As other possible legal actions are being considered, protesters at the Republican National Convention who were arrested and released - many without charge - are being held hostage in the Twin Cities as they will not be allowed to have their personal belongings returned to them until Monday.
For some, this includes photo id/drivers' licenses, credit cards, plane tickets, medication, clothing, and various electronics including phones and cameras.
A motion was filed in court on behalf of those trying to get their belongings back so they could get back to their jobs, school, board planes, get their medications, etc. The judge has summarily dismissed the motion and will not allow anything to be released.
My son has been told that the St. Paul Police Department is not in possession of his backpack and it's contents. He is checking with the Minnesota State Troopers now.
If the police are holding your personal items, please contact Coldsnap Legal Collective.
There is a lot going on so follow me on down.
Last night there were 396 arrests at an anti-war march in St. Paul.
Protesters were blocked from the Xcel Energy Center yesterday by snowplows, dumptrucks, and 250-300 police. Most were in riot gear with gas masks, but there were also mounted police.
The protesters had a permit to march but Sheriff Fletcher announced the permit was to be revoked by 5pm (before any of the delegates would arrive at Xcel for last night's speeches) and strongly urged that city employees vacate the downtown area.
Two AP reporters (Amy Forliti and Jon Krawczynski) were arrested and issued citations. A KARE-11 TV photographer, a photojournalist Tom Aviles from WCCO and at least a dozen other members of the media were arrested including Paul Demko who has a great recounting and photos at Minnesota Independent.
He was one of nearly 200 people on the Marion Bridge. From his account:
(Best protester chant of the night: "You’re hot, you’re cute, now take off you’re riot suit.")
All of them were later released.
Trapped by police on John Ireland Bridge, protesters sat down in an act of civil disobedience.
Tim Pawlenty did the finger wag.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty blamed the violence this week on a small group of "anarchists, nihilists, and goofballs who want to break stuff and hurt people."
"They need to be dealt with," Pawlenty said in an interview with WCCO-AM of Minneapolis. "When you want to break stuff and hurt people, you can't do that."
An estimated 10,000 people participated in the marches.
Smoke bombs, concussion grenades, pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets were used against the protesters.
At last count, 818 people had been arrested during the convention but that is not a final tally.
Since many, like my son, were arrested without charge and later released, the courts may not back up as badly as they would otherwise.
That said, the ensuing lawsuits are going to linger for years and the economic impact as well as the public relations effect will be felt in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the state of Minnesota for quite some time.
Sources: Star Tribune
Coldsnap Twitter
Twin Cities Indymedia
Lindsay Beyerstein at Firedoglake
WCCO (CBS Affiliate)
Wordpress
Hat tip to lineatus for the title!