RNC08: Cops fire flash grenades, arrest 200 people on Marion

I was arrested after filming this video. The thing is, I was just trying to get back to my car on the other side of the Marion street bridge (St. Anthony & Marion, near Sears). I was walking towards it when I saw a large group of protesters approaching the bridge. That's why I'm walking against the flow at the beginning of the video. Then the police moved in on all sides and started firing flash grenades, smoke bombs and generally scaring the shit out of all these peaceful protesters. We were corraled onto the bridge where they told us we were all under arrest. There were several journalists including Paul Demko (City Pages) and Tom Aviles (WCCO/CBS) arrested as well. I was charged with "presence at an unlawful assembly." Meanwhile the 1st amendment says that people have the right to peaceably assemble. Moral of the story? We are not free; The Bill of Rights is no longer operative.

Many thanks to Coldsnap Legal for providing legal advice and hugs for those of us leaving jail. The cops were actually pretty nice after they arrested us. :-) They're just people doing their job, but they work for a corrupt and evil system. It's time for change.

_________
More info here: www.ElectricMonkeyPants.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• RNC08
• RNC2008
• 2008
• MN
• protest
• cops
• police
• arrest
• grenades
• oppression
• assembly
• smoke
• crowd
• bridge
• stpaul
• minnesota

[Tessai2012]

i know its wrong and all...but fuck man, must be fun being a cop

[Targetf]

sigh* what a waste of flash bangs...

[Bottery]

@RandomYTProductions

It's incredibly strong burst of bright light. If you stare directly at it, especially in the dark, it's gonna mess up your eyes at least for a while.

If you're unfamiliar with the phenomena, try standing in a pitch black room for 5 minutes then flip on the light switch, then multiply that by "holy fuck, my eyes".

[GodsNotReal95]

@bioboy504 If you went back a 300 years with your hair cut, you would probably get hanged. And your in idiot, protesting is completely legal.

[J3rEmY17]

@bioboy504 doesnt matter if they "shouldnt have been protesting" they have every right to protest they were protesting peacefully what the cops just did their was illegal and I hope the cops got sued for it... but I can only hope.

[Jarobulian]

@bioboy504 Americans have a Constitutional Right to protest. If you don't agree with it, and you are in America, then please get the hell out.

[bioboy504]

Well, they shouldn't have been protesting. We have laws, follow them. Don't like it? Change the laws. And for God's sake, GET A HAIR CUT HIPPIES!

[mufalmewww]

they are being herded, like animals...

[Sleepingpillz]

Time for a change..Live life on the edge..The mirrors edge..  In a time when all information is monitered..

[psychiatristman00]

thats messed up. fuck the police!

[cualcoatl]

If I go to one of these im going in full urban camo and with a n95 repirator, oh yeah, and a pocket full of rocks and fire crackers.

Long. Live. The. A.R.M.