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From: http://www.nornc.org/

This isn't a peaceful assembly if you ask me:

So...these protestors have gathered together and were watching movies. Also, many apparently intend to participate in non-violent civil-disobedience.

How is that not peaceful assembly?

They were certainly peacefully assembled at the time of the raids. Even the worst of the actions they were "conspiring" to commit were a far cry from violence. Blocking traffic might make them a pain in the ass, but it's certainly not violent.

First...

Now you show yours indicating (quoting from your original post) "these people aren't violent anarchists, they are citizens protesting the government."

From this link Although the protesters say they won't take the first swing, they vow to protect themselves The were preparing for self-defense only. Your original quote about 'red zones' even said as much. By the way, that link, which you quoted from liberally, was from a Minnesota Monitor article about the group, not from the group themselves. It was just put up on their site.

Everything from the actual group indicates civil disobedience that pledged not to be violent, only to defend themselves if/when the police started to violate their rights. Every citizen has the right to do these things. Nothing wrong...

I didn't bother to read your link to the 'search warrants' because TFA reported that these warrants were not served when the police searched the house. Sure they can whip up a warrant AFTER the fact, but that's not how the law works. To search a residence you need probable cause AND you have to serve the warrant when you go.

They were planning civil disobedience. Same asRosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus.

Lastly, they are protesting the RNC, yes...but their rights are being violated by the police. Don't try to obfuscate the issue. They were planning civil disobedience, not a 'riot' and the cops searched their houses without serving a warrant.

No, but the police, FBI, sheriff, etc. ARE part of the government. I didn't mention the RNC once in my post.

Their protests were not planned against the police, the FBI, the sheriff or any other representative of the government. Their goal was to disrupt the Republican National Convention and prevent free speech and political discourse.

So what? Being an anarchist is not a crime. If you read TFA, you'd note that no search warrants were given, and that they were charged with 'conspiracy to riot.' I said they were not violent anarchists, in the sense that they were NOT planning violence or rioting.

... [ snip ] ...

I know that's not in TFA. Please cite a source. If you do not, then, well...

Maybe you should spend more than a fraction of a second glancing at TFA? I mean if you'd tried at all you would have seen this page:

Those plugging into this strategy will be free to shape their actions as they see fit, using the tactics they consider appropriate. As the specific blockade sites are established, there may be a system of delegating some sites as "red zones" (prepared for self-defense), "yellow zones" (peaceful but assertive), and "green zones" (aiming to avoid any risk of arrest) so as to accommodate a wide variety of creative tactics and involve individuals with differing needs and talents.

Or you could have found this page titled "Anarchy and the RNC: Protesters Won't Rule Out 2008 Violence". Sounds peaceful.

And if you tried at all you'd be able to locate one of the warrants.

Well, I showed mine. Now you show yours indicating (quoting from your original post) "these people aren't violent anarchists, they are citizens protesting the government." I mean, their website is titled "NORNC" and they have page after page detailing how they intend to disrupt the Republican National Convention. But maybe I misunderstood and they aren't actually intending to disrupt peaceful political assembly or to interfere with the representatives of millions of Americans getting together. Please, show me where I'm wrong and you're right. Otherwise acknowledge that you were wrong and speaking completely without basis.

No, but the police, FBI, sheriff, etc. ARE part of the government. I didn't mention the RNC once in my post.

Their protests were not planned against the police, the FBI, the sheriff or any other representative of the government. Their goal was to disrupt the Republican National Convention and prevent free speech and political discourse.

So what? Being an anarchist is not a crime. If you read TFA, you'd note that no search warrants were given, and that they were charged with 'conspiracy to riot.' I said they were not violent anarchists, in the sense that they were NOT planning violence or rioting.

... [ snip ] ...

I know that's not in TFA. Please cite a source. If you do not, then, well...

Maybe you should spend more than a fraction of a second glancing at TFA? I mean if you'd tried at all you would have seen this page:

Those plugging into this strategy will be free to shape their actions as they see fit, using the tactics they consider appropriate. As the specific blockade sites are established, there may be a system of delegating some sites as "red zones" (prepared for self-defense), "yellow zones" (peaceful but assertive), and "green zones" (aiming to avoid any risk of arrest) so as to accommodate a wide variety of creative tactics and involve individuals with differing needs and talents.

Or you could have found this page titled "Anarchy and the RNC: Protesters Won't Rule Out 2008 Violence". Sounds peaceful.

And if you tried at all you'd be able to locate one of the warrants.

Well, I showed mine. Now you show yours indicating (quoting from your original post) "these people aren't violent anarchists, they are citizens protesting the government." I mean, their website is titled "NORNC" and they have page after page detailing how they intend to disrupt the Republican National Convention. But maybe I misunderstood and they aren't actually intending to disrupt peaceful political assembly or to interfere with the representatives of millions of Americans getting together. Please, show me where I'm wrong and you're right. Otherwise acknowledge that you were wrong and speaking completely without basis.

From: http://www.nornc.org/

This isn't a peaceful assembly if you ask me:

"How we get there (the strategy):
1. Start Strong - Throw all of our energy into the first day. We'll kick this off right and stretch the militarized police state out so far that it can no longer contain and suppress our voices and desires.

2. Transportation Troubles - This includes blockades downtown (at key intersections), on bridges (10 bridges over the Mississippi River in the metro area), and other sporadic and strategic targets (busses, hotel and airport shuttles etc)."

This is the group that the Star article describes as having been arrested.

I donnou looks to me their worries about getting stepped on by the police state were pretty well founded.

Read the page, looks like standard activist gobbledygook* to me. Not even any overthrow government shit, and they sure weren't Anarchists Call them selves that but to be honest I don't think they know what it really means. Liberals would probably be more accurate but I don't think thats right either.

*Holy shit, my spell checker actually had a correction for me on gobbledygook!

Bottom line though, Theres a major convention for one of the two big political parties in the States, Free speech is first and foremost about political speech. If you can't stage a demonstration where a political party is setting up shop its pure bullshit. Even if the group planning their protest was marginal in a case like this you want to bend over backwards (as a government agency) to NOT get in the way of a protest, because this is basically textbook example of what free speech is for.

We should demand media coverage of these obvious civil rights violations, these people aren't violent anarchists, they are citizens protesting the government.

What? First, the RNC isn't "the government." Second, yes they are anarchists. From their website:

The RNC Welcoming Committee is an anarchist / anti-authoritarian organizing body preparing for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

They intend to block the bridges into and out of the city. The blockades are going to be categorized as "red zones" (prepared for "self-defense"), "yellow zones" (peaceful but assertive), and "green zones" (aiming to avoid risk of arrest.) I don't see how holding public property by force is at all non-violent.

I agree however, people should protest. They should protest these hooligans who don't believe in the core basis of the USoA: that ideas will not be propagated by violence. Differing opinions will be discussed and if your opinion isn't the most popular you don't get to enact your ideas. Perpetrating acts of violence, intimidation and seizing property for long term use (a goal described on their website) aren't something any civilized country should be getting behind.

From: http://www.nornc.org/

This isn't a peaceful assembly if you ask me:

"How we get there (the strategy): 1. Start Strong - Throw all of our energy into the first day. We'll kick this off right and stretch the militarized police state out so far that it can no longer contain and suppress our voices and desires.

2. Transportation Troubles - This includes blockades downtown (at key intersections), on bridges (10 bridges over the Mississippi River in the metro area), and other sporadic and strategic targets (busses, hotel and airport shuttles etc)."

This is the group that the Star article describes as having been arrested.

And what part of this advocates violence? This is a perfectly fair, if not particularly effective, way to protest.

From: http://www.nornc.org/

This isn't a peaceful assembly if you ask me:

"How we get there (the strategy):
1. Start Strong - Throw all of our energy into the first day. We'll kick this off right and stretch the militarized police state out so far that it can no longer contain and suppress our voices and desires.

2. Transportation Troubles - This includes blockades downtown (at key intersections), on bridges (10 bridges over the Mississippi River in the metro area), and other sporadic and strategic targets (busses, hotel and airport shuttles etc)."

This is the group that the Star article describes as having been arrested.