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.

[fair in US]

Don't blame protestors with legitimate issues agains the Republican party and the current administration. The violent protestors and the police all play a part in the problem. Innocent people were arrested.

Why isn't there protests at the Dem convention? What do the Republicans have to protest? our support of Gay people and a women's right to choose?

[Jean]

It's really a shame that US news outlets will not even mention protests unless they turn violent -- and then they report on the violence only, without mentioning the issues. I've been in several large peaceful protests over the last ten years, many of which have been met with violence from police, and the only press coverage they've ever received is shunted into the 'human interest" section, along with reports about waterskiing squirrels.

Violent protests seem to be the only type that get noticed.

So, if these protests are turning violent, the LA Times and other mainstream news outlets contribute to the violence by not covering the nonviolent protests.

[P. D'Antonio]

There were protesters at the DNC, but the media gave it virtually no coverage. One of the most striking DNC protests was conducted by veterans of the Iraq war in uniform, who mimed shooting people walking down the street. It was an utterly stunning depiction of the mindlessness of ideological warfare, where the soldiers must guess what ideology is inside the bystanders' heads since bystanders are not in soldier uniforms. Further, they torture and provoke people to get inside their heads instead of just paying them for information. This is the perception of the way the war in Iraq has been conducted. A neighborhood is destroyed because an Al Qaeda member is allegedly somewhere amongst them. Many protesters are concerned about their rights under the U.S. Constitution, a Constitution worth defending. Interrogating people prior to their assembling at the convention is political persecution. But the heart of the protest against the war is that its conduct is immoral and all the praying covered on C-SPAN cannot hide this fact. There have been many scenarios on how Al Qaeda could have been defeated without bombing, destroying and inducing insanity in whole societies. The people protesting are acutely aware of this and it effects their serenity daily as does the arrogance of our police state tactics. A new command within the DOD and other homeland security agencies will emerge such that the moral people who have been ashamed of America throughout the entire war can look forward to resolutions to the foreign conflicts. But reducing the magnitude of crime within the U.S. is a long way off due to massive poverty and immigrant gangs.

[Yobama]

Yes, on the surface it seems that the preemptive strike would violate the protesters rights, HOWEVER, what you do not see here is that the "preemptive strike" was against a smallish (30-50) group of self proclaimed anarchists who were planning on violence, disruption, etc. They are the ones responsible for throwing rocks, slashing tires, and smashing windows, ALL of which are criminal offenses. They even had a "college" session over the summer where they practiced attacking dummy RNC vehicles with fake explosives and planned other activities that were clearly in violation of the law. This type of planned action results in a "preemptive strike" and does not violate their rights in any way. Look up the "RNC welcoming committee" to read about those responsible.

[Anyse Joslin]

At the Republican National Convention, the have set up a "free speech zone." It is well away from any door of the convention building and, definitely, out of earshot. Protest as they will, none will be heard: unless it is the press. So far, it is the "force" of the usual suspects in the American media that have shown "us" what is going on in that zone as well as outside of it. What have we seen of this? I have not seen much at all, really. Now, with Amy Goodman arrested, we may finally get the "truth" about the free speech zone as it is the very same thing that Bush has had around him since he has been president. It keeps out the riff raff. Now, to add a further counterpoint to this, how much of the same "free speech" people did we see ant the Democratic National Convention? Well, so far I have heard nothing about them at all. Well, you are aware that they also created a "free speech zone" at the DNC as well? It, too was situated much the same as the one at the RNC and, of course, they were out of earshot of anyone attending the convention. Why, may I ask, do we hear about the one at te RNC and NOT at the DNC? I have the answer! They don't want Republicans or anti-Democrats to "appear" like nut jobs out to protest whatever. However, they certainly have made the decision to advertise and to pander to the American people that those who support the Democrata (by the very nature of these peoples' anti-Republican stance) are not as law-abiding and socially responsible as those who protested at the DNC! Again, the media is "helping" the Republican "image" such that it may actually help them to win against Obama. If you read today's article in TruthOut, pertaining to the Republican's use of imagery rather than reality to make their point, this police action plays into the "image" of what those who do not think along Republican Party lines are really like. What a shame!

[Erich]

We hear about the 80+ year old woman who was spat upon by some pinhead. That's well reported.

We don't hear about the 5 year old child who was held at gunpoint and handcuffed and otherwise terrorized during the gendarme's Minority Report raids on activist's residences.

We don't hear about the minors being held in adult facilities after being tackled by Minnesota's finest.

Double standard anyone?

[kenmattos]

As a registered Democrat, a human being, & a Quaker, I abhor the violence engaged in by some of these protesters. But I would like the media to report clearly & fairly as to how many arrests were for acts of violence and how many were for other reasons. I read of people being arrested just for reporting on events.

[Greg Anderstein]

Protest the oppression of women in the middle east.

Protest the oppression of thought in china.

Protest the oppression of religious freedom in saudi arabia.

Here we vote, duh. These people don't even know anything about what they are protesting.

Sad, but hilarious, maybe someone should make a mockery of them.

[David Gardner]

I find it appauling that Americans are acting like animals, protesting with violence. It looks to me like it would only hurt the image that the democrats want to portray. I understand that there is going to be a seperate thought process between the parties involved, but do we Americans have to resort to violent acts to make a statment. I think not. I am reminded videos of the IRA. Of other foreign countries protesting, using violence to convey their message. Appauling.

[Nathan]

"Again, the media is "helping" the Republican "image" such that it may actually help them to win against Obama." Have you seen today's media? News today is so biased and Liberal that you can't hardly believe a dang thing they say. Even in my school newspaper it's pretty obvious how much they hate the Republicans. Last year my school's year book had 3 pages on Barack Obama, 2 pages for the other Democrats running and a whole half-page for all the Republican candidates. But wait, "the media is "helping" the Republican "image" such that it may actually help them to win against Obama." Protesting is a right of Americans. It is not their right to smash windows, throw bleach on a man's face, fight cops, and steal from people walking by. Once a protest gets violent it is the police officers duty to subdue the violence before it escalates further and that's exactly what they did. The preemptive strike was on people who made it very clear that they had no intentions whatsoever of a peaceful riot. If they hadn't arrested those people beforehand I guarantee it would have been a lot worse. The police did their jobs and they did their jobs well. In a big riot you can't tell who is part of the problem and who is just a bystander. If people would just mind their own stupid business and not go running towards wherever they see police arresting someone then it would all run a lot easier. People got arrested for being violent and for refusing to cooperate with the police when the police RESPONDED to the violence.

[VJ Machiavelli]

Don't Believe
I believe in the right to "protest" I am calling these So called "Anarchists" who are nothing more than the shock troopers of the Terrorists. These "Protesters" are supporting the killers of women, children and our solders.
They are murders just like the terrorists. Ask yourself a question do ever see protesters in Iran who are protesting the killing of women and children by these terrorists.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[Whatever]

No like Bush. Conservatives are evil.

[Chris]

The violent protesters have lost their minds, nut jobs. And nut jobs are both found in liberals and conservatives. I read a story about how a bus of cub scouts was also attacked.

[Mary E.]

These protesters were violent, they destroyed property and they threw bleach at the delegates. They could have seriously hurt someone. Not only should they have been arrested and put in jail.
But when they were ready to lob the bleach at an innocent attendee of the RNC convention, they should have been shot.

They should not have been up in arms about the shooting of these protesters/home grown terrorists if this would have been done.
As we could have called it a very late term abortion. (The type of late term abortion that Obama is an advocate of), and they would have been receiving the sacrament of abortion in the religion of the left.

[Hilary Smith]

This is America. In America the people have the right to peaceably assemble. Most of the protestors arrested were demonstrating peacefully. Many of you seem so eager to give up your own rights in order to see “terrorists and anarchists” punished. Ben Franklin said, “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Real Americans question authority.

[Dana Hall]

My children I’m glad some of you have come,
shed no tears or stand idle as I succumb!

I tried to raise you all the best I could,
you’ve been distracted by things you only thought were good!

Don’t ponder and feel guilty about the past,
go forward and perform well the future tasks!

Leave now and gather our whole family,
bring them back to restore my legacy!

Liberty . . . . . . .

[Cathryn]

Liberals are always against violence, unless they are the ones initiating it for their own causes.

If you stand for peace non-violence, then please apply it to yourselves as well.

And....
I hate BOTH political parties.

[Alden]

I had never heard of these acts of violence. How come I haven't? I found out about it while researching the Tea Party protests.

The blatant media bias in FAVOR of acts of violence in this article is disgusting. No media source can claim to be unbiased, while writing and article that offers far too much sympathy to clearly illegal and cruel activities.

Liberal, Conservative, or libertarian, it doesn't matter. This sort of hate-crime should not be defended and justified.