Minnesota 2008
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Minnesota 2008 |
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On
day two of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN, there had been a
peaceful march calling for Ethiopia to withdraw from Somalia. As people were
returning from the march, near 12th street, 20-30 police arrived suddenly and
apprehended two young people near the end of the crowd who were dressed in the
self-proclaimed "anarchist" style of clothes, taking them into custody. The
Minnesota Peace Team members present informed the police that the two persons
had been invited by the Somali group to be part of the march. The Team remained
clearly present and observing. After about 15 minutes the police released the
two. |
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After the Poor Peoples March during the Republican national Convention in St.
Paul, MN, the police in riot gear began to empty the streets , sweeping through
the downtown area block by block in shoulder to shoulder flanking formation.
They
moved in unison, batons in hand, yelling in cadence "Move! Move! Move! The only
direction people could move down St. Peter Street was north, towards the bridge,
and over the freeway. Several people lived downtown or had cars parked there and
their anger was building that there were no streets open to get back downtown.
The two Minnesota Peace Team coordinators for the day, dressed in the bright
yellow hat and vest, approached the front of the riot-helmeted police phalanx
and asked to speak to them. Four officers came out of the phalanx and approached
the Peace Team members, who asked the police if there was any way these
bystanders could get through their blockade. The police responded that until the
intersection and street was cleared of everyone, they wouldn't rd-open it. When
the Coordinators conveyed to the crowd what the police had said, some left.
After another 15 minutes or so, one Peace Team member noticed a change. Four
riot-clad police had removed their helmets, handed off their batons, and slowly
started toward the Peace Team members. They pointed to two of them and signaled
for them to approach. They told them: "Look, we're all tired and we'd like to
leave. But we can't leave until this intersection is cleared. If you clear this
intersection, our men will disburse and the street can be re-opened." The Peace
Team members informed the remaining crowd what the police had said. Some, still
angry, yelled at the police, but then left. A confrontation with pepper-spray,
tear gas, or use of batons, was averted.