Outside the GOP convention, protests, violence and arrests

ST. PAUL -- Here in the land of “Minnesota nice,” the specter of protesters flinging rocks at cops, and slapping or spitting on elderly delegates this week has many locals in this traditionally liberal town gritting their teeth and tossing their progressive views out the window.

“I’m a Democrat through and through, and I’m about as liberal as you can get," grumbled Alex Seasly, a construction worker who was grabbing a quick lunch down the road from the Ramsey County jail. "But I want to shove a hockey stick ...well, you know.”

He added: “It’s an embarrassment for the city. We don’t treat visitors like that, unless they’re on the ice.”

The jail is where bail hearings began Tuesday for more than 280 protesters arrested in Monday’s unexpectedly violent protests here at the Republican National Convention.

Nearly 10,000 anti-war protesters arrived at the steps of the Capitol building, eager to voice their complaints on everything from the White House to the economy, and tout the country’s need to embrace all things green and organic. (See arrest video below.)

But the fight had been brewing for days: local police raiding protester homes days earlier, in an effort to make a preemptive strike on potential violence; activists, claiming their rights were....

...violated, circulated videos online of terrified young people being handcuffed, and ordered to lie flat on the floor by police in SWAT-like uniforms.

Monday started out peacefully enough, a relief to many. But as the afternoon wore on, small groups peeled off from the main rally, and that’s when things started to go bad. Road flares were thrown into garbage dumpsters, and then the fiery receptacles were pushed into position to to block traffic.

Shop windows were busted. So were police car windows. Protesters threw rocks, bottles, even garbage at the thickening rows of police in riot gear.

One group cornered members of the Connecticut Republican delegation as they were walking to a security check-point to enter the Xcel Energy Center.

“They linked arms and tried to prevent us from going in," said Heath Fahle, the state party's executive director. "They were pushing and shoving, and we were pushing back, just trying to get by."

He added: “They were grabbing at purses, at credentials, spitting on the delegates.”

One protester wrestled with 83-year-old Fred Biebel and stole his credentials. Another spit on Lila Healy, the mother of the state’s GOP party chairman, and hit her in the face.

When former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, who used to work for the CIA, stepped in front to protect her from the crowd, a bottle full of water and bleach was thrown in his face.

As the day progressed, the number of splinter protest groups grew -– and, say critics, so did the aggressiveness of law enforcement groups. Self-described medics from Portland and Illinois, in town to help with any injuries, were jailed.

Reporters from mainstream media outlets were detained or arrested, including a photographer with the

Associated Press and four University of Kentucky photojournalism students. Radio/TV host Amy Goodman from Democracy Now was cuffed and charged after she asked officers why they’d arrested two of her producers.

The troubles continue: Late Tuesday afternoon, at least 10 more people were arrested, and the clashes continued into the night. The court proceedings are moving slowly. There are 135 people facing felony charges.

Twenty-two people charged with misdemeanors refused to give their real names, and have been jailed in contempt of court. The paperwork is backlogged.

And some of the delegates may leave the Twin Cities having left an unlikely reminder of their time spent here in the heartland: a lawsuit.

“We’re waiting for the police to sort out who did what,” said Fahle. “Then we’ll figure out what we’ll do in the civil courts.”

-- P.J. Huffstutter

Top: A woman is taken into custody by police near the Xcel Energy Center, the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) September 2, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images. Middle: Activists and counter-protesters protest in the streets outside the State Capitol near the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Xcel Energy Center September 2, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)

Comments

[tom]

Recall the wide media coverage of the treatment of a few protesters during the Olympics in Beijing- and compare it to the virtual silence concerning the protests at the DNC and RNC. Imagine the medial outrage if robocops had blanketed the streets of Beijing to imprison journalists as they did in Denver and now in Minneapolis. The way that the security forces have treated protesters in Denver and Minneapolis is disgraceful to our democracy, and the true marks of a rising security state-- similar to the sub-fascist states that we trained and helped to establish throughout Asia and Latin America, in the recent past.

[Anarcissie]

'... But the fight had been brewing for days: local police raiding protester homes days earlier, in an effort to make a preemptive strike on potential violence....'

Real Soviet-style stuff, which the MSM failed to report until it could be hidden behind leads about mob violence. The police had numerous spies within the protesting groups; and maybe a few provocateurs as well. One more thing you won't write about....

[Dave]

McCain is a perfect example of the abused becoming the abuser.

Ok, so the comment was a bit off topic ... as for the protesters, what does the RNC expect?? People are angry. We are at war. People are dying. America wants to know what we are dying for. America wants to know what people in other countries are dying for. It's not for National Security ... at least it would appear that most of America does not believe it is for National Security.

Welcome to the revolution.

[John]

Spoiled rotten twerps, badly in need of a good switching out in the woodshed. Too bad their dads didn't do just that. It is well known by all Conservitives that good manors start with a red butt and a mouth shut.

[Richard]

Wow, nice works Libs.
Can someone tell me how many republican protesters threw bleach at an 80-year-old woman in Denver? I'm betting : zero.
You liberals must be so very proud of yourselves.

[Matt]

Does this sort of thing actually happen in the US? Ridiculous. Freedom includes hearing what others have to say, especially when you don't want to hear it...

[Chuck Cardiff]

What heroics -- wrestling with an 83-year-old man and throwing bleach in somebody's face. Quite a bunch of human worms.

As for Amy Goodman, she should know that the forum for challenging an arrest is a courtroom.

[captainkona]

It's about time we struck back.

It's been a long time since the sixties. It's good to see that some of us still realize that mud and slime is the only thing Repiglikans understand.

We've been peaceful long enough. Change came with the radical element forty years ago, and that's the only thing that's going to bring about change now.
Passive is good, but when Righty thinks he can do as he pleases with our rights without retribution, it's appropriate to remind him that we are generally peaceable by CHOICE. Not because we 're afraid to fight for what we believe in.

The time for outreach has passed. Action is the only option we have left.

Keep fighting, martyrs! We will make them fear us.

[Andrew]

I am liberal through and through, and usually I disagree with protesting. Protests usually just end up being public power struggles and often (though not always) degenerate into violence...usually on both sides. This protest seemed just as ill advised as many. But this should not be the point of anyone's concern.

What should be the focus of concern is not whether the protesters were right, but whether their rights were violated. As this article states, "...the fight had been brewing for days: local police raiding protester homes days earlier, in an effort to make a preemptive strike on potential violence...."

A preemptive strike was made against US citizens by the local police. These local police were directed to take measures against protesters to protect the Republican Convention.

Protesting, though dumb in my eyes, is a fundamental right that US citizens have. The local police, under the direction of the Republican Party, actively violated US citizen's rights to provide the illusion of security. As Ben Franklin said, "those that would give up their rights for the illusion of security deserve neither."

As a US citizen, I am ashamed of other citizens who were and would be a party to this "preemptive strike," that would condone it, or would stay silent about it. This, not the distractions provided by Gustav and Palin, should be the reason why we should never elect McCain as president.

[Jesse]

Isnt it funny just how rediculous the left wing nut cases are? I mean where was all the protests and criminal acts at the DNC?? Democrats have lost it and god willing they will lose the election too. Liberalism is a disease in this country and it has gotten out of control. Hollywood is out of control, the main stream media is out of control, and these party followers are out of control. The fact that they have elected barack obama to try to lead this county is a disgrace. 20 years ago this guy wouldnt have a chance. Not because of his skin color...but because of his character. In my heart I believe he is a racist self centered lying politician. 22 years in a church full of hate bashing, america denouncing priests is all it should have taken to kick this scumbag off the ticket. Really goes to show just how morally bankrupt the liberals have become!! Wake up America...The greatest nation on the earth can't be ran by OBAMA!!!!! His lies, deception, ideology, ignorance and the people he has chosen to surround himself with should disqualify there anti-american nominee from running for office. STAND UP AMERICA AND LETS GET BACK TO THE ROOTS THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON!!!! MORALS!!!!!

[wow]

Our government is disgusting.

[VJ Machiavelli]

Yes, the shock troops of the Terrorist are doing their thing. They want the terrorist to win, they hate the fact that we are winning. They are called "Anarchist" I call them "TRAITORS". They support the killers of women & children, they support the killing of US Solders, and they support the election of the "APPEASEMENT TEAM".

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps This is no longer your "GRANDFATHERS REPUBLICAN" Party

[Kevin Morgan]

Amy Goodman? Something definitely wrong with this. She is a pacifist who knows the bounds. There is more to this story than is being reported in this article.

[Johnson]

"...local police raiding protester homes days earlier, in an effort to make a preemptive strike on potential violence; activists .."

'Preemptive strike' is a political excuse for invading another country for political ambitions and political gains.When did this practice begin to extend and take hold to become a police tactic against citizens everywhere? What-the-heck is happening to our country, its laws, and its government?

[peter]

Ironically, I think Jessie("left wing nut cases") is one of the children that was "left behind" according to Bush. You are the definition of ignorant. I guarantee you haven't heard anything other than than the 30 second sound bite from Obamas pastor and yet you summed up an entire 22 year period of sermons. You are a racist and you are trying to mask it anyway you can. There were no protesters at the DNC because the republicans are the ones that are the CAUSE of the OUTRAGE!
And why don't you look up the word "morals"...Idiot

[Mark T]

Thugs and bullies writing stories, beating up the elderly, and proud of it

Lowlife cretins

[Nob City]

It must feel great to wake up every morning being mad at the world.
Get out the fire hoses.

[Jonathan]

The truly frightening thing is how many people in this country rally to the defense of State thuggery- so long as the thugs are defending "their side." That the same people sing the praises of "freedom" and "liberty" is even more disturbing. When Americans not only condone but cheer-lead the roughing-up, intimidation, and detention of, not just political dissenters, but even mainstream journalists, we are truly in trouble.

[Richard]

Given the conduct of these America-hating wackos, it sounds like a pre-emptive strike was justified

[Martin]

I grew up in California, and I now live in Spain, a country that fortunately does not organize "preemptive strikes" against its own citizens. The irony of this all, is that some people in America think they actually have the right to defend "freedom" around the world by starting wars while violently smashing any type of protest at home. The images of SWAT teams beating protestors and arresting anybody in sight are quite shocking. How is this any different from what the extreme fascist and communist regimes did in the 20th century quiet anybody that did not agree with them? The U.S. is heading quickly towards being a full-fledged police state.

[Susan]

I am happy to see someone is finally reporting all the news. Weather you agree with the protest or not, this newspaper is finally telling us what happened. A free and all-telling press corp is a necessary ingredient of a true democracy and is a major right of the people to know. Without a free and active press, we are not longer free.

[bilgewater]

Yes, the Republican "do nothing" Congress should not be paid.Yes, the rights to petition exist.
But these folks forgot the source of the Republican power came when Reagan threatened the protestors at Berkeley and cut off the funding of the UC Berkeley public relations staff which blasting him on a daily basis.Frankly I am surprised more Democrats did not warn these folks to back away unless these were staged by Republicans.
Protest works when you have sympathy in the face of injustice.Officials down South set the dogs against civil rights workers and allowed the bombings of Churches. They caused the Civil Rights Laws,Voting Rights Act.All support for those publicly elected officials evaporated.But,the largest hit was taken by the tourist industry ,and the banks in the South who could not get visitors or investments.
The people of Minnesota have suffered enough over the past decade. They elected Jesse,they had a major bridge fall down,their Vikings have not won,the movie Fargo (the second Deliverance) was shot in their state.

[Don't believe]

Jesse, VJ, Chuck, Richard and John=Neo Nazis. They don't believe in human rights. They don't believe in the right to protest. They don't believe in free speech. They don't believe in America.

[Lara]

I was in the midst of the violence committed on the streets of St. Paul, and it is unfortunate the protests are being labeled as such.

However, desperate times call for desperate measures. It is quite apparent that nothing speaks to the GOP except huge amounts of money or unwarranted violence (ex. wars). We only had one of the two, and the small amount of it is nothing compared to the rapes, murders, and mass killings occurring every day over seas, and every day in the streets where members of the Republican Party won't lay a manicured finger.

No one was killed.

And if you are worried, Macy's, the building that contracted the most damage, will recover. Business as usual.

Is that really what we want?

[Yahuba]

"STAND UP AMERICA AND LETS GET BACK TO THE ROOTS THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON!!!! MORALS!!!!!"

Actually, this country was founded on slavery and violence; and neither of these fit into the description of morality.