As has already been reported on the wires, representatives from various protest groups said they intended to continue demonstrating in downtown St. Paul over Republican National Convention. According to a press release released by the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, the protesters "will participate in non-violent civil disobedience and march to the steps of the RNC to serve the Republicans with a citizen's arrest.
The press conference was held at "Bushville," a makeshift encampment in a parking lot north of downtown.
Representatives from (among other groups) the
PPEHRC, the RNC Welcoming Committee, the
Hip-Hop Congress, and the
Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War (who organized yesterday's rally) spoke out about what they felt was unfair treatment by authorities in the streets of St. Paul. One spokesperson alluded to the Macy's picture window being shattered:
and suggested her opinion that the person breaking the window was not a protester, not an anarchist but possibly an undercover police officer. More scenes from the conference.
Cheri Honkala, spokesperson for the PPEHRC, speaks with the media
A reporter records audio from the conference while a camper at Bushville listens nearby
A representative with the Hip-Hop Congress
A sign held up during the press conferenceThe ostensible impetus of the press conference was to inform the media of another march they said would begin in Mears Park. A 3 p.m. rally is expected to be followed by a march at 4 p.m. They
shared their intended route with the media, and indeed, the route suggests the marchers fully intend to attempt to reach the Xcel Energy Center. A media contact with PPEHRC said actress Rosario Dawson and Jason Ritter (John Ritter's son) were expected to appear to march.
Posted by: Eric Henderson, web producer, WCCO.COM
