home
PhillyIMC's web-radio  

RNC Day 1: Category (A) Hurricane Hits Downtown St. Paul

by | 09.02.2008

I am blogging now from what can only be called “The Occupied Twin Cities”. As the Minnesota National Guard marches through the streets of downtown St. Paul tonight in a display reminiscent of the old Soviet May Day parades, those who made it past the mass arrests of the day try to find a place to rest their weary heads and scrub the pepper spray off.... read more

33418.jpg
gas & policemen

The first day of the Republican National Convention opened in a scaled back version, ostensibly out of respect for the anticipated sufferings in the Gulf Coast Region. However, other factors seemed to have been in play. Outside the convention hall, protests against the Republican agenda overtook downtown St. Paul. First there was the “authorized parade route”, which drew thousands of protesters and was for the most part just another peace parade. However off the parade route and throughout the downtown area of St. Paul a very different kind of protest erupted. The sector tactic of “swarm, seize, stay” protest was meet with extreme police violence. There are reports of beatings, tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets being used on unarmed demonstrators, the arrest of legal observers, medics and journalists (including Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!), and mass arrests which included children and the elderly. Late reports indicate that over 250 arrests have been made, and that some arrestees being held without bail or hearing. Police have sealed off a 4 block zone around the convention hall and are blocking entrance and exit to entire regions of the city. Police also stormed a peaceful outdoor concert at Harriet Park and detained close to 300 people. No explanation has been given for this police action. There are also reports of arrests of Code Pink Women for Peace members who took part in civil disobedience actions against the war.

Today's events follow several days of house raids and arrests of activists and independent journalists in what amounts to a suspension of civil rights in the city. Personal items cameras, computers and equipment belonging independent media workers, has been confiscated. Folks from out of town have stepped in to help, including Portland Indymedia Radio, which maintained a webcast throughout the day.

More protests are planned for Tuesday including a 9am press conference at the The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign's "Bushville" encampment.