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Sep 1, 2008 9:45 pm US/Central
Roving Chaos Marks St. Paul Streets
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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A person that appears to be arrested was also being helped by paramedics on Kellogg Avenue.
CBS
Anti-government protesters marked the first day of the Republican National Convention by roaming through downtown St. Paul.
The individuals, who described themselves at anarchists, anti-authoritarians and anti-capitalists, spent most of Monday engaging, and at times running from, police. They were separate from a peaceful antiwar protest that wound through nearby streets.
Some of the scenes witnessed included:
--Samantha Miller, a 23-year-old from Washington, D.C., joined with other members of Students for a Democratic Society for a "Funk the War" march. They pulled a sound system in a wagon, cranking up music as the police moved in with riot gear. At times, dozens or even hundreds of people marched with the group, and at other times the crowd dwindled to just a few.
--Some protesters avoided police by carrying bags containing black pants and shirts, which they donned over their casual clothes. Some covered their faces with black hats, bandanas or gas masks, leaving only their eyes visible as they threw down newspaper boxes, broke windows and in one case, walked over a woman's car as she was sitting in it.
--The smell of vinegar often filled the air. Protesters carried bottles of vinegar to pour onto their bandannas, which they said helped limit the impact of the tear gas sprayed by police.
--One man pulled out a hammer and began smashing windows. Another smashed glass on parking meters. Bus benches and trash cans were thrown down. Blockades were moved.
--A group with the "Funk the War" march moved up and down Kellogg Street as police with riot gear moved in. At one point, the group blocked traffic and moved construction barricades to create their own blockades. When police tried to move them, the group wove in and out of traffic stopped at a stoplight, waving to stranded drivers.
--At least one demonstrator shot Silly String at police in riot gear.
--At times there was infighting among the protesters, as they tried to figure out which direction to go. At least once, an individual yelled at another who used a hammer to break windows, saying: "He's a cop! Undercover!" At another point, one man yelled, "We're here for the convention, not to fight with police!"
--The patience of police was clearly tested, with one shouting, "If we're gonna use the ... gas, use the gas!" At another point, when a woman told a mounted police officer that she was trying to leave an area, the officer said, "You're not trying to leave. I've been chasing you around all day. If you want to leave, get out of downtown!"
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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