. We are building alliances and networking with local communities. We might not operate under the same set of assumptions, but we have to breathe the same air, and get f#@*ed by the same bureaucrats. It’s time we sat down and talked. We are coordinating with the folks in Denver and stand in solidarity with them. We understand that in a system that offers just two, identically foul, options, shit is bound to hit the fan sooner or later. Let’s turn it on full blast. And…we will create something fresh and lasting. When the last out-of-towners hop that train away from the convention cities, there will be a lingering effect greater than the pepper spray. This is our chance to build truly radical infrastructure, and a movement that offers new and innovative ways of being and doing that inspire even the most disillusioned among us.

Having collectively reached a decision about the goals for the RNC resistance, the strategy session concluded and transitioned into breakout sessions scattered throughout south Minneapolis. These break-out sessions included Action prep, Media, Outreach, Fundraising, Communications and Medical.

Action Breakout

The action breakout focused much of its energy on deciding key targets for the RNC. People all agreed that the first day of the convention should be the largest coordinated day of action. In broad terms, three potential targets were identified: road blockades in St. Paul, the public transportation infrastructure, and bridges over the Mississippi. To this end, a lot of information must be gathered and mapped out. This includes but is not limited to dimensions of roads; physical layout – lanes, poles, railings, etc.; entrance and exits for action scenarios; bathrooms; skyway access; surveillance cameras; proximity to police; etc. In addition to these considerations, it was agreed upon by the breakout that information regarding access to resources (thrift stores, junkyards, construction sites, dumpsters), financial targets and businesses that support the RNC, as well as information about the holding pen/detention facilities, would all be made available by the RNC Welcoming Committee.

Communication Breakout

The communications breakout recognized quickly that there were two distinct needs for communicating: keeping folks at the pReNC in touch, and doing outreach to those not familiar with the Welcoming Committee. In regards to the first goal, several ideas were tossed around including on-line message boards on the Unconventional Action and Welcoming Committee websites and monthly conference calls. It was generally agreed also, that more pReNCesque consultas need to happen before the big show next September. Therefore, there will be a call for regional consultas as well as a sort of pReNC II in May 08 to coincide with the large May Day celebration in Minneapolis. In terms of outreach, the idea of putting together a roadshow was very popular. This would serve as a way for radicals to connect regionally, and for the vision of the Welcoming Committee to reach people outside the Twin Cities. The roadshow is envisioned as a multi-media presentation with maps and ideas that could orient people and engage them in the convention resistance. It might be fun and reach a wider audience if the show was to travel with a multi-genre group of bands. The roadshow is going to be planned over winter, with a tour tentatively set for the spring.

Media Breakout

The media breakout discussed different options for conveying our story. With the ease of access to the internet and the ubiquitous nature of the web, most of the media envisioned could be digital. Building off of the success of G8 TV, it was suggested there be a website devoted to live streaming audio and video. This could have different resolution options and watermark with indymedia. A separate site might feature a picture walk-through of the buildup and protests. It was agreed that our text be translated both for printed documents and the websites. Some sort of creative anti-branding campaign might be useful for promotion. Another idea was a DVD or CD fundraiser involving the CrimethInc. Collective. As with the Welcoming Committee’s media agreement, it was reiterated that whenever dealing with the mass media you need to state that you only represent yourself and not a group. When this is tricky, defer to the Welcoming Committee. The WC’s media statement is available online at www.nornc.org.

Food and Medical Breakouts

The medical and food breakout was facilitated by Seeds of Peace, a group that provides medical aid and food for large demonstrations. They can be reached at seeds_of_peace_collective.org or seedsofpeace@riseup.net. Seeds representatives shared that they would like to send at least one person to live in Minneapolis around March 1^st to establish the group on the ground and begin planning medic trainings in the area. More Seeds of Peace members would likely follow 6-8 weeks before the RNC. Seeds is prepared to coordinate a number of different medic trainings in the two months preceding the RNC, including trainings for healthcare professionals, street medic 101, and a wilderness first responder-esque course with an activist bent. As far as food is concerned, local food activists said that they would focus the next year on building their capacity, finding spaces to cook, and coordinating with other groups nationally to help with food. Seeds of Peace folks shared that they know how to build a temporary outdoor kitchen with the capacity to serve thousands for less than one thousand dollars. Seeds also assured that while they don’t explicitly plan on bottom-lining food, much of their energy will go towards coordinating cooking efforts.

Outreach Breakout

The outreach breakout session focused on community organizing and building broad coalitions between radicals and other community groups. The group brainstormed different ways to communicate and coordinate with other groups as well as which communities to work with. Goals for the outreach efforts are: building long lasting connections based on dialogue and cooperation, involving a diversity of communities, being able to ask for and accept help from other groups without compromising our own missions, and creating an inclusive coalition for people with common interests. Some ways to reach out might be going door to door, supplying liaisons to other groups, holding large open town hall meetings, creating issue-oriented forums to encourage discussion between groups, collaborating with other groups on events, and asking what we can do to help (and mean it). Overall, there was an emphasis on understanding that all people are in different places politically, and these differences have been exploited and used to cultivate division in the past. It is in the best interest of all groups organizing against the RNC to communicate and build relationships to make this sort of division impossible.

The Evening

After a delicious dinner, Roadblock Earth First! out of Bloomington, IN gave an excellent presentation on I-69 (the NAFTA Superhighway) and radical, grassroots resistance to it. More info at: http://i69news.bee-town.com/

MONDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2007

L(A)bor Day Picnic

To round out a great weekend, we went to St. Paul’s Rice Park for a picnic. Rice Park is conveniently located across from the Saint Paul Hotel, sure to house some VIPs during the RNC, and right behind the Xcel Energy Center. We enjoyed grilled corn and apples, delicious leftover FNB fare blended to resemble a dip, park games, and walking tours of Downtown St. Paul. Some enterprising soul even slipped into the St. Paul Hotel and dropped a banner reading“Bloc by Bloc-Taking it back in 2008” from the roof!

A good time was had by all, even Commander David J. Korus of the SPPD’s Special Investigations Unit- he was nice enough to come out, introduce himself, and see if we needed anything. At mention of the Critical Mass affair, he assured us that in St. Paul the coppers do things a little bit different than their buddies across the river; asked if the sketchy creepers taking pictures of us picnicking were part of his department, he said, “Yes.” He even posed for our cameras! Golly, thanks, David! Your pretty face is held up on our fridge with a heart-shaped magnet.

STREET AND LEGAL SUPPORT

As stated previously, folks not swept up by the pigs rocked the jail support throughout the weekend. A lot of people jumped into street medic mode as soon as the cops started macing, pepper spraying and Tasering people, and others hopped on their cell phones to get info to the folks waiting at the Jack Pine, who were ready and waiting for an influx of stunned and scared Massers.

All three minors and two of the adults arrested were out by early Saturday morning. Though we initially feared that the rest would be held till their court appearances the following Wednesday (word to the wise: don’t get arrested Friday night on a holiday weekend), all except one were bonded out before then, most in time to participate in the Strategizing session. At this point, some charges have been dropped and we’re still waiting for the City to decide whether it wants to go forward with others.

In addition to the invaluable work of a few folks within the Welcoming Committee, we owe a lot of thanks to Communities United Against Police Brutality and some awesome local NLGers for jumping on this instantly and continuing to work for a just resolution to a totally unjust situation. A lot of local groups like the Anti-War Committee also came out in support of us, and a few residents from around the site of the fiasco rescued bikes that would have been lost to us otherwise, all of which we’re grateful for.

The biggest lesson learned for next year was the importance of sharing information, accepting help, and delegating tasks, in crisis situations- this is difficult, but something we’ll all be working on for the RNC.

NOTE: If you witnessed the Critical Mass shit go down and didn’t provide a statement to that effect, please consider doing so; it could help immensely with whatever charges end up sticking. If you’re in town, lost your bike at Critical Mass, and still need a way to get around, contact the RNC-WC- we still have bikes that we’re lending out.

SECURITY

After much fanfare, the pReNC’s Joyful Sunshine Security Team feels that the weekend went pretty smoothly. Acknowledging that we probably didn’t catch everything, the vouching/registration system we came up with for the Strat and Breakout sessions seems to have worked well- people were understanding and eager to help us develop stronger security culture practices, and yet the protocol we adopted doesn’t seem to have hindered the productivity of the weekend. We did discover one local police cooperator and expel him from all activities; with only a few other exceptions, the vast majority of guests were able to participate fully.

Lessons learned are: we need to think about and develop a process for dealing with sexual perpetrators who seek to enter our communities- based on past experiences and common sense, we can reasonably expect that this will be a much bigger issue at the RNC than it was at the pReNC; we need to work on spreading out responsibilities more widely, acknowledging security as a full-time commitment for events like this; we need to anticipate and prepare for police attacks more seriously, even in “low-risk” activities like riding your damn bike with some friends on a beautiful Friday evening.

WRAP-UP

In conclusion, we here in Minneapolis-St. Paul feel that the pReNC was a roaring success. It left the Welcoming Committee with a greater feeling of unity and mutual confidence, and gave us all an opportunity to meet new comrades in person and touch-base with old friends. Most importantly, we collectively developed an exciting framework for anarchist resistance to the 2008 RNC and people from all over the country left with information to distribute at home and utilize for organizing next year’s extravaganza. Watch for a Call to (A)ction coming soon, as well as details about the next convergence (what should we call it?! pReNC II? Almost TheReNC?). In the meantime, check out info about the MKEtoRNC Consulta (http://mkeanarchy.bravehost.com/), Unconventional Action’s new website (http://www.unconventionalaction.org/), and please send us feedback on the pReNC, updates on what y’all are up to now, and anything we can do to assist you over the coming months.

With Tides of Revolutionary Goodwill,

Your Welcoming Committee

The WC has put out the first edition of a zine chronicling radical moments in Minnesota’s past. If you’re in town, copies of The Struggle Is Our Inheritance: A Radical History of Minnesota are available at Arise!, the Jack Pine, and by contacting any member of the WC. Suggested donation $5. If you’re not in the TC: Email mnhistory (a) riseup.net to request copies, or download and print it yourself using the links below.

Here’s the cover:

And here’re the innards.

Print the .pdf double-sided, copy the cover onto the blank page at the beginning, and fold!

Anarchists prepare to protest RNC

by Jessica Mador, Minnesota Public Radio

September 3, 2007

This week marks exactly one year until the 2008 Republican National Convention comes to St. Paul. One group of activists spent Labor Day weekend planning its protest strategy. But some convention-watchers are not happy with what they see as the group’s violent plans.

St. Paul, Minn. — Members of a self-described anarchist group, the “RNC Welcoming Committee”, worked over Labor Day weekend outlining protest plans. At a news conference following the weekend of meetings, RNC Welcoming Committee spokesperson Sandra Brown-Rivers read a brief statement.

“This Labor Day weekend, anarchists and anti-authoritarians from every city, every town, every hamlet, every last Hooverville of this great nation convened a grand congress,” said Brown-Rivers.

Brown-Rivers wouldn’t describe the weekend’s activities in detail, since the group maintains a strict policy of not answering questions from the media.

But in the past the group has said it will not seek permits to demonstrate during the 2008 Republican National Convention.

And last week, a group spokesperson told the Associated Press that efforts to restrict protesters through permits constitute repression and a “violent threat.” So it’s unclear what the group’s plans actually are, but its website features a video that offers some hints.

Dressed in head-to-toe black and wearing masks showing only their eyes, the protesters train by practicing hand-to-hand combat. One throws a bottle rocket over a wall. It looks menacing, until the bottle rocket lands safely in a barbeque grill, where a smiling protester is cooking up a barbeque. There’s no sound other than a little music.

“There has to be a good faith effort on the part of the peaceful protest community to help meet the city and the police and all of us dirty rotten Republicans halfway.”

- Conservative Minnesota blogger Mitch Berg

The video is clearly tongue-in-cheek and aside from their wannabe militant get-ups, the protesters look pretty friendly.

But some Republicans say videos like this one are no laughing matter.

Mitch Berg is a conservative Minnesota blogger and radio talk show host. He said the video and website of the RNC Welcoming Committee show a clear potential, if not an intention, to commit violence during the convention.

“It’s a sign that there are some people who want to plan things and who are trying to plan things and if this leads to something real big and real serious and people blocking I-94 and all this stuff they said they’d have to do, I think it’s a sign that someone wants to do something,” said Berg. “Whether it will happen, time will tell.”

Berg said he believes in the right to free speech for all groups planning to protest. But he said he worries that the so-called welcoming committee’s tactics will prevent peaceful protesters and convention-goers from enjoying their own free speech rights.

“I’m a talk show host so I’m keenly sensitive to everybody’s civil rights and free speech,” Berg said. “But I think that there has to be a good faith effort on the part of the peaceful protest community to help meet the city and the police and all of us dirty rotten Republicans halfway.”

An estimated 45,000 people are expected to attend next year’s convention. This number does not include protesters. But organizers with the Anti-War Committee, one of the main permitted groups planning demonstrations at the convention, say they are expecting upwards of 50,000 protesters.

If these estimates are correct, the 2008 Republican National Convention could be one of the largest protest demonstrations in Twin Cities history.

The Secret Service is in charge of convention security, but the St. Paul Police Department has ultimate authority over protest marches. St. Paul Police Department spokesman Tom Walsh dismisses the idea that the crowds will be too much for the city to handle.

“Obviously it’s been done successfully in the past. There is no reason to expect it won’t be done successfully again,” said Walsh. “So the excitement out there is premature.”

Walsh said the department is prepared to handle any situation that could arise during the convention.

And he said the department supports protesters’ right to express their dissent, as long as they are law-abiding and peaceful.

“That’s been our policy from the day we learned that it was coming here,” Walsh said. “I mean, one of the things that makes this country the fascinating place that it is to live in is the fact that you are allowed to have a varying viewpoint and you are allowed to express it. So we know that people are going to express their dissatisfaction and that is their right. We certainly wouldn’t stand in the way of that.”

Next year’s Republican National Convention is set for Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul.

The pReNC was a convergence over Labor Day Weekend 2007, intended to bring together anarchists from all over the country in order to network and strategize for the 2008 RNC in Minnesota. Below you’ll find reportbacks from the event:

1. Click here for the RNC Welcoming Committee’s reportback.
2. From Unconventional Action in North Carolina: “the Strategy”
3. From Media Mouse: Organizing for the 2008 RNC Protests

posted to Infoshop in early October:

In support of the call to action issued by the RNC Welcoming Committee, Unconventional Action is seeking endorsements for the strategy consensed upon at the “pReNC,” a national planning consulta a year in advance of the Republican National Convention.

If your group endorses this strategy, contact us at unconventional_action@mountainrebel.net. Groups that respond by mid-October will be listed in the print version of the call to action, which will be circulated nationwide; all endorsements will be listed at www.UnconventionalAction.org as they come in. Specify whether you desire contact information to appear with your endorsement.

It is important for a strategy like this to be publicly endorsed by groups that hope to see it succeed. This gives the strategy visibility and shows that many people are invested in it, which in turn enables others to invest themselves in its success.

Send endorsements, questions, and requests for further information to:
Unconventional_action@mountainrebel.net

RNC Welcoming Committee Call to Action: http://www.rncwelcomingcommittee.org/2007/09/30/crash-the-convention-2008-call-to-action/

pReNC Reportback:
http://www.rncwelcomingcommittee.org/2007/09/30/prenc-report-back/#more-163

THE STRATEGY
On the penultimate day of the “pReNC,” a national planning consulta a year in advance of the Republican National Convention, over a hundred anti-authoritarians from around the country gathered to distill a formal strategy for disrupting the convention. Smaller working groups focused on nationwide communications, food/medical/legal infrastructure, media, coalition building, and action planning. Pouring over maps, timetables, and photographs of the city, the action working group hammered out this plan.On the first day of the convention, participants will employ a three-tiered direct action strategy to disrupt the RNC. The tiers are organized in order of priority according to the number of participants; if a small number of participants show up, only the first tier will be carried out, but if the numbers are on hand, all three tiers will be in effect. 

Tier One: Establish 15-20 blockades, utilizing a diversity of tactics, creating an inner and outer ring around St. Paul’s Excel Center, where the RNC is to take place.

Tier Two: Immobilize the delegates’ transportation infrastructure, including the busses that are to convey them.

Tier Three: Block the five western bridges connecting the Twin Cities.

Those plugging into this strategy will be free to shape t