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The Police State Flexes It's Muscle in St. Paul During the RNC

by ~Bradley (bradley [at] riseup.net)
Decentralized, unpermitted protests took place throughout the streets of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota on September 1st to mark the start of the Republican National Convention (RNC). Following the permitted demonstration organized by The Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, various items were pulled into the streets, some corporations had their windows broken, and people danced without permission. There were mass arrests by the police who deployed a wide range of weaponry, including concussion grenades, tear gas, pepper spray, batons, charging horses and hard rubber bullets.
riot-cops_9-1-08.jpg
The RNC Welcoming Committee, an anarchist / anti-authoritarian organizing body that worked for over a year preparing for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, wrote a statement about the events that unfolded on September 1st.

You can read the full press statement at:
9.2 - Press Statement from The WC
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532398.php

Here is an excerpt,

"The actions taken yesterday prove that the [government's] tactics of intimidation, harassment, violent oppression, the snatching of specific individuals, and the profiling of activists will not stop committed people from taking to the streets for what they believe in and putting their bodies behind those convictions. These tactics were seen in the targeting of medical workers, journalists, legal observers, and the public. They are the same tactics used daily by police and governments around the world to terrorize and oppress those that they claim to serve.

"The infrastructure that has been created for these actions with the help and support of the twin cities community has been amazing. 100’s of people in Minneapolis and St. Paul have opened their homes to 1000’s of protesters. Locals and [out of town guests] have taken time off work and from their lives to cook meals, provide medical care, legal support, and transportation. We understand that it must be intimidating to see people organizing for themselves around the idea of mutual aid and solidarity, but in doing this we are actively creating the world we want to live in. This is work that we will continue to do for the rest of our lives."

--

For more photos and information, please see:

Unpermitted Dissent in the Streets of St. Paul
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532400.php

Resistance in the Streets of St. Paul Despite On-going Police Violence
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/30/18531223.php

Twin Cities Indymedia
http://twincities.indymedia.org
§Gustav Hammers Gulf Coast
by ~Bradley
gulf-coast_9-1-08.jpg
Catching the news while taking refuge from fascist riot cops inside a bar

Radical Response to Hurricane Gustav and the RNC: From TC Indymedia and the Indymedia network
http://tc.indymedia.org/2008/sep/radical-response-hurricane-gustav-and-rnc-tc-indymedia-and-indymedia-network

Katrina & Gustav : On Remembrances and Anniversaries: Tears for the Gulf Coast & Immediate Concerns
http://houston.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=1101&category_id=1

Understanding the developing Braithewaite situation
http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2008/09/12986.php
§Cuffed and Left
by ~Bradley
cuffed-left_9-1-08.jpg
These folks were put in plastic hand cuffs (zip ties) and then left face down in the street.

Neither the cop from Tucson, AZ nor the woman in the white shirt (not sure what her role was) knew why the two people were cuffed and left by other police.
§Mass Arrest at Jackson and Seventh
by ~Bradley
jackson-7th_9-1-08.jpg
Amy Goodman Manhandled, Arrested for Protesting Arrest of News Staff
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532012.php
§Mass Arrest
by ~Bradley
mass-arrest_9-1-08.jpg
Amy Goodman Manhandled, Arrested for Protesting Arrest of News Staff
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532012.php
§Media Released
by ~Bradley
media-released_9-1-08.jpg
Steve, a journalist with the Carbondale Times, was arrested at Jackson and 7th along with so many other people that did absolutely nothing wrong. Reporters for Indymedia and Democracy Now! were arrested with charges pending, however Steve was released from the mass arrest after saying he was a journalist and showing three forms of identification.
§Police Photographer "for today"
by ~Bradley
police-photographer1_9-1-08.jpg
I watched this person exit the driver's seat of the unmarked police SUV pictured above and below.

I asked him if he was a police photographer and he replied, "I am for today."
§Police Photographer "for today"
by ~Bradley
police-photographer2_9-1-08.jpg
I wonder where else this person has been taking photos.

"Can you relate? We livin' in a police state."
-Dead Prez
§Temperance Street
by ~Bradley
temperance_9-1-08.jpg
§Secret Service
by ~Bradley
secret-service_9-1-08.jpg
This guy from the Secret Service forced people to stand behind the double yellow lines on Temperance St.
§Ramsey County Sheriff
by ~Bradley
ramsey-sheriff_9-1-08.jpg
Right after we backed up to the double yellow lines, as requested by the Secret Service agent, this Ramsey County Sheriff forced us onto the sidewalk.

Later in the day, an officer from the Department of Natural Resources who was working security in St. Paul told me that there were hundreds of police agencies in the Twin Cities during the RNC. Since I arrived in the Twin Cities, the police state has been operating unconstitutionally and making up arbitrary rules. Miscommunication between police has been frequent and often puts people into very dangerous situations.
§Processing
by ~Bradley
processing_9-1-08.jpg
§Sibley Court Apartments
by ~Bradley
sibley_9-1-08.jpg
Watching the injustice in the parking lot across the street from the Sibley Court Apartments.
§7th and Jackson
by ~Bradley
7th-jackson_9-1-08.jpg
§"Call 911"
by ~Bradley
call-911_9-1-08.jpg
I was talking with this cop and inquiring about the systematic violation of civil liberties that I was witnessing on the part of the police. His smirky response to me was, "Call 911"
§7th Street
by ~Bradley
7th_9-1-08.jpg
First Aid medics and other innocent people are cuffed and searched. The two folks against the wall and the same people that were face down in the street a hour earlier, pictured above in the photo called "Cuffed and Left"
§Robert and 7th
by ~Bradley
robert-7th_9-1-08.jpg
More folks are cuffed and against a wall
§Delegates and a Barricade
by ~Bradley
delegates-barricade_9-1-08.jpg
§Closed Streets
by ~Bradley
closed-streets_9-1-08.jpg
It was not easy walking around downtown St. Paul because so many streets were blocked off. Many locals were particularly angry when the police physically prevented them from getting to their homes.
§Minnesota National Guard
by ~Bradley
mn-national-guard_9-1-08.jpg
§Unpermitted Dissent in the Streets of St. Paul
by ~Bradley
Here is a link to the first portion of these photos:

Unpermitted Dissent in the Streets of St. Paul
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/02/18532400.php
Add Your Comments
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rnc visitor
Sat, Sep 6, 2008 6:16PM
"self proclaimed anarchist"
Thu, Sep 4, 2008 7:08AM
nader paul kucinich gravel
Wed, Sep 3, 2008 11:26AM
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