RNC: Riot Police in Minivans

There were far fewer arrests and detentions on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, but the evening wasn’t without its drama as <a href=”http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/7129/day-two-diary-part-two-armies-of-the-night” target=”_blank”>riot police and protesters played a tense cat-and-mouse game</a> all over downtown. Here’s some behind-the-scenes video footage of a phalanx of police rolling in and setting up to contain protesters coming from the Minnesota State Capitol at about 7:30 p.m. It’ll change the way you think about minivans: 
 

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And here’s footage of the main protest procession as it passes the intersection of Cedar and Seventh streets: 
 

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The protesters had just marched from the State Capitol after <a title=”police prevented political rockers Rage Against the Machine from playing” href=”http://http//www.utne.com/2008-09-02/Arts/RNC-Rage-Against-the-Machine-Unplugged.aspx?blogid=32″ target=”_self”>police prevented political rockers Rage Against the Machine from playing</a> a widely leaked “unannounced” set at the Ripple Effect concert. The demonstrators ended up marching to the Xcel Energy Center, site of the RNC, and then back to the Capitol.

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