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Violence Breaks Out at Anti-War Protest in St. Paul
September 01, 2008 4:49 PM
UPDATE: As of Tuesday morning, police have arrested more than 280 demonstrators throughout the downtown St. Paul area, according to the Associated Press.
ABC News' Lindsey Ellerson Reports: Waving signs and chanting in unison "troops out now", thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets of St. Paul Monday for what is the largest anti-war rally scheduled during the week of the Republican Convention. Police estimated a crowd of 8,000-10,000 at the event organized by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, despite initial predictions that up to 50,000 demonstrators would show up.
The gathering kicked off at the State Capitol and soon gathered steam into a large march to the Xcel Energy Center, where Sen. John McCain is scheduled to accept the Republican nomination for president on Thursday.
Enthusiastic demonstrators screamed "war isn't the answer!", some inciting violence against police trying to control the march.
“Whose streets? Our streets!” yelled a young demonstrators who clashed with law enforcement.
As activists tried to push through police barricades to make their way down to the convention center, it appeared that police were using pepper spray to quell the chaotic activity.
"We do believe that some sort of chemical agent was deployed," said a representative from the RNC's Joint Information Center, when asked by ABCNews.
Officials are reporting that the protest activity resulted in 13 arrests, seven misdemeanors, two gross misdemeanors and four felonies today.
For the latest on Hurricane Gustav, watch "Gustav Storms the Gulf" on a special edition of "20/20" at 10 p.m. ET
The St. Paul rally opened peacefully with various speakers addressing the large crowd about what they called atrocities committed by the Bush administration.
“When I say Bush, you say Liar. Bush! Liar! Bush! Liar!”roared the crowd in a call and answer session. “When I say Cheney, everybody duck!”
According to the organizers, the protest was officially endorsed by more than 125 national and local organizations.
Jay Marx, an avid activist who spent last week at the DNC in Denver, is visiting St. Paul to support impeachment of President George Bush and represent all forms of freedom.
“There might be various flavors and pieces of justice represented here, but fundamentally, we’re all here to stand for the same peace.”
Jerry Krause, a professor at a St. Paul University and member of Veterans for Peace, paraded through the crowd holding a large, bloodied flag.
When asked by ABC News if the RNC’s cancellation of evening events, which were scheduled to include President Bush and Vice President Cheney, deterred his desire to protest, Krause replied, “Bush didn’t cancel the war.”
Many activists came to support the cause from miles away. Matthew Jones, a 22 year old student who drove 950 miles to stand up against the Bush administration, was dressed in an orange jumpsuit with a black cloak over his head.
“I am here to represent the political prisoners, people locked in Gitmo without due process and the Iraq war impending Iranian conflict…because I don’t want my daughter to be affected by this capitalistic government, and then be left with nothing.”
The rally began at 11a.m. and continued throughout the afternoon.
September 1, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (272)
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Ah the hypocrites are so set against war yet love to get up in the face of the police.
These peace freaks always love to provoke the cops with their illegal activities and hate speech. Why is that? They promote peace, yet their actions are pure violence. Hypocrites!
But that is always the case isn't it with these hypocrites. They are always claiming they want peace yet get violent with law enforcement.
Ironic that while these Marxists protest, the news finds a Marx to interiew.
Posted by: chocolate city | Sep 1, 2008 5:08:12 PM
It's unfortunate that these people want to disrupt a peaceful assembly and trample on the rights of others, hopefully the police will be able to restore order.
Posted by: BTL musings | Sep 1, 2008 5:15:34 PM
Watch more closely - I doubt it is the protestors getting into the face of the police - rather it is the other way around.
this is america - land of the free - free speech
even for idiots like you. (you spew hate, violence, and hypocrisy - go look in the mirror
keep watch - many of the protestors are military - all branches - who oppose the lies, hypocrisy, and stupidity of the GOP administration
Posted by: 1more4REALchange | Sep 1, 2008 5:18:03 PM
Welcome to peaceful protests, and a Militant government reacting, Welcome to Germany in the 30's, look into history everyone, learn!
Posted by: Cowboy | Sep 1, 2008 5:20:35 PM
To bad they can't run amok inside the convention hall. 4000 troops dead, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, trillion dollars+ gone, standing of the US destroyed in the world, threats of more war with Iran. I commend the protesters for showing up. Just follow the law, but let yourself be heard.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:21:29 PM
You mean Pro-Terrorism, Pro-Genocide protesters. The only Anti-War Movement in this country are the people trying to win it despite the traitors here.
Posted by: Neo Politicus | Sep 1, 2008 5:23:03 PM
Did these protesters not get the memo? US combat troops are already planned to be withdrawn from Iraq...What is blabbin "bring our troops home now" going to do exactly? Just seems really stupid...
Posted by: Jazz | Sep 1, 2008 5:23:57 PM
Neo Politicus
4000 troops dead, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, trillion dollars+ gone, standing of the US destroyed in the world, threats of more war with Iran
There is your pro-terrorism, pro-genocide
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:25:02 PM
Jazz - Near as I can tell, McCain sang a song about bombing Iran. You know that country with 75 million people next to Iraq.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:26:21 PM
.
For those that can't see the obvious: the reason Nancy "Impeachment-is-off-the-table" Pelosi failed to do her constitutional duty and impeach the ChenyBush criminals for their high crimes and misdemeanors, is that the Dems desperately NEED BUSH to run against!
They have nothing else. These pathetic losers will just campaign against bush for the next decade or more., showing that the entire party is as shallow as its leader, the empty suit sweetie hussein.
/
Posted by: ALEX H. | Sep 1, 2008 5:28:52 PM
Wonder why the anti war protestors who were at the Dem Convention were not an angry mob like at the RNC....could it be that this is another plot arranged by Obama and his gang of thugs...seems like that is exactly what is going on..oh, this bunch will stop at nothing!!!
Posted by: mfmros | Sep 1, 2008 5:30:30 PM
mfmros - Think about it for a second. The current administration sold a war on lies in which lives were lost and our treasury raped. Now do you understand why the protesters are pissed?
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:33:21 PM
All protestors are idiots. It wouldn't break my heart if the police start shooting these idiots. Go home.
Posted by: Bogler | Sep 1, 2008 5:33:34 PM
Bogler - They would probably wish the same on you since by your comment you support our current foreign policy trends.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:34:30 PM
Neo Conservatism is a liberal movement. Real Republicans are anti war and pro personal freedom. There is nothing about the current Neo Conservative administration that is conservative.
Ron Paul is the ONLY Anti-Iraq War candidate.
Posted by: U | Sep 1, 2008 5:35:30 PM
Old Hippies never die, they simply fade away. The protestors might want to check on combat troop levels, they are down, more on they way home and more importantly they have done a remarkable job in getting things under control. While leftist rant at the unfortunate deaths that have occured they fail to realize that a half million Iraqi's died during the period of sanctions that we helped enforce during the 90's.
Posted by: david | Sep 1, 2008 5:36:15 PM
U - God bless you. Finally someone with some sense. Ron Paul is awesome.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:36:22 PM
Ummmm, what part has Joe Biden played in our current foreign policy situation? What is he doing in the Senate foreign Relations Committee? Biden08, McCain/Palin08
Posted by: Kitty | Sep 1, 2008 5:37:44 PM
I live in Saint Paul and attended the rally and march from the Capitol to the Xcel Energy center this afternnon. It was a very peaceful march from my perspective, the cops and the SWAT teams were actually looking quiet bored. There is a difference between protesting the troops and protesting an unjust war. Support the troops and bring them home safely! Stop fighting an endless war and occupation. Iraq had never attacked us before we attacked them. If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention! Get out, get active. And if you don't vote in the upcoming election, then you have no right to complain with what the next President does.
Posted by: St. Paul Local Citizen | Sep 1, 2008 5:37:55 PM
david - Sad but true, and Madeleine Albright said all of those Iraqi deaths were worth the sanctions. This of course was played all over the middle east over and over again. No wonder they want to do us harm.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 1, 2008 5:38:01 PM
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