Police arrest RNC protesters
Annabelle Kempster
Issue date: 9/19/08 Section: News
On Monday September 8, thousands of peaceful protesters marched from Minnesota's state capital to the site of the Republican National Convention. As this massive peace march came to an end, however, certain groups began to cause chaos.
"Turned-over garbage cans escalated to broken storefront windows, vandalized police cars and the setting of a fire." Reported WYNC news earlier on the occurrence.
Dozens of marchers in their 20s chanting "f--- the police!" attempted to cross a bridge leading to the convention center, despite police blockades. It was complete chaos as law-enforcement did its best to try to control the situation, not knowing where to turn to first. Using everything from pepper spray, tear gas, and percussion grenades, police attempted desperately to disperse the crowd.
Minnesota State Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion stated that "the objective was to contain the protesters and keep them from reaching the convention hall.
"The first night and the last night of the convention were expected to be big for trouble, and they were."
The word trouble explains little in the events that took place; innocent bystanders were at times mistaken for protesters and were sprayed and shoved onto the pavement.
"As a line of police clad in riot gear and walking with bicycles approached a woman who refused to get out of their way, several sprayed her with a liquid. She covered her eyes with one hand and raised two fingers of the other in the shape of a peace sign", reported CNN news.
Several attempts were made by these protesters to get closer to the convention center, which was blocked off by the interstate highway and monitored by police on horses, motorcycles, and bicycles. Few of these attempts were successful at gaining any ground toward the center, while most ended with protesters on the ground with their hands behind their heads.
All in all, at least 200 anti-war protesters were subject to arrest at the interstate overpass alone, even after the dispersal of the crowd.
Despite police interference, these protest groups believe their acts to be successful.
"Some of them plan to denounce police brutality at a press conference this morning where they will discuss plans for continuing protests," reports WNYC news, but that remains to be seen.
"Turned-over garbage cans escalated to broken storefront windows, vandalized police cars and the setting of a fire." Reported WYNC news earlier on the occurrence.
Dozens of marchers in their 20s chanting "f--- the police!" attempted to cross a bridge leading to the convention center, despite police blockades. It was complete chaos as law-enforcement did its best to try to control the situation, not knowing where to turn to first. Using everything from pepper spray, tear gas, and percussion grenades, police attempted desperately to disperse the crowd.
Minnesota State Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion stated that "the objective was to contain the protesters and keep them from reaching the convention hall.
"The first night and the last night of the convention were expected to be big for trouble, and they were."
The word trouble explains little in the events that took place; innocent bystanders were at times mistaken for protesters and were sprayed and shoved onto the pavement.
"As a line of police clad in riot gear and walking with bicycles approached a woman who refused to get out of their way, several sprayed her with a liquid. She covered her eyes with one hand and raised two fingers of the other in the shape of a peace sign", reported CNN news.
Several attempts were made by these protesters to get closer to the convention center, which was blocked off by the interstate highway and monitored by police on horses, motorcycles, and bicycles. Few of these attempts were successful at gaining any ground toward the center, while most ended with protesters on the ground with their hands behind their heads.
All in all, at least 200 anti-war protesters were subject to arrest at the interstate overpass alone, even after the dispersal of the crowd.
Despite police interference, these protest groups believe their acts to be successful.
"Some of them plan to denounce police brutality at a press conference this morning where they will discuss plans for continuing protests," reports WNYC news, but that remains to be seen.
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