Things are already heating up for the RNC protests. As noted by many on the intertubes, the protesters are pushing the bounds and using the event as an excuse to disrupt the convention and lives of average Minnesotans. KSTP has a piece on some happenings. 

Less than a week before the start of the Republican National Convention, police have made their first convention-related arrest.

Minneapolis Police had their hands full Tuesday with protestors and citizen journalists; a possible sign of what’s to come.

Armed with their voices and a video camera, a group fighting for affordable housing held a sit in-at the Minneapolis Housing and Urban Development office.

But when a 5 EYEWITNSES NEWS photographer showed up, a Minneapolis Police officer pushed him back into an elevator.

Shortly after, a demonstrator was arrested.

In a separate incident, police detained three so-called citizen journalists from New York. They said they were coming off a Metro Transit bus when Minneapolis Police officers stopped them and questioned them about their travel plans.

They were not arrested, but police did confiscate video equipment and a laptop computer. The incident report classified the incident as Homeland Security issue.

Minneapolis City Council member Cam Gordon, who spearheaded the drive to protect demonstrators, wants an explanation from the police chief and the city attorney.

He said the police actions appear to violate the spirit of a resolution passed unanimously last month, which prohibits seizing cameras except during an arrest or when it captures evidence of a crime.

“We don’t want to hide anything and I don’t think we want anything to be hidden,” said Gordon.

Police said the three videographers are under investigation for possibly trespassing on railroad property. Authorities are concerned transportation could be a target during the Republican National Convention.

The protesters’ brothers and sisters in arms did shut down the light rail in Denver. These people ARE plotting to do some things that are well outside the scope of free speech. Unfortunately the elected officials in the Twin Cities are in bed with these thugs politically and are giving them aid and comfort. 

I pray that all goes well and the destruction and violence being hinted at by the protesters (yes I consider throwing bricks, piss, and poo to be a violent action, not free speech) doesn’t happen, but if it does, I hope there will be lawyers prepared to sue the elected officials who allowed these thugs to have the access to be where they were to cause harm.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 6:54 am and is filed under 2008, Know Thy Enemy, Minnesota, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.