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It was in 2008 that we had the Republican National Convention. Several people were arrested for pretesting that event and eight are still dealing with criminal legal charges against them.
Four of the eight have already accepted plea agreements as of this month. Max Specktor and Rob Czernik pled guilty to gross misdemeanor Conspiracy to Riot. Garrett Fitzgerald and Nathanael Secor pled guilty to gross misdemeanor Conspiracy to Damage Property. These are all non-cooperating plea agreements; they will not be called upon to testify against anyone else. All of them received 100 hours of community for a 10 months period, with no jail time or restitution. There is also a $200 fine.
Specktor and Secor will be on supervised parole for one year and the others for two. These plea bargains were to prevent being charged as “terrorists” which would make them felons. All of this stems from peaceful protests at the RNC. Apparently members of the Republican Party, many who claim they fear losing their freedoms to “liberals,” felt that those who organized protests against them are terrorists.
Another of the defendants has already been convicted and is serving jail time. According to the website Defend the RNC 8;
“Erik Oseland, who previously accepted a plea agreement and chose 91 days jail time over extended probation, began serving his sentence on October 20, 2010.”
The site also said;
“This site has been set up in support of the RNC 8 to fight the criminalization of dissent in Minneapolis and St. Paul during the 2008 Republican National Convention and to respond to the actions of the government in the Twin Cities before, during and after the RNC 2008 protests.”
It is ridiculous for members of the Tea Party and Sarah Palin to claim they want “their freedom back” while their party jailed people for simple dissent. If they really believe in freedom, they would have prevented these travesties of justice.
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