The RNC Welcoming Committee (RNC WC) was an anarchist/anti-authoritarian group based in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota, which coordinated and facilitated discussion for the protests against the 2008 Republican National Convention. By following a more decentralized model for organization, the group's intention was to empower other activist groups to plan their own actions.
The mission of the RNC Welcoming Committee was to create an infrastructure that provided housing, food, medical services, legal aid, counseling, and other forms of support to activists coming to the Twin Cities during the Convention.
The RNC Welcoming Committee was infiltrated by several undercover police officers and informants - Andrew Darst, Brandon Darby, Rachel Nieting, Marilyn Hedstrom and Chris Dugger.
The RNC 8 were members of the RNC Welcoming Committee who were the first to be charged with a felony under the Minnesota statute to furtherance of terrorism. Initially charged by Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism, three additional charges were added in December 2008: conspiracy to riot, conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in furtherance of terrorism. The 8 were Luce Guillén-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik, and Garrett Fitzgerald.
All charges against Guillén-Givins, Trimmer, and Bicking were ultimately dropped. Oseland, Specktor, Secor, Czernik, and Fitzgerald each pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor.