8 charged with terrorism for disagreeing with Republicans

Terrorism!

In the '50s, a surefire way to destroy someone's life and career was to call them a communist. In the '90s, calling someone a druggie was designed to accomplish the same. And now, calling someone a terrorist does what other McCarthyist accusations did in past decades (and may still do).

Minnesota has its own version of the right-wing Patriot Act. The state version just passed in 2002. Now, St. Paul area prosecutors have used this law to charge 8 protesters against the Republican convention with (drum roll, please) "conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism."

Which means what?

It turns out that all it means is that they disagreed with the Republicans. The charges stem from law enforcement's illegal infiltration of the 8 defendants using paid informants. Authorities claim the group tried to kidnap Republican delegates, attack the police, and sabotage airports.

But there is no proof whatsoever - other than an informant's say-so. In fact, all the real evidence seems to contradict authorities' accusations - and informants have long been abused to bust peaceful dissidents.

In other words, the RNC 8 (as many call the defendants) are actually a peaceful group. Authorities are trying to equate their nonviolent acts of protest with terrorism.

Now each of the RNC 8 faces 7½ years in prison under a law that didn't even exist before the Nazism wave of the current decade - even though they never encouraged, planned, or committed any terrorist act.

In fact, the criminal complaints by prosecutors don't even claim that the RNC 8 actually committed any violence or property damage. It does list minor crimes allegedly committed by others, but it attempts to hold the RNC 8 responsible for them. Authorities' so-called physical evidence against the RNC 8 includes finding only standard household items like tools and bottles.

Honestly, there's something seriously wrong with the dunce-cap prosecutors up there if they continue pursuing this case.

(Source: http://tc.indymedia.org/2008/sep/breaking-rnc-8-charged-conspiracy-riot-furtherance-terrorism)