Police Prepare for RNC by Pre-Emptively Detaining 50 Potential Protestors, Journalists, & Lawyer

Ok, try not to chortle about the lawyer. Story and videos here.

(And just how were all these people targeted, since no criminal act has yet occurred? Oh yeah, possession of computers and other stuff as part of a conspiracy to exercise their first amendment rights.)

UPDATE: City inspectors boarded up the home of one of the potential protestors raided by the police without stating any specific reason.

"[A]long with being unable to enter her home, Bickling will have another rude awakening when she’s released from jail: The city charges $6,000 to homeowners for boarding up properties. Often these are charges for abandoning properties, a result of the foreclosure crisis. But in Bickling’s case, all that anyone, including the roommates and Bickling’s lawyer, were told before the plywood went up is that the home had 'code violations.'"

"Neighbors were angry that the city was boarding the home, too. One neighbor yelled to police officers, 'We have a crack house next door that you do nothing about. But then you’re going to board up the home of these kids! This is pure propaganda and you should be ashamed of yourselves!' Indeed, the home next door did have a number of visible code violations: tall grass and weeds, trash in the yard. Neighbors said they call about problems with the home all the time, and nothing is ever done."

Story here.

Further UPDATE: It gets entertaining at about the 4 min. mark.

Also, more info here.