What are the anarchist saying about our tactics?

The following exerpts are taken from Info Shop News. I'd recommend reading the whole article and related comments:

"While anarchists are organizing for the conventions, what’s going on in boardrooms and at police trainings? What strategies can we expect the authorities to apply at the conventions, and what factors may tie their hands?

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have liberal governments that need to come across as supportive of law-abiding protesters; in this regard, healthy relations between anarchists and other antiwar organizers constitute a real challenge for them. Officials have emphasized that the police will be civil—not starting in riot gear; that there will be no “free speech zones”—demonstrators will be allowed “within sight and sound” of the Excel Center hosting the RNC; and that the police strategy will not resemble the brutal “Miami model” applied at the 2003 FTAA protests, but rather will establish a new “St. Paul model.” It’s also worth pointing out that St. Paul will be fielding about 3000 police, compared to the tens of thousands on duty in New York City during the 2004 RNC.

All this could change overnight if the powers that be saw a significant threat to their ascendancy; but it suggests that compelling the police to use force at the conventions this summer would be a coup, in that it would frame them as aggressors in a time when they are trying to dispel that image. Rumor has it that the St. Paul police are consulting European police forces for tips on how to control crowds via containment rather than brute force. We should strategize accordingly. "

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What is their main strategy? Blockading!

RNC Preparation May 24 - 25

Saturday, May 24th
10AM - breakfast
11AM - Security Culture Overview
11:30 - Know Your Rights
1PM - Legal Observer Training by Massachusetts National Lawyers Guild
2PM - Lunch
3PM - Police Tactics and Chemical Weapons [and how to prepare!]
4:30 - Street Tactics, specialized for blockade strategy/RNC
6PM - What We Mean by 'Revolutionary Discipline' or RevDisc
Stick around afterwards for an electronic security workshop!

Sunday, May 25th is a day of medical training, preparing attendees to be affinity group medics. Highly trained street medics are great to have around, but they might not always be in proximity to your affinity group...

Additionally, because Boston ABC is concerned about the large numberof comrades that will surely be swept up by the police in the Twin Cities [5,000 arrests have been threatened against 'anarchists and knuckleheads'], we ask nicely that people bring a sliding scale donation of $5-10+ to go toward the Anarchist Black Cross Network's RNC Legal Defense Fund [to defend the comrades, not the Republicans].

Brought to you by the Boston Anarchist Black Cross, part of the NorthEast Anarchist Network and the Anarchist Black Cross Network.Up the Network!

Oh, did you think this was our prep? No this is THEIRS!!

Source: Info Shop News

Minneapolis wants new deal for prisoner jail fees

The Star Tribune is reporting that, Minneapolis wants new deal for prisoner jail fees.

How exorbitant are these fees? The county now charges a $75 processing fee for prisoners booked at the jail, plus an hourly fee for time in jail that amounts to $103.44 per day.

Well, before the City cries too much in it's beer lets look at how the MPD does business. Years ago the jail had a "city side" run by the MPD and a "county side" run by us. The city thought it too costly to run a lock-up so we took over their "side" for a fee. Over the years MPD has bitched about the booking fees and has even from time to time opened a booking unit of their own to book and release low level offenders. They always close it. Apparently it is still more cost effective for us to book their misdemeanors then them.

I have a couple of suggestions on how the city can reduce it's jail fees.

1. Rather then keeping all PC's for 36 hours, RPC non-violent ones. This will save them the $103.44 per day housing fee. (How many of these get released 36 hours expired anyways?)

2. Write more citations for misdemeanors rather then booking them.

3. We go back to releasing all non-violent misdemeanors NBR.

I suspect this will not sit well with them though. Part of their overall plan is neighborhood livability. They pick up a neighborhood nuisance, drop him off at the jail on Friday and he sits all weekend unable to raise his $50 bail. The neighborhood gets rid of a nuisance and the MPD is happy as well. So apparently the city wants these guys off of the street, they just don't want to pay for it.

Hey Minneapolis, there are no free rides.

Monroe County Corrections Officers Fight for Safety in the Workplace

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Mike Scott(305) 642-6255

Workers File for Impasse with PERC Following Six Months of Negotiations
May 6, 2008

(Miami, FL) – Representatives of Teamsters Local 769 in Miami, Florida filed for impasse today with the Florida Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC) on behalf of nearly 100 Monroe County corrections officers after six months of unsuccessful negotiations.

The union and sheriff’s department began negotiations in November 2007 after PERC certified Local 769 as the unit’s bargaining representative in September of that year. The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement because of unreasonable staffing changes and cuts proposed by the sheriff’s appointed bargaining committee.

“These corrections officers work in an environment that is inherently dangerous,” said Mike Scott, President of Teamsters Local 769. “But instead of taking steps to improve safety in the facility, the sheriff’s department is making ill-advised demands that could compromise the precautions already in place.”

These demands include cutting staffing in the most dangerous block of the Monroe County Jail called the ‘Alpha Unit’, an area that houses violent offenders including murderers and rapists. The sheriff’s committee has also demanded that a key position in the control center of the jail be manned by cheaper, less experienced civilian personnel rather than a certified corrections officer.

“We have made multiple proposals designed to offset any costs associated with keeping these positions as they stand, but the committee refuses to even consider them,” Scott said. “Ensuring the safety of these workers is our primary concern. Frankly, it’s disconcerting that the sheriff’s department doesn’t share our concern.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Critical Incidents

In our profession things can happen in a split second.
What is a critical incident? Some examples are:

-An assault on staff or an inmate
-Use of Force
-Suicide
-Homicide
-Hostage situation

What should you do after a critical incident?

1) Tend to any medical injuries. Even if your injury seems minor at the time fill out an I.O.D. (Injury On Duty) report and have it looked at. What seems OK now might not be tomorrow when the adrenaline is off.

2) Call a steward.

3) BEFORE making any statements to detectives or investigators call the MNPEA Legal Defense Line at 651 287-8883

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

Steward Wade Laszlo- 763 807-6668

MNPEA Legal Defense 651 287-8883

Business Agent Mike Golen 612 817-6042