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Title: Mass arrests of protesters at Republican National Convention
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m46963&hd=&size=1&l=e
Published: Sep 4, 2008
Author: Jerry White, WSWS
Post Date: 2008-09-04 17:14:09 by angle
Keywords: None
Views: 146
Comments: 9
Authorities have carried out a massive mobilization of federal, state and local police and military forces to cordon off the Republican National Convention from protesters opposed to the party’s program of militarism and social reaction. Over the last few days, nearly 300 people have been arrested near and around the Xcel Energy Center and downtown St. Paul, Minnesota has been transformed into a virtual armed camp to intimidate demonstrators and silence dissent. The police reported Wednesday that they had arrested 11 more people Tuesday, including three at an anti-poverty demonstration, but would not give any more details. As the march of an estimated 3,000 people ended near the convention center police fired tear gas and lobbed concussion or "flash-bang" grenades to disperse protesters, who police claimed were trying to get past security fences. A total of 295 people have been arrested, including 137 charged with felonies such as "conspiracy to commit riot." Many continued to be detained. The bulk of those arrested were seized during an antiwar march of 10,000 people on the Monday, the opening day of the convention. Demonstrators were forced to run the gauntlet of hundreds of riot-equipped and black-uniformed police, FBI agents and 150 National Guard troops carrying shields. The police fired tear gas, beanbags and used tasers to arrest hundreds of protesters. Also targeted were independent journalists and photographers and groups that monitor police abuse against protesters. Among those seized by the police were an Associated Press photographer, a group of University of Kentucky student journalists and Amy Goodman, the host of the liberal radio show "Democracy Now!" Goodman was arrested for "interfering with peace officers" when she questioned police about the arrest and bloodying of her show’s two producers. WSWS reporter Ron Jorgenson described the scene: "A helicopter hovered over downtown St. Paul all day long. There were police and sheriff’s deputies from St. Paul, Minneapolis and other cities in Minnesota, as well as across the nation, including a large number from Arlington, Texas that I saw. The largest number were riot police with no identification who wore dark blue or black. They were armed with clubs and other weapons. There were also armored black trucks, filled with an assortment darting through the streets and police on bicycles and horseback. "I honestly believed as I watched groups of riot police line up and rows of mounted police moved into position that there was a good chance that I might get caught up if I didn’t move. It appeared there were embedded press. I got the impression that established media could move in and out of police lines. I did that once and was sharply warned by a cop. Had I chosen the wrong moment to do that while taking a picture, I could have been thrown to the ground." Authorities later justified this disproportionate show of force and the mass arrests that followed by citing incidents of rock throwing and window-breaking by a small group—numbering no more than 150—of self-described "anarchists." It is very likely this group included police agents and provocateurs whose job was to encourage violence in order to discredit political opposition and create conditions for a police repression. 
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#1. To: angle (#0)
WE SO FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
WTF is up with this? They have no jurisdiction there.
A nation of mullets, ruled by inbred, moronic tyrants.
Takes 30 seconds to give them jurisdiction there, if anyone cares about doing it... "Do you solomnly swear..... and etc.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++++++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
Are they re-imbursing the various cities for taking away their hired guns? They should have gone directly to Blackwater for the goons.
A nation of mullets, ruled by inbred, moronic tyrants.
Be very glad that you're in the MX.
A nation of mullets, ruled by inbred, moronic tyrants.
There's been a story or two like this posted over at TOS2 (LP) and the response has been predictable, i.e,. praising the government and police, damning the protestors, hoping for violence against the protestors, etc. You know, the typical government worship that normally goes on over there. Here's a little experiment for anyone willing to expend the energy. Edit this story so that it appears to be a story about demonstrators in Russia. My bet is that these same frauds would take the side of the protestors and damn the Russian government.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976
The ones that threw bleach on individuals, destroyed property and assaulted moms and pops (see: professional agitators/government provacateurs) should be shot on sight imo. The rest are cool. ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
In any case, since the money for most of such now comes from one place, i.e., the feds, makes no difference. That is also where all of the planning, orders and organiztion originates as well.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++++++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
I am, I assure you. This very thing happening, which was not hard to anticipate 10 years ago, is why I left the states. My original thought was to go further south, but such is life. Some of us do actually plan for the future. ;)
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++++++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
#2. To: angle (#0)
There were police and sheriff’s deputies from St. Paul, Minneapolis and other cities in Minnesota, as well as across the nation, including a large number from Arlington, Texas that I saw.
#3. To: lodwick (#2)
They have no jurisdiction there.
#4. To: richard9151 (#3)
#5. To: richard9151 (#3)
#6. To: all (#0)
#7. To: Hayek Fan, All (#6)
#8. To: lodwick (#4)
Are they re-imbursing the various cities for taking away their hired guns?
#9. To: lodwick (#5)
Be very glad that you're in the MX.
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