Day 4 of the RNC is off to a slow
start on security beat. Photographer Dave Chaney and I wrapped up Day 3 about 1
a.m. with arrests in downtown Minneapolis of
about 100 young folks who were hanging out and sitting in the streets after the
Rage Against the Machine concert at Target
Center.
The crowd was rowdy and was taunting
cops but nobody got violent or broke anything downtown. It reminded me of bar
closing time downtown when the crowds spill out into the streets.
At the daily police briefing this
morning, the St. Paul
police chief said he thought things are going well from law enforcement
perspective. He said officers are prepared to work with protesters to keep a
march peaceful this afternoon and ready to respond with force if things become
disruptive as they did the first two days of RNC.
Dave and I got caught in the clash
Tuesday night when police used smoke canisters and flash-bang devices to clear
the street in front of Mickey's Diner, so we remembered to pack some face masks
yesterday and today.
We didn't have to use them last
night in Minneapolis and hope we don't need them
today after the rally and march in St.
Paul. 4:00 is the scheduled kick-off time at the State
Capitol.
Posted by: Caroline Lowe,
WCCO-TV reporter
