Protestors and Police Clash in St. Paul

If you thought the Twin Cities was a security state over the weekend, when police preemptively raided the homes of suspected protestors, you should've seen it today, on Day One of the Republican Convention.

Cops in Denver were ready for protests. Cops in St. Paul were ready for the apocalypse, with downtown turning into a surreal scene from "Children of Men."

An estimated 50,000 antiwar protestors gathered in the morning for a big rally outside the state Capitol building. As the rally neared its conclusion, roughly 1,000 students, led by the revamped Students for a Democratic Society, led a breakaway march downtown. They were met, according to eyewitnesses, by a crew of bike cops who sprayed a number of protestors with tear gas. One such protestor, a documentary filmmaker named Marcus Washington, described his experience while lying on the ground in a serious amount of pain. I captured it on film.

After the rally, I overheard two Republican delegates from Minnesota discussing the protests at the nearby Hilton Garden Inn.

"Did you see those bogus protestors," one said.

"Oh yeah, what a disgrace!" the other responded.

"They can't even do it right."

Whatever that means.

Later in the day, an employee at a Starbucks near the Xcel Center (home of the RNC) informed customers that protestors had supposedly smashed some windows a few blocks away. I happened to be sitting in a chair near the window and was asked if I wanted to move. I decided to stay.

Comments (19)

1. the cops looked embarrased...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/01/2008 @ 1:59pm

2. "...that protestors had supposedly smashed some windows a few blocks away. I happened to be sitting in a chair near the window and was asked if I wanted to move. I decided to stay."

   posted by Ari Berman on 09/01/2008 @ 1:47pm

   Stupid is as stupid does.

   Posted by Benchrest at 09/01/2008 @ 2:00pm

3. "Benchrest," I have two points.

   (1) The sentence containing the claim that protesters smashed some windows "a few blocks away" also contained the word "supposedly." It also did not contain any corroboration.

   (2) No popular movement that I know of has ever succeeded without at least threatening somebody's concept of private property. This is what the Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins were about. This is also why the last major demonstration that had any measurable political impact, to my knowledge, was the "Battle for Seattle," in which - you guessed it - some windows were broken.

   I do not favor property damage, generally, but having participated in the Saint Paul protest march just today, and having seen the tall fences that they obliged us all to march behind, I have more understanding for protesters who lose their temper and inflict property damage than I have for police who injure these same protesters with mace.

   Posted by JakobFabian at 09/01/2008 @ 2:21pm

4. well,

   it was proven in quebec last year that the police had tried to provoke the protesters.......

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 2:39pm

5. Perhaps "RedRiver" can enlighten us concerning exactly what these "seven misdemeanors" and "two gross misdemeanors" were about? I'm not even concerned about the thirteen arrests. In these times, police will arrest you just because they don't like the way you look.

   As for the number of protesters, I am impressed if even 8000 showed up, considering how protesters are disparaged and dismissed by today's corporate media, no matter how many show up to demonstrate. You will notice, also, that counter-protesters, even if they barely number in the teens, can generally count on equal media time to present their point of view.

   Posted by JakobFabian at 09/01/2008 @ 3:00pm

6. Fine bunch of leftist idiots as usual! Posted by RedRiver_. at 09/01/2008 @ 2:44pm

   Takes one to know one!

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/01/2008 @ 3:18pm

7. I do not favor property damage, generally, but having participated in the Saint Paul protest march just today, and having seen the tall fences that they obliged us all to march behind, I have more understanding for protesters who lose their temper and inflict property damage than I have for police who injure these same protesters with mace.

   Posted by JakobFabian at 09/01/2008 @ 2:21pm

   There is never an excuse for such behavior.

   It is counterproductive in the extreme.

   On both sides.

   Posted by Benchrest at 09/01/2008 @ 3:22pm

8. if "they" will go so far as to plant spies in vegan groups,

   don't you think "they" would plant a few "anarchists" to get the ball rolling?

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 4:12pm

9. The whole world is watching.

   Posted by tortswon at 09/01/2008 @ 5:24pm

10. happy,

    best be careful

    or that first amendment will be the first memory.....

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 5:36pm

11. Don't tase me, bro! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

    Posted by brandinius at 09/01/2008 @ 7:11pm

12. Does it occur to anyone else that the "MSM" is acting in concert (as in conspiring) to hammer OB and boost the nutjob McC. If it were the other way around the "Justice Department" would probably be looking for ways to prosecute under RICO--- My Question is- is there any law on the books against conspiring to dishonestly influence an election? Appearently not. Rove walks free.

    Posted by DHardiman at 09/01/2008 @ 7:27pm

13. There is never an excuse for such behavior.

    It is counterproductive in the extreme.

    On both sides.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/01/2008 @ 3:22pm | warn this person

    The above statement was made in regard to property damage, correct? Gosh, you're right, Benchrest. Those dirty, anti-American hippies who dumped all that British tea into Boston Harbor should be ashamed of themselves. There's NEVER an excuse for such behavior... counterproductive and all that, don't you know.

    Posted by BISGARD at 09/01/2008 @ 7:41pm

14. Lest ye communist forget that this is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Where one may protest the Government without fear of retaliation from their Minions. However, the Bush Administration and their third-world mentality have used the Police, national guard, state troopers and any a host of government agencies to squash the dissenting citizenry. In the 1980's when I was a soldier, I fought and despised countries that behaved as described above; Panama, Russia, China, Chile, WWII Germany, Poland… Today, I am forced to live in a country that is indistinguishable from any other banana republic or communist police-run state. What happened to the people of America!??? Where are the Americans???? Americans do NOT support these types of police actions against their own neighbors! Will the real and true Americans stand up!

    Posted by pmarquie at 09/02/2008 @ 03:18am

15. The turnout was disappointing to many participants. The hype before estimated a turnout of 50,000 or more. The result was about 10,000 max. There were the usual thugs who use these kind of events to damage property. This time some were dressed in black and covering their faces. I don't know if they believe that mini-terroristic acts like breaking windowns will bring people over to whatever view they are espousing. I think they do it just for fun.

    Posted by jsens at 09/02/2008 @ 03:54am

16. The above statement was made in regard to property damage, correct? Gosh, you're right, Benchrest. Those dirty, anti-American hippies who dumped all that British tea into Boston Harbor should be ashamed of themselves. There's NEVER an excuse for such behavior... counterproductive and all that, don't you know.

    Posted by BISGARD at 09/01/2008 @ 7:41pm

    Touche'

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/02/2008 @ 09:56am

17. I watched the clip on Fox. This is where the term anarchists came from, except they said the demonstrators called themselves anarchists.

    Reminded me of New York in 2004 except smaller. The marchers were more ready to do damage.

    Which part of Shock and Awe did this remind you of?

    Posted by geof01 at 09/02/2008 @ 10:34am

18. Why can't I find pictures of the smashed windows online?

    There seems to be no end of video of police in riot gear, or "pre-emptive" raids.

    Posted by politicky at 09/02/2008 @ 2:08pm

19. I marched... there were many more than 10,000. I'd say closer to 25,000.... and all speaking ...singing .. ... from 6 to 86. My pops (81 years young) said we walked 10,545 steps on that march .... working for what we believe in. keep up the good work everyone!

    Posted by artdavidii at 09/02/2008 @ 10:51pm