ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) – At least 56 people were arrested Monday after police fired rubber bullets and used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse a crowd demonstrating near the site of the Republican National Convention.
CNN photojournalists witnessed police detaining between 20 and 30 individuals with plastic handcuff a few blocks from the security perimeter around the Xcel Center in downtown St. Paul.
A crowd of 300 individuals was later seen conducting what appeared to be a sit-in at parking lot near the Mississippi River.
Earlier in the day a group of self-described anarchists threw park benches into streets and smashed windows Monday, police said.
Thomas Walsh, a public information officer for the St. Paul Police Department, said Monday afternoon said 13 people had been arrested so far, accused of damage to property and conspiracy to riot. Those arrested will be formally charged in Ramsey County District Court on Tuesday, he said.
The arrest of the "anarchists" came after nearly 5,000 protesters marched peacefully outside the site of the Convention site. While Walsh described the individuals as a being part of a "splinter group" from the main body of protesters, he said it would not characterize their activity as being a protest.
"I think they did a disservice to those that came here to protest," he said.
– CNN's Kevin Myers and Joe Johns contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Now its a party.
Sad to see these are the people that support the DNC. Proud to be americans
police shouldnt have illegally raided their meeting centers and homes.
No violence!
Anarchist? That's soooooooooooooo 1920's.
recreate 68 ? wow just another example of GOP stepping all over our constitution...when will it end?...oh thats right November 4th
What a shame-not a surprise, but a shame! Why don't they do something to HELP someone else rather than act in such a way? In light of what was going on in the country today, why don't they help with fundraising for the hurricane victims? Sure, they have a right to express their opinion of dissent, but wouldn't our country be a better place if everyone would do something good for someone else before complaining and protesting?
i'm very disappointed with the fact that the protesters are being made out be the bad ones cause of a few bad apples. but what about the police raids on protesters homes? how come the "unbiased" media isnt touching this story. they werent terrorists. just americans sick of the way things are. ready for a change. it should be the biggest story today. a violation of americans civil rights. but i guess i see where cnn stands on that issue.
Is it still considered a "convention" if my small company's Christmas party had more people in attendance than this "meeting of the minds?"
the democrats are at it again
that why we lost in veitnam
they are low lifes or are great country
ever wonder what a police state would look like?
Why put quotations around anarchists? Makes it sound as though CNN did not describe them this way in earlier reports. No one has a right to destroy property. Protesting peacefully is one thing; breaking the law is another. I suspect Minnesotians will now have a close up and personal look at the fringe element that Obama attracts.
I understand their anger and frustration. But protestors we must let are voices be heard in a civil, peaceful matter. Let us march on in solidarity against The Republican Party.
Why can't Dem's protest peacefully? The same type of things happened in NYC during 2004 RNC. This makes a lot of sense, anti-war protesters protest violently. Is this the kind of people who make up the Democratic Party?
That;s republican party at work, think about it.... Need to show it on tv....
This is still America, disobey her rules or break her laws; you will rightfully pay the price............
Looks like more Police brutality to me...gos this so reminds me of Kent State and the Nixon Administration....guess the GOP has not come that far in all these years.
Is that Russia? What are we turning into?
Gotta love how the liberals are fine with their people protesting violently, but if a republican were to protest period, they'd be up in arms about it.
What does this say about where our country stands? I didn't see any major news about demonstrators at the DNC... It's time for change.. it will happen and McCain is just digging a deep hole for himself.... OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
If the 'anarchists' didn't kill anyone (war) or lie to anyone (Bush) or put the country into a huge financial hole (Republicans and Bush) then who's the real bad guys here?
These people are by NO means dems.
These are anarchists. I think some of them describe themselves as the far-libertarian-left— they want to bring down all government. They do not support democrats.
No more republicans!!!
Proud Hilary supporter for Obama/Biden 2008 and beyond!
Lets take back this country Dems!
Did I miss something? I didn't see anything in this article that say that they were Democrats?
Curious though, that the Dems were able to have a peaceful convention and the Repubs haven't made it past the 1st day even with our national crisis.
I don't think "anarchists" support the Dems either. And because of them, the message of the peaceful protestors is overshadowed.
Hmmmm....Right wing nuts are dangerous....
Left wing nuts are opressed by the police....
Nuts are nuts!!!
{this comment will be placed in moderation until after Nov 4}
Seems like the police are going to extreme measures there.
So much for little government! Oh yeah or right to protest.
i wonder which number will be higher: the attendance at the convention or the number of protesters?
Yes. Protest is nasty and un-American. Like the Boston Tea Party we celebrate every July 4th. No good American could support destruction of private property like that!
5000 peaceful protesters and 300 involved in a sit in. Maybe McCain will get 80,000 protesters show up on Thursday for his acceptance speech.
the people have a right to protest!!
These people are anti-war protesters, no one knows who they support. Don't blame Obama!
Oh I see... a bunch of nitwits protest the GOP convention and they are automatically Democrats? I guess every time I hear a story about teen pregnancy cover-ups, married men having gay encounters in bathrooms or coke snorting politicians, I will automatically think of Republicans.
First let me say that I have not decided who to vote for yet but am leaning toward McCain. That said, I just witnessed Campbell Brown pressing very hard to one of McCain's aides "Tucker" about Gov. Palin's qualifications.
Why doesn't anyone press the Democrats about Obama and his lack of experience. I want the answers to his experience. I have seen nothing, and I am appalled at the biased reporting.
Funny, some of the responses here mention democrats and/or liberals protesting, but there's no mention of them at all in the article itself. I guess people believe what they want to, no matter what the facts are.
Oh, wait, it's Republicans we're talking about here.
Just hopped up hell raisers!!! Has very little to do with any war just rebellion against any authority !! Is that what liberals think freedom is ?
You look "bad" America...
From the outside you look terrible!!!!!!!!
The repub convention looks like something from a country
with a dictatorship.
WOW!!!! this is how the outside world sees America
The photo speaks for itself.
I will be so glad when this election is over and we determine whether we will live in a socialist state where the state takes care of all our needs, redistributes are income, ends all incentive to work hard and earn more or we live in a country that believes in the ability of people to take care of themselves, work hard, create jobs by investing in themselves and their businesses. Will we live in a country that has a president with no experience or one in which the VP has limited experience?
I cannot wait to stop hearing from all the whining Obama people (about the Hillary people or the McCain people) and get on with our lives, providing for our families without government hand outs.
who thought being an anarchists is a good thing? I guess after the failure of the GOPS for the past 8yrs can do that to some.
Guys, try to decipher broad GOP conspiracy theory here. The peaceful protesters have a good cause to do what they are doing. These are great Americans. Hurrah for them. But, the anarchists are none but hired Republican gundas. Way to go, Mr. McCain. You have finally initiated the Behari style of politics in this land. Good luck.
ObamaBiden '08.
Yep the libs are protesting the war because of the killings and yet they support abortions.
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
Great, we obviously need more unfounded generalizations about Democrats...
Maybe the GOP should give all the portesters tickets so someone will actually be watching the speeches?
Not many of those people will vote Democrat so I dont see where people come to see them as "Democrats". They are anarchists, they hate both parties
Are people 'defending' the violent protesters????????
REALLY??????? REALLY???????
OH MY I just heard a reporter on CNN say ' The police got mad because the protesters overturned some police cars'
I know what he was trying to say but it came out as if the police over reacted.
We all have the God given right to protest.
WE HAVE NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER TO BE VIOLENT WHILE DOING SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET IT?!?!?!?!?!!??!
IT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A PEACEFUL PROTEST AND A VIOLENT PROTEST!!!!!!!!
If you guys don't see a they are not the same well you need a nap or lay off the wine or beer a bit.
Anarchist...terrorist...what's the difference? Just a bunch of street urchins wearing al-qaeda hoods. Let us see your faces! Burning and looting your way in an attempt to impress your friends with a cheap you-tube video. How you disgust me! What a bunch of cowards trying to stifle free speech, and the rights of people to gather safely to openly discuss their political views.
Sorry guys, check the link yourselves CNN is blocking me from posting it, apparently police "preemptively" made arrests... what happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? our civil liberties are under attack and we're losing the battle underneath this administration.
So sad to see that the media is lumping all the protesters together as "anarchists." I have seen first hand peaceful protesters bullied away by cops just to make the false impression that the RNC is welcome here. The RNC will find that Minnesota does not share it's extreme values. Ms. Palin, creationism in our public schools? Really? What is the GOP thinking?
The Republicans need incidents to scare the public. They'd rather have something bigger and more credible, but now that they've introduced us to the concept of "free speech zones," it's time for us to learn that there's to be NO FREE SPEECH outside of such "free speech zones" as it pleases them to corral us in.
These are great Americans.
To: Repub turned Repub ......
I understand your defense of your party, but implying that in any way, the anti-war protestors are supporters of the DNC (Democratic National Committee) is a stretch. There are millions of people who do not support the war with many different party affiliations (even Repubs like you).
This is just the start of whats to come. When the serfs suffer they blame the noble thats incharge. Granted, the reason most are having trouble with the ecconomy is due to there own choices in life, they will still need some one to blame.
Sounds ugly, but most would say they have children and familys.
When the few have it all and the many have next to nothing- there will be riots in the streets. And no i am not a communist.
I'd sue if I was arrested for exercising my CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
love to see the police at work. cuff 'em and stuff 'em
"Minnesotians will now have a close up and personal look at the fringe element that Obama attracts."
I didn't know that Obama was at the republican national convention....
I think Minnisotans will now have a close up and personal look at the fringe element that the republicans attract...
peace...
So 100 people are violent and that makes all members of the DNC violent people?
So if you have 100 KKK members in LA or MS does that make all citizents of these great states KKK members?
PA where do you live on the moon? The US lost the war because of the dems? Keep onbelieving this and continue to support the republicans, but later do not cry wolf.
Some of you people are so ignorant! These are not supporters of the Democratic Party!! Anarchists are against the two-party status-quo. They want to abolish both the Democratic as well as the Republican party. Right now they're just really angry at the GOP mostly because of the war.
Don't go blaming Democrats for all this because you can't be a Democrat and an anarchist at the same time!!
NEWS FLASH AMERICA !!!
THESE SO DECLARED "ANARCHISTS" ARE
AMERICAN CITIZENS, DEMONSTRATING IN AMERICA.
Just wondering, are these democrats causing the uprising, or are the republicans on this blog wanting to blame dems? Research before you blog. Emperical evidence only. OPinions are like ....holes we all have them.
Anarchists? I don't think so.
I'm watching the rally on CSPAN now...
They have all kinds of speakers, including members of various political parties.
They seem harmless, listen to the messages!
Strange I didn't see anyone protesting at the DNC. That must say something to the nature of the party.
William, from Cali! said:
"This is still America, disobey her rules or break her laws; you will rightfully pay the price…………"
Unless you're Bush or Cheney, then you're above the law, never held accountable and get off free and clear. At least until you're indicted, tried and convicted for the war crimes you committed while in office. Their time is gonna come.
We didn't have that kind of reaction at the democratic convention.
Constitutional rights eh? I guess destruction of private and public property will be allowed more often under the Obama rule.
I won't support McCain, but since Obama's worse, I say Go Palin and the republicans!
OK, I can't stay quiet when such stupidity is rampant in this forum. Lets clean some things up. Every person has the right to protest, that being said, no one has the right to riot and damage private and government property. Thats what the police were breaking up, not the peaceful protesters, but the violent rioters.
And another thing, THIS IS A CIVILIAN POLICE FORCE. This is not a mythical GOP security force. Everything the police are doing is independent of any political party. They are just doing their jobs, legally and by the books.
One last thing, to the sad, sad soul who thinks that the Boston Tea Party is what we celebrate on July 4th. NEWSFLASH, we celebrate the singing of the Declaration of Independence. The Boston Tea Party happened on December 16th.
I remember when this happened at the DNC last week....oop, wait it didn't. All protesters there were given civil rights. No one was afraid of them in Denver.
For all those Repugs blaming this on the Democrats, you know many of the same groups protested at the DNC in Denver right?
Yea, I bet the Bush administration has been the best recruiting aid helping the anarchist numbers grow. I'm also sure raiding their headquarters and this recent story have only swelled their numbers as well.
McCain only brings people together...in jail.
This is NUTS! Why should they be arrested for exercising their basic rights, the right to protest and demonstrate? These bulles in NAZI Boots should leave them alone.
Who says the protesters were Dems? If you wanted to see some Dems, you should have watched the DNC and Denver last week. The folks protesting outside of the RNC are just really pissed-off, Americans. Their frustration with this administration is so great that that's how they feel they have to express it.
Why do you not let them speak, When they are given freedom to speak they make the popint that they do not hold the same high values that the RNC does so it should make you look better the more they protest
Amy Goodman was arrested.
Regardless of what you think of the protesters' opinions, they have first amenment rights.
These punky kids that I am seeing on television need to be sent to Iraq to defend the country that has allowed them to act in such a way. Furthermore, their parents should be made to tag along. THIS is what is wrong with this country ! Send them to France.
America and all OUR freedoms are alive and well! Speak your minds, freely and without fear and violence! PEACE.
YES John, and you should be duly arrested and duly prosecuted if purposely destroy public or private property like these idiots were
Take a good look at the new brown shirts in action,only they are wearing helmets and using gas.
This is the republican party and John McSame trying to censor free speech and the 2nd amendment!
so much for democracy in america!!!!!!
"conspiracy to riot!" What a crock.
wow. could the GOP be more fascist?
Yep, this is the Republicans view of right to protest. Stormtroopers in the streets arresting everyone. You didn;t see stories like this during the DNC.
The so-called anarchists are NOT Democrats. They protested during the DNC in Denver as well. There just weren't enough of them to cause a stir. Or perhaps police in the Twin Cities are more aggressive.
Let's see– if you were a Republican demonstrating outside the Democratic convention in Denver, you were just an American exercising your free speech rights, correct??? But if you're a Democrat protesting outside the Republican convention, then you're suddenly an "anarchist"??
People!!! We need to get the Bush/Cheney administration out of power as soon as possible!! And we don't need any more dictator wanna-be's like either of them in Washington ever again. This administration has to be the most power hungry corrupt bunch of despots ever to hold office in this country. This administration is actually scary beyond words. Will we ever know just how many secret "executive orders" Bush signed? I don't think most people know how very close to a police-state we have become under this administration. It should scare the bejeebers out of every one of us!
For anyone trying to defend these self-declared 'anarchists' I advise you to look up the names Timothy McVeigh, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. These are examples from recent history of what 'anarchists' do.
Yeah lets not see or hear protesters expresssing their freedom of speech at the Republican convention; nor are they safe in their homes as evidenced by the intervention of police officers the other night.
What was in the search warrant that led to this invasion of privacy. Where's the reporting on it??????
Dang CNN, you're just as bad as Fox noise – who called these people "anarchists"? I'm glad you weren't around in 1968.
ITS A SHAME THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T DO THIS TO THE DEM'S CONVENTION. THAT SHOWS YOU THE HATE OF O.B.'S SUPPORTERS. YOU YOUNG HATERS BETTER FIND A BETTER CAREER. O.B. WILL LOOSE IN NOV. BECAUSE OF HIS YOUNG SUPPORTERS THAT HAVE SO MUCH HATE.
These 'anarchists' are soooo not democrats... they just happened to NOT do any protesting against democrats in Denver. Why is it that these people ONLY protest republicans if they're against all authority and all government?
After the last eight years I'm amazed there are people who publicly admit they are republicans.
Thanks for George Bush idiots!
I heard they arrested some protestors outside the DNC also, but I did not see pictures like this.!!!!!!!
wow, did Republicans behave in such a disrespectful way during the Democratic convention. Obama and his supporters have made me ashamed that I was a Democrat for 30 years. The operative word there being was, as a resident of MN, I don't appreciate these criminals spending my tax dollars and endangering the lives of police officer. Hope change and unity, now that's funny!
Apparently you people have no idea what 'anarchist' means and what they do. Look up Timothy McVeigh and think again if the police still should have just let them do what they do...
People who voted for George Bush twice should be begging for forgiveness instead of slinging insults at democrats.
These people are not exercising Constitutional Rights, they are violating the law. I am no Republician and I think that they are well within their rights to protest. But to break windows and tear up a city's bus benches that is wrong. No one should condone violence in place of violence. No war and no violence. Protest peacefully, Obama would not support this.
Obama 08
The news medias were predicting similar protests at the Democratic Convention. What happened didn't the protests come about or did the Democrats let them go ahead and exercise their constitutional rights.
What's worse smashing a few windows or being responsible for the killing of hundreds of thousand people in Iraq? Don't fret I expect McCain will get elected and you'll be able to hurl your anger at Russia and Iran and China and Venezula etc. etc. McCain's list goes on and on it's never ending.
...the protestors should tell the Police they were angry about a sporting event, say a Lakers game, or, they thought it was May Day in Los Angeles. Either way, they would have been treated better.
Byran; With "What does this say about where our country stands? I didn't see any major news about demonstrators at the DNC" and Linda31; with "Curious though, that the Dems were able to have a peaceful convention ".
Apparently you did not take note of the HUGE HUGE police presence in Denver last week!. Was/Is that the case in the Saintly city of Paul?
Because throwing bleach on an 80 year old woman is the way to convince people to stop the war in Iraq. You people are so partisan you can't even condemn violence for the sake of anti-violence. While these protesters may not have been Democrats, those of you who are Democrats supporting the protesters actions are not making a good name for yourselves or your party.
If you protest you must do it peacefully. That is the law. The protestors today are no different from those during the Vietnam era. Do they have anything better to do? Probably not!
My college roommate was mustering out of the Marine Corps in 1970 out West. A hippie protestor urinated on his duffle bag, He was getting ready to take out the low life but a senior NCO told him to stand down. He obeyed the order like a good Marine.
Most of these protestors have never been anywhere or nor have they ever done anything. I had a young college gal working for me several years ago and she used to fly around to protest all over the country. She was a political science major and on a plan. She used to criticize Bush and the good old USA. I told her if she didn't like the status quo she should go back to Mexico where she came from.
When I came back to the USA from the war in SW Asia in the fall of 2002 I wrote President Bush a letter and told him how the vast majority of the soldiers in the theater held him in high esteem. He replied with a letter and a picture and they are on the wall of my office to this day.
These proterstors are most likely liberal Democrats and are going to vote for Obama. They have that right as soldiers protect that right. However, Barak Obama is totally transparent and is as full of bull as a Christmas turkey. He has accomplished nothing in life other than graduating from Harvard Law School. His wife is a downright racist and angry. If it's so bad why don't they both leave!! He is a communist/ Marxist that subscribes to the "all for one and one for all" ideology.
Thank God for John McCain and Sara Palin.
John Harden, COL, U.S. Army, Retired
Police Dispatcher, "No, no, no your misunderstood, the anarchists are INSIDE the GOP convention."
Oops...
The people doing this demonstrating on the news all look like they are old enough to know better, for the first time in my adult life I am ashamed to be a democrate.
Now how come they didn't arest anyone at the DNC convention?
C:
"do something good for someone else before complaining and protesting?"
First, complaining and protesting are two separate entities. Second that "good for someone" is all of America. Do you know what the Federal Reserve has done to us? Do you know what not declaring war on a country is? It is (simple really) a propagandist profit machine eating at our economy.
To the rest of ya, keep your partisan and left/right wing junk at the door.
Just keeps looking familiar. These Republicans can't help but be vindictive. Once we had a Vice President who urged his stooges to release the name of a CIA operative just to be vindictive.Now another VP trying trying to fire an ex-inlaw before she gets to the Whitehouse. A sorry familiar story. It ain't over. Is this the person to finish the Iraqi war should John McCain collapses while serving as president? Goodluck America.
Tune into C-SPAN. Some very interesting stuff going on there. Nov. 4 can't come soon enough. It's so over for the Repubs. They'll need to rebuild again. It's about time, don't you think.
I don't know why people are trying to blame this on Obama because he and McCain are not the only two people running for President. Alot of those people are Ron Paul supporters. Which if I am not mistaken he is a Republican. And you can best believe that alot of them are Ralph Nader supporters as well, so I am not quite sure how this is being blamed on Obama. People don't like the Republicans and it's just that simple.
First, these protestors are not Democrats. Second, Democrats and Republican's alike should be stepping up and defending these people's right to protest. Those who caused damage should be held accountable, but it does not seem that all of these people were behaving that way. You may not like or agree with other people's political opinions, but last time I checked, their rights to those opinions are guaranteed in our Constitution, and alot of people have fought and died defending those rights.
Peaceful protest is one thing...
Destruction of property is another...
To John, FL and Cole,
They weren't throwing park benches and breaking windows in colorado like the protesters here were. Protesting IS a constitutional right UNTIL damage of property public or personal starts and then it turns into a crime cause it is life endangering and just wrong. You cannot be arrested for peaceful, sign holding protests. The ones that did not throw stuff around were NOT arrested. So dont defend the ones that were doing the wrong things, because then you just join their group and make your party look bad.
for all the libs out there....Will you ever get sick and tired of being "sick and tired" all the time? Cronic complaining. Almost all Americans know what you are against. What are you for?
George Bush will be 100% vindicated for ignoring your self-defeating demands all these years
so sade RNC
oh my god, you people... anarchists aren't democrats. all of you saying these are democrats protesting better look at a dictionary and find out what anarchy means. it means a rejection of all compulsory government and a rejection of the state. oh wait, conservatives don't rely on facts. i forgot.
Real Americans using the their right of free speech, beaten by an oppressive police force that is more worried about allowing the GOP to be embarressed then allowing personal freedoms.
just reflects the values of Democratic platforms....NONE ORGANIZATION