St. Paul, MN – Standing in front to the Xcel Center, Sept. 1, the site of next year’s Republican National Convention, organizers of the massive protest planned against the war on Iraq pressed their demand for permits. The city of Saint Paul has refused to issue permits and is having subcommittees of the city’s so-called Free Speech Committee meeting in secret. Speakers – including members of Women Against Military Madness, the Welfare Rights Committee and the Anti-War Committee – made it clear that would fight any attempt to restrict their right to protest against the Iraq war at the Republican National Convention.

Anh Pham, of the Anti-War Committee stated, “The Republicans cannot expect to come to St. Paul, to the Twin Cities, which had some of the largest and most consistent anti-war demonstrations in the country, to stay silent and let this happen in our backyards. The anti-war voices of Minnesota will not be silenced, the anti-war voices in the U.S. will not be silenced and the voices of the peoples of the world will not be silenced.”

Marie Bram of the Women Against Military Madness condemned the war on Iraq as a crime against humanity, and urged the city to grant the march permits.

“We are outraged that this government spends trillions to carry out occupations and war abroad, while they slash spending for basic human needs at home. We are also outraged that it is us, poor and working folks that are being sent to kill and be killed in this rich man’s war,” said Angel Buechner of the Welfare Rights Committee.

Following the Xcel Center press conference, the Anti-War Committee is hosted a ‘pre-versary’ picnic and rally at nearby Mears Park. The event included politically themed games for children and adults, music, poetry and speeches. Local organizations involved in anti-RNC planning also tabled with information for how attendees can get involved in building for next year’s protests.

Leah Entenmann of the Anti-War Committee explains, “The vast majority of Minnesotans oppose the war on Iraq and many are looking for ways to make themselves heard. We see the RNC as a huge opportunity for Minnesotans to join their voices with forces nationally against the war and the Republican agenda. The Saint Paul City Council’s 'Free Speech Committee' sub-committees have been meeting in secret and are seeking to control our organizing efforts. We are using Sept. 1 to launch a year’s worth of organizing against the Republican National Convention, to raise public support for the forthcoming demonstrations and to announce our intention to march on the RNC – with or without the approval of the St. Paul City Council.”

The planned protests at the RNC have the backing of a broad spectrum of peace and justice organizations. Further information can be found at ProtestRNC2008.org

#StPaulMN #SaintPaulMN #News #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #marchOnTheRNC #XcelCenter

Sisters and Brothers,

On May 16 the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War will be in Federal Court. We are seeking an injunction that forces the City of Saint Paul to issue permits for our anti-war march on Republican National Convention September 1. We need your help. Contact Saint Paul's mayor and send letters to the Twin Cities press.

Starting May 12, we need our supporters and fellow protesters to contact Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Urge him to deliver a final permit to the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, for us to march from the State Capitol to the Xcel Center on September 1, 2008. Email Mayor Coleman at mayor@ci.stpaul.mn.us or call him at 651-266-8510. Feel free to use the talking points mentioned below.

We began seeking permits for this demonstration days after the Republicans announced they would hold their national convention in Minnesota. While we have a permit to assemble and rally at the State Capitol, the City of Saint Paul continues to withhold a permit for a march on the Xcel Center, where the convention will be held. Saint Paul city government is now saying “wait and see what we give you on May 31.” This is unacceptable.

No important social question is ever settled in the courtroom. Issues that matter are settled in the streets and in the court of public opinion. We need folks across the U.S to demand that we get a permit to go to the Xcel Center – the site of the RNC. The eyes of the world will be focused there September 1.

In addition to calling and emailing the Saint Paul mayor's office with the demand to issue the permits, writing letters to the local newspapers would really help. We want to make it known that people from all around the country are coming here and insist that Saint Paul city officials give permits for our anti-war protest.

The two main local 'mainstream' newspapers are the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) and the Pioneer Press St Paul). Here is the information on sending letters.:

Star Tribune(250 word maximum)

Submit from their website [http://mpls.startribune.com/dynamic/feedback/form.php?opinion=1]

OR... Fax to 612-673-4359

OR... Mail to Editorial Department, Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av., Minneapolis, MN 55488.

Pioneer Press(150 word maximum)

Please send your letters in the body of an e-mail, not as an attachment, to letters@pioneerpress.com. Include your full name and your city of residence for publication. For verification purposes only, and not for publication, include your street address and daytime telephone number.

Please keep you letters short and concise. If you only send a letter to one paper, the Star Tribune is the more important of the two. If you send the same letter to both, send separate emails.

We recommend a few talking points for your letters:

1) Denounce the war. The Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War is planning a major anti-war demonstration and the city of Saint Paul is refusing to grant a permit to go to the site of the RNC – the Xcel Center.

2) We are planning to march on the RNC. We expect / demand to be at the Xcel Center September 1.

3) The Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War is getting the runaround from the city of Saint Paul. Permit applications have been in since days after the convention was announced. We have a right to protest the war. We need the permits now.

You efforts will help to create the political climate where we get the permits we need.

Sincerely,

The Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War

#UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #Labor #OppressedNationalities #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #marchPermits #Statement #SaintPaulMayorChrisColeman #XcelCenter