Anarchist Protest At Republican Convention Gets Violent
MINNEAPOLIS -- Police arrested protesters near the St. Paul convention site this afternoon and blocked off pedestrian and car traffic into the city center for at least an hour.
While the remains of a peaceful protest parade swirled around one closed road after another, growing increasingly frustrated that they weren't able to get back to their houses and cars, one officer told me that "anarchists" a few blocks away had been causing trouble -- throwing bricks and breaking people's property.
Another reporter confirmed there had been a violent demonstration comprised primarily of young, shirtless men with bandanas over their faces. The reporter had observed a neatly stacked pile of bricks and some broken glass.
By the time I was able to show my press badge to get past the line of armed guards, two protesters were face down on the street with their hands tied behind their back, and another two were sitting against a brick wall. About a dozen police officers, some in riot gear, waited with them until an ambulance arrived. Up and down the streets -- virtually deserted except for media -- groups of other uniformed officers, presumably on stand-by, waited to learn what was next.
The arrests and intense police response, reported as including bikes and horses, seemed yet another upset to the Republican convention. In addition to the impending hurricane on the Gulf Coast, the disrupted schedule of speakers, and the potential imbroglio of Palin's pregnant daughter, the trouble downtown does not add any good news for the Republicans. Judging by the muttering of the hundreds of people who were unable to get downtown this afternoon, it doesn't endear them to the locals either.
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It's the fact nothing is going on with the convention If there were political fireworks going off in the convention right now, you could have the biggest riot in history and it would barely get noticed by the media, but since there's a vacuum in place of what supposed to have been, it is glaringly in the media's face. Unintended blowback for an idiot and his campaign. No love lost here for the POW hero trying to throw a monkey wrench in the making of history. Crush him in the election!
Amy Goodman arrest video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-dantoni/amy-goodman-violently-arr_b_123062.html
The "Police State" actiivities are NOT going to win any votes for the GOP.
Considering that the police are run by the cities . . . and the cities are run by Democrats . . . where does the GOP fit in here?
What is the latest on Amy Goodman? Let's hear an opinion from Al Frankel.
Ya sure dem dam brotesters day make put us minsotan cops in a snit for sure
One persons Anarchist is another Persons FREEDOM Fighter!
Arab Freedom fighters = Terrorists
American Military forces illegally Occupying Iraq = Heros
oorah!
Im staying with Ghandi, this is not SONY PLAYSTATION.
"Another reporter confirmed there had been a violent demonstration comprised primarily of young, shirtless men with bandanas over their faces. The reporter had observed a neatly stacked pile of bricks and some broken glass. "
Ah, what can you tell me about this reporter?
Funny how these great comments come from such far away places, please come the St Paul soon and see for yourself.
We locals are getting a good look at our federal government at work.
Love the long riot sticks and body armor, wonder if they get to keep them or have to turn them back to the feds when they leave town.....There used to be a White Castle right in the middle of the riot torn downtown...... ah those were the days!
Throw the fringe bums in jail and fine them. They do nothing but distract from those that have a real message to get across. Legitimate protesting is protected. Vandalizing and destructive behavior is not.
Ramper is a perfect example of people who don't get it. These thugs beat and arrest peaceful protesters and those participating in confronting the violence of the state just the same. The police are the force of violence at these events. They are beating PEOPLE. Those participating in direct action are breaking THINGS.
The "fringe bums" are the people who wear the American flag on their sleeve and then require those who protest to get a permit for it. Free people don't need a permit to oppose institutions that claim the right to curtail their freedoms. And only unthinking SHEEP could identify with institutions that claim that right.
Anyone who engages in violence and vandalism need to be arrested. However, one police officer calling the vandals "anarchists" does not, IMO, prove that they are in FACT anarchists.
Earlier coverage noted that the group(s) who labeled themselves as anarchists, were raided by police during peaceful dinners and movie watching. Documents and electronics were confiscated, even though these people had done nothing wrong, and had not even participated in any protests.
Until the violent thugs are proven to be anarchists, I will not take the word of one officer, who may be trying to justify questionable actions taken by police prior to and during the GOP convention.
Some of the police officers looked like violent thugs themselves. And, local media reports estimated that 10,000 peaceful marchers participated, FOLLOWED by several smaller, separate, masked violent vandals. Sounds kind of suspicious to me.
Tracking the PUMA migration is fascinating. I wouldn't be surprised if much of the violence today was staged by Rove to make Dems look awful. Look at what they did to Amy Goodman!?!
This isn't the first time non-violent protesters have been arrested in this administration.Remember Portland?
These was also a blogger that was arrested for reporting what he witnessed that wasn't favorable to the police.Shame on him.It took him quite awhile to get out of jail.Why? Because he wouldn't tell police what he didn't know.
Thank gawd there are people who still care enough to put themselves at risk. These are the true fighters for our lost freedom.
My favorite thing about this...
at the DNC...they are protestors
at the RNC...they are anarchists
HELLO PEOPLE! What they really are...is pissed off Americans.
Anyone who can't see that...isn't paying attention. And shame on the media for calling them anything but!
Thank you Kelly.
I received some awful E-Mails the last two mornings:
Activist/Author Starhawk writes of the police raid on the Convergence Center. a hub/training center for activists protesting at the Republican National Convention. Later, their Permaculture Education Bus was seized by joint Twin Cities police depts. Much more below.
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message597346/pg1
http://www.starhawk.org/activism/activism-writings/RNC2008_2.html
If that was not enough it turns out that there have been raids on Food Not Bombs in Berkeley and Denver, all in spite of FNB attempting to organize relief for Hurricane Gustav.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/CRACKDOWN-BEGINS-Food-Not-by-Keith-McHenry-080901-646.html
This RNC, who are the people? Are they people?
Don't be silly, we are all the people, evangelicals, farmers, students, mothers... so what. The Obama campaign has offered us a real shot at changing the game. If you want real change reinforce the movement, include Nader in the debate, challenge your own allies with information and organization.
What you guys fail to understand is that every country has a police force and they don't read the same books as you. Castro, Chavez, Mandela, Brown, Pink and Blue all have police forces and they would too beat the crap out of you. Speak to people, distribute information, change the economic market... Let the RNC meet, they are so divided and humiliated, all you are doing is unifying them, with the arrogance to fly your flag when other people have done the real work.
Anarchist... You dimwits let these morons define Democrats.
You are what you encourage.
haven't read any anarchist philosophy have you? it doesn't mean chaos. it means no hierarchy. cooperative organization of society, unencumbered by the state.
Anarchist philosophy wise guy is not one thing. Peaceful is peaceful, thats one thing. Organize to change minds, not let off testosterone, its fun, but it loses us a lot of votes. Anarchism is the pure solution to the worlds problem, but you guys are not helping the cause. If you want to do something real, go to the suburbs and sit with people and explain why the GOP is so destructive. If you do that you will really scare the establishment. The masks, hoods and street fights do nothing.
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