MPR’s Sea Staura recounts scenes of protest that started on the Minneosta State Capitol lawn and ended with the biggest number of arrests of any day during the Republican National Convention, being hosted at the Xcel Center in St. Paul.
Awarded:
2008 Minnesota AP Award, first place in Spot/Hard News - Radio Division, Class Three category
SPEAKER 1: All afternoon the police watched the protesters and the protesters watched the police. The news media watched them both as we all snaked around the north side of downtown St. Paul.
Skirmishes between police and protesters began almost as soon as people had gathered at 4 o' clock. Organizers planned a march to the Xcel Center at 5:00 PM but at 10:00 till.
SPEAKER 2: Attention! Attention! Attention! Your parade permit will expire at 5:00 PM. If you continue with your parade, you will be in violation of city--
SPEAKER 1: So at 10 minutes to 5 o' clock, people in ballet flats, converse tennis shoes, and hiking boots started running toward the Xcel.
PROTESTERS: Their war!
SPEAKER 3: Our streets!
PROTESTERS: Our streets!
SPEAKER 3: Who's war?
PROTESTERS: Their war!
SPEAKER 1: Certain people stood out in the crowd. Minnesota peace team members in yellow vests, legal observers in neon green hats, anarchists in black hoods and bandannas, and older people with white hair.
They headed toward John Ireland Boulevard. It's a broad thoroughfare that leads to the Xcel Center. They got as far as the bridge over I-94.
[HORSES GALLOPING]
At that point, 30 police on horseback galloped ahead of protesters. Cops on bikes and in riot gear emerged from all directions to form a blockade as many as 10 deep. Over 600 protesters gathered on the bridge with police blocking them on three sides. The only way out was away from the Xcel.
PROTESTERS: Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! This occupation has got to go. Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! This occupation has got to go!
SPEAKER 1: Cops and protesters were nose to nose. Police donned gas masks and pulled out tear gas canisters. Dump trucks blocked intersections. Drivers on I-94 below honked at the protesters. One protester said it was obvious what was about to happen.
SPEAKER 4: So they're going to round us all up on the bridge and hit us with gas.
SPEAKER 1: Instead, after the stare down had lasted more than an hour, marchers stood up and ran back toward the Capitol. Police blocked some people, but others hopped hedges and escaped. Most of the group made it several blocks to the east where they ran into another police blockade.
PROTESTERS: The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching! The whole world--
SPEAKER 1: Rows of police started to surround the group. Again, gas seemed imminent. The standoff dragged on.
After another hour, the crowd lost energy, and a few of the apparent leaders were nabbed by officers, and the crowd broke up. But it reformed several blocks away on Marion and University, even farther from the Xcel.
[EXPLOSIONS, SCREAMING]
At least 200 people ran from police.
SPEAKER 5: This is an unlawful assembly! Move southbound or be subject to arrest.
SPEAKER 1: By now it was dark. Flash grenades, tear gas, and pepper spray were exploding in parking lots and streets. The remaining protesters were mostly young. They raced down Marion and in the direction of the Xcel and into a trap.
Two rows of police in riot gear blocked the far end of the bridge.
SPEAKER 6: They're going to trap us on the bridge!
SPEAKER 7: The bridge, they're on the other side!
SPEAKER 1: As the protesters were herded on, more police closed the bridge, and the protesters sat down, hands on their heads, to wait. [INAUDIBLE] Minnesota Public Radio News, St. Paul.
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