As the RNC Wraps Up, Protests Rile Up
By David Carty
09/04/08
Thursday morning, police arrested 102 protesters and booked 15 in downtown Minneapolis according to the Joint Information Center. Of the arrests, 100 were for misdemeanors and 2 were gross misdemeanors.
The crowd originated at the Target Center before taking to the streets chanting "Whose streets? Our streets" in protest of the Republican National Convention. The protests followed a concert by rock group Rage Against the Machine, who are known for their politically themed lyrics and opinions.
In all, since Saturday 422 people have been arrested in raids and protests. Earlier in the week police used cannisters of an unidentified chemical to disperse the crowd.
More protests are planned for today. The Anti-War Committee is planning one march which will rally at the State Capitol before heading to the Xcel Energy Center. The organization, which will turn 10 years old in December, is protesting the Iraq war and aims to "stand in solidarity with those communities, here and abroad, who are unjustly and cruelly affected by U.S. foreign policies," according to the organization's mission statement.
It is one of many groups organizing protests at the RNC. Here is a short list of other RNC protest organizations.
- Several organizations have popped up with the specific purpose of protesting the 2008 RNC, including the Coalition to March on the RNC which has organized bus transportation to Minnesota from as far away as Alabama and North Carolina.
- Codepink, originated as s a women's peace advocacy group, derived its name from the color-coded security alerts. Wednesday 4 members of the group were arrested for crawling under a fence a few blocks from the RNC.
- The sarcastically-named RNC Welcoming Committee has given suggests protesters a list of ways to crash the convention. The Committee's members also have been directing parents who want to protest where to find childcare during the RNC. The group also has given protesters maps of transportation blockades to help them get as close to the Convention Hall as possible.
Security will be heavy again tonight in the Convention Hall where Arizona Senator John McCain will give his acceptance speech for the GOP presidential nomination.