This might be a long one - sorry y’all. I’m feeling pretty upset to tell the truth. I just drove my friend, someone who I know has a wonderful heart and is not guilty of any sort of ‘assault,’ to the St. Paul courthouse from which I knew he would be taken straight away to the workhouse. Not cool. Kinda messed up. Here’s what happened…
After a jolly breakfast at Hard Times café, we packed as many people as possible into as many cars as were available and drove to the St. Paul courthouse. Surrounded by close friends and after a rowdy group hug smelling strangely of sweaty armpits, we filed into the courtroom, filling it entirely. Dave’s name was called first and he was, as laid out in his plea agreement, sentenced to 90 days in jail and 7 years probation. He is allowed to return to England and serve the 7 years there as long as he remains outside of the US for that time. His lawyer argued for less prison time and for half the time to be served at home; Judge Flynn subsequently denied both arguments. After a smile and wave, Dave was taken into custody and we filed out of the courtroom.
Though Dave is in jail, there are still ways we can support him and make his imprisonment as easy as possible. If you’d like to write Dave, here are some things you should know:
All mail will be opened before being delivered and illegal items will be removed. Illegal items include money and Polaroid photographs, as well as just about most things. Letters with glue, stickers, tape, ribbons, glitter, stains, lipstick, and other fun things won't be delivered. But you can use markers, crayons, and colored pencils, and you can send photographs no larger than 4" x 6". Books must be ordered through a publisher or website like Amazon.com.
Here's the address:
David Mahoney
297 S. Century Avenue
Maplewood, MN 55119
He does have access to some money at this time.
If you’d like to visit Dave we ask that you email visitdavedave@gmail.com and let us coordinate and set up the visit for you. He is only allowed twenty minutes of visiting time per week through a video screen (no personal contact is allowed). Up to three or four people are allowed per visit. We’d like to make sure he gets to see everyone and that someone is visiting weekly. Again, there are stipulations for the visit besides their no real contact policy:
Visiting hours are:
Saturday and Sunday: 12:30, 1, 1:30, and 2 (pm)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 1:30, and 2 (pm)
You must be over 18 and have a valid ID.
If you are under 18 you must be accompanied by your parent or legal guardian.
All visits are monitored and probably recorded.
Don’t be provocative or wear provocative clothing.
Etc.
Stupid
Etc.
Boring
Etc.
Rules
Basically you are to be as lame as possible and will be made to feel as uncomfortable as possible. But…
Visiting breaks up the monotony of doing basically nothing every day AND…we all know Dave would love to see us!
Please, if you have questions, do not hesitate to email: helpmkegirls@gmail.com
One more thing…
Dave’s involvement may be ending but there are still others bravely fighting their charges from the RNC. Please support them. As most of the felony trials are over, they are in need of more and more encouragement. Please visit the following sites for more information:
Me and Christina
you are here!!
Jesse James Forrey
supportjessejames.wordpress.com
The RNC 8
Rnc8.org
Thanks friends!
- Karen
Karen and Christina
On Saturday, January 17th, 2009, Karen Meissner and Christina Vana of Milwaukee, WI found warrants had been issued for their arrests after reading an article published by the Associated Press, which comments on an incident relating to the protests during the Republican National Convention in September 2008. Immediately Karen and Christina traveled to St. Paul, MN and within 24 hours of reading their names in the paper, went with their lawyers to the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center. Here they were taken into custody and each charged with Aiding and Abetting Assault in the Second Degree, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of seven years and/or a $14,000 fine. Bail was set at $30,000 each, a total of $60,000. This extremely large amount was made possible by the active media attention which still surrounds the Republican National Convention. Many people charged with rape receive bail a fraction of the amount. Sixty thousand dollars was an impossible amount to raise, but within two days, friends and supporters from around the country raised the $6,500 necessary to bond them out of jail...
For more information please email: helpmkegirls@gmail.com
For more information please email: helpmkegirls@gmail.com
Dave
Dave Mahoney was temporarily in the US and due to return to his home in England before the new year (2009). He was arrested by the FBI during the Republican National Convention in September 2008 and in the end was charged with 5 counts of aiding and abetting 2nd degree assault and 5 counts of terrorist threats, 10 felonies in total. Trapped in Minneapolis, Dave faced expensive legal costs and decades in prison. As numerous RNC related charges were dropped, it became clear to the community in the Twin Cities that Susan Gaertner - the prosecutor of all RNC related felonies- was/is desperate to justify the temporary police state in St Paul while providing a framework for her run for governor in 2010. Dave, who remains determined and active within his community ended up pleading guilty to a single count of 2nd degree assault.
For more information please email: helpdave@mail.com
For more information please email: helpdave@mail.com