Authored by Keith McHenry, Food Not Bombs Founder.

Ramsey County Charges Nonviolent Food Not Bombs volunteers Under State

Patriot Act, Alleges Acts of Terrorism



In what appears to be the first use of criminal charges under the 2002

Minnesota version of the Federal Patriot Act, Ramsey County Prosecutors

have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee

with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Monica Bicking,

Eryn Trimmer, Luce Guillen Givins, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor,

Robert Czernik, Garrett Fitzgerald, and Max Spector, face up to 7 1/2

years in prison under the terrorism enhancement charge which allows for

a 50% increase in the maximum penalty.



Affidavits released by law enforcement which were filed in support of

the search warrants used in raids over the weekend, and used to support

probable cause for the arrest warrants, are based on paid, confidential

informants who infiltrated the RNCWC on behalf of law enforcement. They

allege that members of the group sought to kidnap delegates to the RNC,

assault police officers with firebombs and explosives, and sabotage

airports in St. Paul. Evidence released to date does not corroborate

these allegations with physical evidence or provide any other evidence

for these allegations than the claims of the informants.



