Hey friends,
This is it. Karen and Christina's trial is going to begin this Monday at 1:30pm in front of Judge Warner in the Ramsey County Courthouse.
The trial is expected to last all week and support is definitely needed. Please come down to the courthouse if you are in the Twin Cities, or follow online on our blog, and spread the word.
The following is a tentative schedule for the week along with some thoughts, if you have any questions or want to offer support, please be in touch.
* Monday morning they have a motion hearing at 9am and then trial will begin with jury selection at 1:30. Jury selection is often put off as a boring precursor to the important stuff, but the people who are going to be determining our friends' fate are important to understand. During jury selection the judge and both attorneys will ask questions to help us get a picture of who the people are. Similarly, it is the jurors first glimpse of Karen, Christina and the case; having a room full of respectful supporters will help them understand how important this is. The day, and most days, will probably go until about 4pm.
* Tuesday things will start at 9, and begin with opening statements. The State will then begin its case, calling witnesses until the end of the day.
* Wednesday will be similar, potentially the State will rest at which point, after a short recess, the Defense would begin.
* Thursday will probably be the Defense's case all day.
* Friday we could possibly see the close of Defense's case. At this point the prosecution has the opportunity to call additional witnesses, followed by a second run for the defense. Then closing arguments and jury instructions.
There is a slight possibility that everything could finish on Thursday, and/or it lasting into the next week. Jury deliberation can also take a good deal of time, making the projected actual end seem like the middle of next week.
Trial is really hard and Karen and Christina deserve all the support we can muster. Little messages with kind words, songs, positive thinking can all go a long way. If you are going to come down to the courthouse please keep in mind your potential affect on the jury (how they think of all or any of us can influence how they think of Karen and Christina). If you are driving from Minneapolis please talk with others, carpooling is definitely needed. Some friends are going to be taking notes and posting them throughout the trial, so if you can't make it you can read about everything.
In these times of intense pressure and State oppression, our identity will be questioned and challenged. It is our response that defines who we are. It is through our support that we prove our compassion stronger than any Law or Judgement.
Yours in solidarity,
Friends of the MK 3
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