Paranoid TrueNorth wingnuts claim RNC protesters stealing bikes

[Minnesota Raindog]

This bit of paranoid nonsense was posted on TrueNorth, home of slope-headed knuckledraggers, thugs and chickenhawks. Note the bit about bicycle thefts--and make sure you're not one of those people "walking away from cars":

http://www.looktruenorth.com/culture/331-Protest/546-protest-watch.html

Citizen Patrol: Get Your Cameras Out

This message is aimed at you if you…:

want to participate in the alternative media coverage of the biggest story in Minnesota in recent years, and…
…are going to be somewhere near the convention, or, alternatively
…are going to be nowhere near the convention at all.

Here’s the deal: if you have a video cam, a still cam, or even just a cell phone, we want you to keep your eyes open. While some of them strenuously deny it, others among the protesters, out of adolescent posturing or out of malice, plan on trying to disrupt the convention and making life that week a very difficult for Twin Citians; “we want to make poeple in the Twin Cities understand what life’s like in Baghdad”, said my co-panelist on MPR’s “In The Loop” past year. We want to keep an eye on our city, so it looks the same as it did before they turned up. Which, if you live and pay taxes and send your kids to school here, should be a non-partisan thing.

So if you’re in the Twin Cities the week of the convention, here’s what we’d like you to do: Watch for:

People gathering on off ramps or overpasses. Word has it that, since the venue itself is going to be pretty secure, they’re going to be aiming to shut down traffic to keep delegates from getting to the convention.

People walking away from cars.

People wearing green hats
Guys with purple armbands who have videos cameras.

Piles of bikes. Bike thefts in the Twin Cities are way up in recent weeks; there’s evidence that “protest” groups are gathering bikes to use as cheap, traffic-proof transportation.

Groups of people away from parade routes.

Piles of stuff that could be used to block traffic.

With that in mind - as we get closer to the convention, we at True North will be publishing some contact information; if you see any of the above (and, in a perfect world, if you get pictures), we’ll be looking for your input.

Think about it. More later.

[Zookeeper]

1. Hmmm. I have already scouted out my overpass....

with a plan to hold up a sign for people in cars on the freeway to read (did this the last time Bush spoke here). I certainly don't think it qualifies as "shutting down traffic." But, it does sound like a should find a few folks to join me in case these knuckle-dragging opponents of free-speech decide some sort of vigilant action is called for. (A middle-aged woman on a freeway overpass holding a sign is pretty threatening, after all. :eyes: )

[Minnesota Raindog]

2. Mitch Berg wants YOU for True North's vigilante squads

[MnFats]

3. here is something that you may find amusing....

on the street, make imaginary hand signals to phantom allies a block or two away.
for example...use basketball or baseball signals.
call time out. tap your left ear. then with the other hand grab an elbow. hold a finger in the air and rotate. using a very exaggerated touch, rub the bridge of your nose.
with luck they will imagine they are intercepting important messages.
good for hours of fun!

NOTE: NEVER use any gesture that could be misinterpreted as, say, a weapon or suggesting the use of a weapon.
the cops are going to be jittery anyway. no need to set them off unnecessarily.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. People walking away from cars?

What are they supposed to do, stay in them all week? :crazy:

[djkevvy]

5. Makes sense

We all know how much those tree hugging hippie liberals like their bicycles!

[annm4peace]

6. What a bunch of dumbasses !

could it be some people stealing bikes cause they can't afford the gas and are taking the easy way out by stealing a bike ?