Aug 7, 2008 10:44 pm US/Central
The Mistrust Between Police, Protesters For RNC
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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The March on the RNC organizers say they will focus on Sept. 1, but would not condemn anyone from trying to make their point anywhere at anytime.
CBS
Trying to control thousand of demonstrators, while respecting their right to protest and speak their mind is no easy task. The protests outside the Republican National Convention four years ago in New York City did not result in any major violence.
The New York Civil Liberties Union said about 1800 people were arrested over the course of the convention, most for minor offenses.
Will the convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul be a relatively peaceful event? Police and protesters say that's the goal, even though they don't agree on much else.
What is certain, everyone is expecting a massive anti-war rally in St. Paul on the opening day of the convention.
"The Republican agenda has set us back decades. We're going to make a statement against that on Sept. 1," said Mick Kelly. He's part of an organization bringing together hundreds of anti-war, student, labor and community organizations from across the country to converge on St. Paul. He said his group is planning a peaceful and legal protest.
"We want people to feel free to bring their kids, their moms, their dads, their sisters and their brothers. This is an opportunity for people to, literally, step onto the stage of history and speak out against the war," said Kelly.
The protesters and the police both estimate about 50,000 people will attend the demonstration.
"I don't think of them as a threat. I think of them as citizens who want to operate within their first amendment rights. They're coming to St. Paul to make sure their voices are heard. I don't see them as a threat," St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington said.
If it sounds like police and protester have struck a peaceful balance, think again.
"The city of St. Paul has treated us terribly," according to Kelly.
One of the main issues is the protest route and how close they can get to the delegates.
Tom Walsh, spokesman for the St. Paul Police responds by saying, "If we put them in the 12th row of seats in the Xcel Energy Center they would complain that they weren't in the 2nd row."
"Tom Walsh can say what Tom Walsh says and the city of St. Paul can say what the city of St. Paul says but we have a right to speak out against the war and the city has stood in our way of doing that," Kelly snapped back.
However, Walsh maintains the city is offering unprecedented access to a convention while striking the delicate balance of maintaining security. He said the only people who will face arrest are those breaking the law.
"Disorderly conduct is disorderly conduct. Criminal damage to property is criminal damage to property, assault is assault. If nobody is breaking the law, then there are no issues," Walsh said.
The protesters worry the force of 3500 officers will interfere with them and their march.
"I have no idea whether or not the St. Paul Police have infiltrated any of the organizations that are apart of the coalition or not. There is a level of surveillance. I know that for a fact," Kelly said.
When asked about surveillance and infiltration, Walsh said, "I guess we're not going to discuss that, exactly what we know in terms of what preparation may have gone on or may be going on. We're not going to talk about right now."
And what about the protest spreading from the Xcel Energy Center to businesses around the Twin Cities?
The March on the RNC organizers say they will focus on Sept. 1, but would not condemn anyone from trying to make their point anywhere at anytime.
"We understand that there are going to be many other protests that day and over the four days. We think that it's very important for people to speak out and make a statement against the Republican agenda and against the war," according to Kelly.
So while both police and protesters say they want a peaceful march, there is mistrust.
The police say they're prepared for the worst, but are expecting the best.
In the St. Paul Police Chief's words, "As much conversation as there's been about the law enforcement resources, what we really want to say here, is this is going to be a great event, it's going to be a safe event."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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