FOR SECOND WEEK: Police repress convention protests

[XXPANTHAXX]

By LeiLani Dowell
St., Paul, Minn.
Published Sep 3, 2008 11:22 PM

Despite an onslaught of police terror and repression, protesters from
across the country used a variety of tactics to march on the Republican
National Convention here on Sept. 1. A mass march organized by the
Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War was followed by youthful
street actions to denounce the Republican policies of endless
imperialist war and sweeping attacks on workers.

In an escalation of tactics used at the Democratic National Convention
in Denver a week earlier, Minnesota police began the repression against
RNC protesters days before the march. The cops raided community
kitchens, meeting spaces and protesters’ homes; handcuffed and harassed
activists; confiscated political literature; and arrested at least three
people on bogus “conspiracy to riot” charges.

Despite this intimidation, organizers remained determined to move
forward with what would turn out to be a highly successful, massive
march as well as direct actions on Labor Day, Sept. 1.

Some 30,000 attended a rally that included representatives of the
American Indian Movement; ANSWER Coalition; Appeal for Redress Campaign;
Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War; Code Pink; Colombia
Action Network; Green Party; Latinos Against War; Palestine Solidarity
Group; Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign; Students for a
Democratic Society; Teamsters 743; Troops Out Now Coalition; United for
Peace and Justice; Venezuela Solidarity Network; Veterans for Peace;
Welfare Rights Committee; and Women Against Military Madness.

The diverse crowd, led by the Iraq Veterans Against the War, then
marched to the Xcel Center, site of the Republican convention, and back
to the State Capitol for a closing rally. Various contingents included
low-income people, youth and students, immigrant rights activists,
labor, Palestine and Colombia solidarity activists, an anti-capitalist
bloc and an anti-climate-change group.

While Republican Party leaders shied away from the conference so as to
not seem insensitive in the face of Hurricane Gustav, activists
remembered the neglect of the Bush administration in response to
Hurricane Katrina. A Troops Out Now Coalition banner read “Bush—McCain;
Katrina—Gustav: Criminal Neglect Continues.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of youth engaged in militant street actions. They
were met by brutal attacks at the hands of the police, including being
doused with pepper spray and tear gas. Fight Imperialism, Stand Together
(FIST) activist and eyewitness videographer Elena Everett reported that
a disabled man in a wheelchair was sprayed head-to-toe with pepper
spray. Others were hit in the back with tear gas canisters.

The Coldsnap Legal Collectiv, located at the following URL:
COLDSNAP LEGAL COLLECTIVE reports that as of Sept. 1, the
Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office had announced 284 arrests. Some 130 were
charged with felony offenses, which most likely will be used to keep
them in jail until the end of the convention. The collective says that
the majority of those arrested are still being held in jail, and some
are being refused proper medical attention. The collective is asking
supporters to call the jail at 651-266-9350 to demand that these
activists be released and given proper medical attention.

While the corporate media has focused almost exclusively on property
damage sustained during the street actions, including windows being
broken at a Macy’s department store, several eyewitnesses told this
reporter that the person who began breaking the windows was clearly an
agent provocateur working with the police. He approached the window in
clear view of the cops, broke it and walked away without an arrest. A
police car was also damaged.

However, at a press conference the following day, march coordinator Jess
Sundin was quick to point out that any rage displayed by activists in
the streets is completely justified and pales in comparison to the state
violence committed on a daily basis by U.S. forces at home and abroad.

The joint press conference was held by the Coalition to March on the RNC
and Stop the War, the RNC Welcoming Committee and the Poor People’s
Economic and Human Rights Campaign—all of whom held fast in their
solidarity with arrestees, despite attempts by corporate media reporters
to bait them into denouncing “violence.” One man, representing the Poor
People’s Economic and Human Rights Campaign, challenged the reporters:
“You act like we’re having this press conference in a country that
hasn’t practiced oppression for hundreds of years.”

A number of activities are planned to continue the protests through the
end of the convention on Sept. 4, including free public music festivals,
a “March for Our Lives” and a “solutions driven” peace conference. For
updates on activities, visit DNC - RNC - Troops Out Now .

[Roarin1]

Hmm. I could swear I'D heard the conservative pundits (ie; attack dogs and common-traitors,) back during the primaries swear that the DNC in Denver was doomed to riotous chaos and anarchy just like Chicago '68 so, they'd better be prepared to 'scramble' the army. ('Least that was the inference.)

Save a 'red-neck budweiser induced' threat from a pick-up tr-uck, seems to ME ( an a-political 'out-sider',) that the DNC went off without a 'hitch.' (pun intended.)

And now this? Were they looking in a mirror? Haven't heard a single word from the rush limp-ballz of the world about any of this....now? Ohhh the hypocrisy!

Is this what they mean by the 'pot calling the kettle' Black?

Hmm.