Minneapolis, MN – On January 14, a jury found a group of seven anti-war protesters not guilty of trespassing at a Minneapolis National Guard recruiting office last March. The charges stemmed from an incident that was part of a series of demonstrations organized to mark the 5th anniversary of the U.S. war in Iraq. On March 27, 2008, hundreds rallied and marched against the war on the University of Minnesota campus. That afternoon, a group of protesters organized by the Anti-War Committee attempted to enter the National Guard recruiting center located on the second floor of 825 Washington Avenue SE. After finding the doors locked and police waiting, they remained in the hallway and continued their demonstration. Police informed them that “the building owner doesn't want you here,” but they refused to leave. Sixteen people were arrested for trespassing.
St. Paul, MN – At a press conference here, Feb. 6, Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee announced that the City of Saint Paul is spending $5000 to resolve a lawsuit that was filed by attorneys representing Mick Kelly. Kelly, an organizer for the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, was arrested outside the Xcel Center June 5, 2008 while passing out leaflets at the Obama rally. He was promoting the Sept. 1 anti-war march at the Republican National Convention. Police placed him under arrest, then he was searched, put in a squad car and taken to the old police headquarters where he was cited for soliciting and peddling.
St. Paul, MN – A Ramsey County judge threw out all charges Jan. 23 in the first Repbulican National Convention (RNC) protest-related case to proceed to trial. The ‘Wall Street Seven’ consisted of seven people arrested on Sept. 1, 2008 for blocking the intersection of 9th and Wacouta in downtown Saint Paul. They were charged with obstructing legal process, disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly and blocking traffic. All charges were thrown out after the city of Saint Paul had presented the prosecution’s case and the judge concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
Washington DC.– Anayibe Rojas Valderrama (Sonia), una mujer colombiana miembra de las FARC fue sentenciada aquí, (Julio 2, 2007) por el juez James Robertson a pasar casi 17 años en las cárceles federales por cargos de enviar cocaína a los Estados Unidos (EE.UU.).
Washington DC – El revolucionario colombiano, Ricardo Palmera está siendo enjuiciado por segunda vez bajo las ordenes de la Administracion Bush. El Comité Nacional por la Libertad de Ricardo Palmera está haciendo un llamando a participar en una protesta para exigir su inmediata libertad. Esta protesta se llevará a cabo el día 18 de juinio, frente a la Corte Federal del Distrito de Columbia, en Washington DC. Luego, los simpatizantes del Professor Palmera llenarán el recinto en donde se lleva a cabo el juicio.
