Well, lets chalk this up for a win for the protesters and 1st amendment rights. When I saw this on the news last night I could hardly believe it. It looks like the Police want to actually work with us as opposed to against us. Its really too bad that the police in New York, Boston and Seattle have to respond otherwise to situations similar to what we have been seeing here in Minnesota.
More below the squiggle.
Occupy Minnesota protesters were allowed to block an intersection in bustling downtown Minneapolis for 20 miniutes or so.
About 200 protesters then sat down in the intersection at 6th Street S. and Marquette Avenue. But instead of arresting them, police diverted traffic.
"We'll stand here and let them have their First Amendment rights," said Minneapolis Police Inspector Kris Arneson. "I don't think they will be here that long."
She was right. After 20 minutes, they got up and marched to the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, site of OccupyMN, a protest against corporate power.
This is very good news for people who want to show their support with the other 99%ers but are afraid of being arrested for simple civil disobedience. However, like they say you can only please half the people some of the time...you find people like the one below who actually wanted to be arrested.
"I feel so bad ... why don't they want to arrest us?" said Sunday Alabi, 61.
We have another opportunity for seeing how much the Minnesota Law Enforcement agencies will tolerate again on Staurday when protester will attempt to pitch tents in the Government Plaza defying orders from Law Enforcement not to.
Relations with authorities will be tested again Saturday, when protesters say they plan to pitch tents on the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, defying an order not to do so. County Administrator Richard Johnson said if tents go up, deputies and county security will ask that they be taken down, and if they aren't, the tents will be taken down for them. If protesters interfere with that process, they'll be arrested, he said.
Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said, "Ninety-nine percent of the people are lawful and orderly, and they want to exercise their free speech. It's the one percent who want to create conflict or raise it to the level of arrest. We have no interest in engaging the one percent."
Overall, i'd say that throughout this entire Occupation of the Hennepin Government Plaza (People's Plaza) the police have done an excellent job allowing individuals the freedom to express their fist amendment rights. It's good to see especially when other cities haven't been so lucky.
Take care everyone and stay safe out there. I'll keep posting diaries as new events occur so please check back often.