Recruitment Stations Shut Down In Twin Cities

"Zero Recruitment Day saw at least five significant actions at military recruiting stations throughout the Twin Cities in addition to an action at the campus ROTC in Mankato. In Brooklyn Center, four activists locked themselves to a station, disrupting business for over half the day. Three Grandmothers for Peace were arrested after trying to enlist in St. Louis Park; afterwards, supporters continued to disrupt business. At Lake and Lyndale in Minneapolis, a full day of action culminated in a redecoration of the recruiting station there, leading to a bizarre spectacle of fire trucks. Actions also happened in West St. Paul and the University of Minnesota, where a lengthy rally closed the recruiting station there, while College Republican counter-protesters held signs--many racists and advocating torture--nearby. TCIMC's dispatch is now off-line; read below for a play-by-play and check back for video reports in the next few days!

6:20pm: The action appears to be over, but at LynLake, three big fire trucks (including the hazardous materials truck) plus oodles of police have been tying up traffic quite well themselves. The whole corner is still taped off.

Indymedia got great video from at least 3 locations today; if you have photos/vids/text reports, please let us know or publish them yourself!

5:40pm: Cops taped off the NW corner of Lake/Lyndale, by recruiting station, calling it a "crime scene." The rally has relocated to across the street. The fire department is even on the scene investigating the glue used for the posters! If sidewalk chalk makes protesters terrorists (a la AETA 4), does glue? The best news: the recruiting center is officially shut down.

5:20pm: LynLake station totally covered with posters, foreclosure signs glued to the front.

5:10pm: Several Minneapolis cops have arrived @ noisy LynLake rally and trying to talk to protesters; recruiters locked the door and are videotaping protesters from inside. Cops and recruiters are together pointing people out in crowd.

4:15pm: Rally at Lake/Lyndale getting ready to begin at 4:30. One recruiter had nothing better to do than spend ~10min. peeling off a sticker from the door... give him some more work! TCIMC has been taking video of various actions; watch the site in the next few days.

2:45pm: U of M action continues well past the official end-time of 1:00pm. One burly cop is guarding the recruiting station front door. Come down to campus and give your support the ol' college try!

2:00pm: Four lockdowners were released about one hour ago; charged with two misdemeanors: trespass and 4th degree criminal property damage. The latter charge results from the police cutting the doors to the recruiting center, not any action on the activists' part. They're well and ask you to pay attention for possible court solidarity actions in the future!

1:55pm: Lake and Lyndale presence is still going strong, lots of fliers distro'd and sidewalk chalking. Mobilize for 4:30 "Foreclosure the War" rally there.

Mid-afternoon: The lockdown has still been going on with no police or recruiters on the scene; the Army and Navy stations have been shud down by Macalester SDS all day!

9:50am: U of M recruiting station still locked down. Police were there but are no longer on the scene. Support still needed.

9:00am, Friday April 24: And it goes on! Lockdown at Oak-Washington recruiting station by UMN campus.

* * * for previous reports read more. text "follow tcimc" or "follow zrd" to 40404 for twitter updates. to report news, call our dispatch @ 651-503-5661. * * *"

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Twin Cities Indymedia