Be it further resolved that the Duluth Central Labor Body urges that labor
unions across Minnesota consider the implications of the RNC 8 case and the
Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act on their own organizing and to support the cause
of repeal.Proposed and passed with unanimous support from the delegates of the Duluth
Central Labor Body on March 12, 2009
The "Minnesota 8" vs. the Vietnam War
The Minnesota 8 were part of a larger group, called "The Minnesota Conspiracy to Save Lives," whose members raided Selective Service draft boards in various non-urban areas of Minnesota on July 10, 1970 during the height of the Vietnam War. The FBI arrested eight men in three draft boards - at Alexandria, Little Falls and Winona. Three trials were held from November 2, 1970 through January 18, 1971 in the Minnesota federal district courts in Minneapolis and St. Paul. One of the 8 pleaded guilty, and he received probation. The other seven received the maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
To grasp the tenor and temper of the times, the 8 were arrested on the charge, "Sabotage of the National Defense." This carried a ten year sentence. Bail was initially set at $50,000.00 each. This despite the fact that they were all first-time offenders, and arrested for an ostensible act of nonviolent civil disobedience. The 8 were indicted on "interfering with the Selective Service System by force, violence or otherwise." They were convicted of an act of violence, and they received the maximum sentence of five years. All mention of the Vietnam War and any tradition or principles of morality were judged "irrelevant and immaterial." One Judge stated, "You gentlemen are worse that the common criminal who attacks the taxpayer's pocketbook. You strike at the foundation of government, itself."
But nearly 40 years later, as history would have it, the Minnesota 8 developed a project "Peace and War in the Heartland - What has history taught us?", a project that led to production by the Minnesota History Theatre and the University of Minnesota Theatre Department of a "Peace Crimes" play in 2008. The play was produced because democracy is best served by informed citizens who are actively involved in forming public policy and public opinion and there has been too few public conversations and too many discordant and polarizing discourses. The Minnesota 8 continue to value the Quaker principle of "speaking truth to power" and the practice of bearing witness. They believe no person, organization or movement has a lock on power or truth, and it is timely for everyone - from every "side," "perspective," "opinion," and "moral stance" - to open a conversation with their fellow citizens about what history has taught us concerning the issues of peace and war.
Photos then and now
The Minnesota 8's statement about the right to dissent in support of the "RNC 8":
Defend The RNC8! Dismiss the Charges!
Over 3000 people from all over the world have already signed this on-line and hard copy petition with many writing short essays on their support for Constitutional protections in the comment section. Many signing were those who had themselves experienced or witnessed the indiscriminate police violence and/or had been unfortunately caught up in one of the three mass arrests that occurred in St. Paul at the time of the RNC. It's going to take the poor county prosecutor a long time to read through this two inch thick stack! If you haven't done so already, take a look for yourself at the comments of defenders of democracy. (It's also not too late for anyone to sign and comment yourself.)
Nine "Americans Who Tell the Truth" (educational painting series by artist Robert Shetterly)
Legendary musician Pete Seeger, Ray McGovern, Sandy O and Pat Humphries ("Emma's Revolution" singing duo), Daniel Ellsberg, Ann Wright, David Rovics, Medea Benjamin, and yours truly who participated in the Peace Island Conference, Picnic/music concert and/or other events during the RNC (or in the case of Pete Seeger and Daniel Ellsberg, had a close family member or friend who did) submitted their own separate "Right to Dissent Statement" (below). As background, Artist Robert Shetterly began painting his great series--134 paintings and still going--of "Americans Who Tell the Truth" to, in part, facilitate lessons of U.S. history and civics engagement. Shetterly's subjects are noted for one or many moments of truth and/or speaking truth to power and their quotes and bios are a part of the art work. This group's support for First Amendment rights and for dropping charges against the RNC 8 stems from their own past experiences in having spoken out to confront problems or repression (as in the case of Pete Seeger's being blacklisted during the period of McCarthyism) or having faced difficult decisions (i.e. Ellsberg's to release the Pentagon Papers documenting the truth about U.S. government policy in Vietnam).
Maybe the varied perspectives presented about this kind of repression being wrong could be more simply summarized as: "Why can't we learn from history?"
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
