Federal Military Occupation of Downtown St. Paul , Minnesota
I Saw No Violence
No dispersal order.
No communication.
Just tear gas.
No communication.
Just tear gas.
I was fairly far back
but still got trapped in clouds.
Tear gas hurts.
The police arrested protesters they said
had "hurt a lot of people,”
but all the kids in the front
were with us the whole time.
I saw no violence.
but still got trapped in clouds.
Tear gas hurts.
The police arrested protesters they said
had "hurt a lot of people,”
but all the kids in the front
were with us the whole time.
I saw no violence.
Freedom Handed Out in Permits
The police, the federal government and the national guard have made it clear
that our constitutional right to political dissent is to be handed out in permits,
restricted by cages, and confined to "free speech zones."
that our constitutional right to political dissent is to be handed out in permits,
restricted by cages, and confined to "free speech zones."
Lets take a look:
Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
I think keeping EVERYONE from being able to go into downtown St. Paul
should be considered an abridgment of freedom of speech.
should be considered an abridgment of freedom of speech.
The “Free Speech Rally”
The "Free Speech Rally" that preceded the “illegal” demonstrations
was limited to a very out-of-the-way, short path nowhere near the proposed rally route
(which the RNC protest planners sued and lost to the state over).
There were riot police lining nearly the whole route
in the freedom cage we had to march through
(including standing on the other side of the fence) –
though I have to admit that screaming chants like
Tell me what a police state looks like
This is what a police state looks like
was fairly invigorating.
was limited to a very out-of-the-way, short path nowhere near the proposed rally route
(which the RNC protest planners sued and lost to the state over).
There were riot police lining nearly the whole route
in the freedom cage we had to march through
(including standing on the other side of the fence) –
though I have to admit that screaming chants like
Tell me what a police state looks like
This is what a police state looks like
was fairly invigorating.
Amy Goodman Arrested
The highly respected independent news reporter, Amy Goodman,
was arrested yesterday – with a press pass.
Of course, the state had nothing on her and she was let out last night,
but only because of her prestige.
Other legitimate reporters and camera men and women
are still downtown behind bars.
The police have no legitimate charges on them,
and probably have as little on the other 263 people locked up –
not to mention the 300-400 “anarchists”
who haven't been booked due to their policy of not carrying IDs.
Of course, the state had nothing on her and she was let out last night,
but only because of her prestige.
Other legitimate reporters and camera men and women
are still downtown behind bars.
The police have no legitimate charges on them,
and probably have as little on the other 263 people locked up –
not to mention the 300-400 “anarchists”
who haven't been booked due to their policy of not carrying IDs.
Probably About 200 Kids
After the “Free Speech Rally,” my four friends and I
joined up with an anti-capitalist group from the “Free Speech Rally,”
and tried to figure out how to get involved from where we were.
We had heard that there were some confrontations at Wabasha and Cedar,
and we wanted to go there to show solidarity –
and hopefully stand upwind of the tear gas.
joined up with an anti-capitalist group from the “Free Speech Rally,”
and tried to figure out how to get involved from where we were.
We had heard that there were some confrontations at Wabasha and Cedar,
and we wanted to go there to show solidarity –
and hopefully stand upwind of the tear gas.
We were probably about 200 kids,
all wearing black, red, and army green,
with wet bandannas over our faces –
not exactly the least conspicuous group, but we had every intention of being peaceful.
We weren't out to knock over dumpsters, blockade roads, or pour concrete onto delegate buses.
all wearing black, red, and army green,
with wet bandannas over our faces –
not exactly the least conspicuous group, but we had every intention of being peaceful.
We weren't out to knock over dumpsters, blockade roads, or pour concrete onto delegate buses.
(I probably would have condemned such actions,
but I guess the police violence I saw as a peaceful demonstrator
has proved to me that peaceful demonstration just doesn't work.)
Anyway, the easiest way to get to the action was to walk down Wabasha,
but as soon as we got to the bridge crossing the river, about 30 riot police
congregated at the entrance and refused to let us pass.
When we saw them fiddling with gas masks, we calmly retreated.
but I guess the police violence I saw as a peaceful demonstrator
has proved to me that peaceful demonstration just doesn't work.)
Anyway, the easiest way to get to the action was to walk down Wabasha,
but as soon as we got to the bridge crossing the river, about 30 riot police
congregated at the entrance and refused to let us pass.
When we saw them fiddling with gas masks, we calmly retreated.
Some Grenade Sounds in Front of Us
It looked like the only other way was to walk down the bluff to the lovely path
down by the river on Jackson/Shepard road and come back
up behind theXcel Energy Center
So about 200 of us, not chanting and not at all acting like a mob or a connected group,
ambled slowly toward downtown.
Keep in mind that it was about 90 degrees, there was no shade, and we'd all been biking and marching
for at least four hours.
Everything seemed fine until we heard some grenade sounds in front of us.
Being the stupid person that I am,
I quickened my pace to see what the action was,
and saw mobs of riot police shooting gas bombs at my peaceful protest group.
down by the river on Jackson/Shepard road and come back
up behind the
So about 200 of us, not chanting and not at all acting like a mob or a connected group,
ambled slowly toward downtown.
Keep in mind that it was about 90 degrees, there was no shade, and we'd all been biking and marching
for at least four hours.
Everything seemed fine until we heard some grenade sounds in front of us.
Being the stupid person that I am,
I quickened my pace to see what the action was,
and saw mobs of riot police shooting gas bombs at my peaceful protest group.
Clouds and Clouds of Tear Gas
As we all retreated, warning each other to "Walk, don't run!” and “Stay calm!”
the police were able to run ahead of us.
I was behind the front of the police charge, walking through clouds and clouds of tear gas
(thank god for bandannas soaked in apple cider vinegar).
The crowd was screaming "Please, we've turned around, we are retreating! NO MORE TEAR GAS!"
as the cops shot at least five to ten more tear gas bombs in our direction.
I saw one kid get hit directly with one, and he didn’t even have a bandana.
the police were able to run ahead of us.
I was behind the front of the police charge, walking through clouds and clouds of tear gas
(thank god for bandannas soaked in apple cider vinegar).
The crowd was screaming "Please, we've turned around, we are retreating! NO MORE TEAR GAS!"
as the cops shot at least five to ten more tear gas bombs in our direction.
I saw one kid get hit directly with one, and he didn’t even have a bandana.
As we retreated, feeling totally dejected and powerless,
we decided we needed to find another route into downtown.
Some 15-year-old girls caught in the area were crying and freaking out –
we decided we needed to find another route into downtown.
Some 15-year-old girls caught in the area were crying and freaking out –
they weren't at all part of the demonstrations and had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
There were also local families taking their kids for walks in strollers
and handfuls of people simply caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.
There were also local families taking their kids for walks in strollers
and handfuls of people simply caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Cavalry Charge
As we started up the bluff and back toward the capitol,
platoons of gas-masked bike police and cavalry started charging us from the other side,
shouting “Turn around, you can't go this way.”
Being the clever people we are,
we realized that we were being trapped.
With a bluff on one side, the river on the other,
riot police behind us, and cops in front,
we all stayed put.
platoons of gas-masked bike police and cavalry started charging us from the other side,
shouting “Turn around, you can't go this way.”
Being the clever people we are,
we realized that we were being trapped.
With a bluff on one side, the river on the other,
riot police behind us, and cops in front,
we all stayed put.
A Feeling of Total Defeat
The two police groups had all 200 of us
confined in an area about as big as half a city block.
Our peaceful mob was outnumbered – there were at least 300 of them.
Then the plastic handcuffs came out: "Everyone, sit down
and put your hands on your head. You are now under arrest."
A few people who didn't comply got pepper sprayed at short distance.
My friends and I were near the front, sitting dejectedly on the grass,
overcome with a feeling of total defeat.
confined in an area about as big as half a city block.
Our peaceful mob was outnumbered – there were at least 300 of them.
Then the plastic handcuffs came out: "Everyone, sit down
and put your hands on your head. You are now under arrest."
A few people who didn't comply got pepper sprayed at short distance.
My friends and I were near the front, sitting dejectedly on the grass,
overcome with a feeling of total defeat.
The first thing the riot police did was arrest the two medics,
peaceful observers there to help tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed,
tased and rubber-bullet-hit protesters recover from any injury.
These were not the enemy – I guess they were just seen as aiding the enemy (us),
and so were carted away.
After that, the press were allowed to leave.
Then the riot police started pointing at my friends and saying,
"Yeah, lets remove them. But we gotta circle them.
We don't want any of these people escaping."
peaceful observers there to help tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed,
tased and rubber-bullet-hit protesters recover from any injury.
These were not the enemy – I guess they were just seen as aiding the enemy (us),
and so were carted away.
After that, the press were allowed to leave.
Then the riot police started pointing at my friends and saying,
"Yeah, lets remove them. But we gotta circle them.
We don't want any of these people escaping."
50 Allowed to Leave
For whatever reason, of the 200 people detained down by the river,
we were either the first or the second group to be let go.
Only 50 of the protesters were allowed to leave,
about a hundred were arrested one-by-one,
and the other 50 were detained until 7pm.
(This was all happening between 4-4:30, I would say.)
They had us stand, and said “We know you guys didn't do anything wrong,
but there are a lot of people behind you who hurt a lot of people.”
I didn't see any violence among these individuals.
The cops had paint-gunned a couple, so they must have done something wrong.
we were either the first or the second group to be let go.
Only 50 of the protesters were allowed to leave,
about a hundred were arrested one-by-one,
and the other 50 were detained until 7pm.
(This was all happening between 4-4:30, I would say.)
They had us stand, and said “We know you guys didn't do anything wrong,
but there are a lot of people behind you who hurt a lot of people.”
I didn't see any violence among these individuals.
The cops had paint-gunned a couple, so they must have done something wrong.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
For your viewing pleasure, here is the photo that was front page
of www.startribune.com this morning
of me and my four friends being released.
of www.startribune.com this morning
of me and my four friends being released.
Of course, the caption said “young protesters arrested” or something,
but we weren't. We looked sweet and innocent enough to be unsuspicious.
(Its a good thing Shannon took off his "Fucking Revolution" t-shirt that I bought for him inBulgaria
We were told that this was our last chance – if we returned to downtownSt. Paul
we'd be arrested for sure.
Feeling physically and emotionally exhausted,
we walked back to our bikes and got the hell out of there.
but we weren't. We looked sweet and innocent enough to be unsuspicious.
(Its a good thing Shannon took off his "Fucking Revolution" t-shirt that I bought for him in
We were told that this was our last chance – if we returned to downtown
we'd be arrested for sure.
Feeling physically and emotionally exhausted,
we walked back to our bikes and got the hell out of there.
Living in a Police State
When you can't demonstrate peacefully on your own streets,
when houses are getting raided,
people being arrested for no reason
and anarchists are being singled out without doing anything wrong,
when political profiling is being used by the police and even medics,
when news reporters and peace observers are being singled out as criminals,
then you know you are living in a Police State.
when houses are getting raided,
people being arrested for no reason
and anarchists are being singled out without doing anything wrong,
when political profiling is being used by the police and even medics,
when news reporters and peace observers are being singled out as criminals,
then you know you are living in a Police State.
This is What Happens
A van was raided in St. Paul
it was searched without a warrant and towed.
The police told the owner, “This is what happens when anarchists come to town.”
I'm not saying the anarchists weren't breaking a few windows and harassing a few cops,
but that was only a minority.
The black garb isn't to look intimidating, it’s to not be singled out.
So instead they single out everyone and throw them all behind bars.
it was searched without a warrant and towed.
The police told the owner, “This is what happens when anarchists come to town.”
I'm not saying the anarchists weren't breaking a few windows and harassing a few cops,
but that was only a minority.
The black garb isn't to look intimidating, it’s to not be singled out.
So instead they single out everyone and throw them all behind bars.
What Are They So Afraid Of?
I am too rattled, dejected, and crushed
to have any intelligent insight at this point.
All I can ask is,
What the fuck are the police and the government so afraid of?
to have any intelligent insight at this point.
All I can ask is,
What the fuck are the police and the government so afraid of?
