Comments on Police Blocking Student Protestors

see live video of the situation at http://theuptake.org/

When you say "student" protestors, I mean, have you checked everyone's id?

What's to stop a few looters from wearing some cargo pants and a funky t-shirt and helping themselves so some goods in the name of, like, giving it those Republicans, man...

protest live-blogging from http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/7564/riot-police-poised-at-capitol-following-arrests-march-begins (Central time):

5:59: Police communicating with protesters a second time. Protester with bullhorn is claiming law enforcement switched their permit time. Lindsey Beyerstein at Firedoglake says she called the Joint Information Center and was told the permit expired at 7, not 5, as police told the crowd one hour ago.

6:03: Between 300 and 400 people are on the John Ireland bridge and another 300-400 are off the bridge. Crowd on bridge is marching away from the police line. Police are holding their line.

6:05: Horse-mounted police are marching up behind the protesters and forming a line. Two snowplow dumptrucks have blocked access to Rice Street, so marchers are heading back onto the capitol lawn. Two riot cops are riding on the front hoods of the trucks.

6:12: Crowd is moving quickly toward intersection of 12th and Cedar, trying to beat police there. Police get there first.

6:16: A long line of traffic on 12th has been blocked on Rice. Riot cops are moving in on an African-American protester who has just sat down. His legs and arms are crossed and officers are training rifles on him. He’s been pulled through the police line. Crowd shouts, “Let him go!”

6:18: Bike cops rushing to put on gask masks.

6:21: Protester who was pulled through police line is now being walked out with his hands either tied or cuffed.

6:23: Police have torn down the lead banner of the march. A horse-mounted police officer has told a protester who holds a flag to move the flag out of his line of sight. He’s drawn a club, but the officer next to him has restrained him. Reinforcements have arrived: a dozen or so black-clad riot cops.

6:28: Police using a megaphone announce that the assembly is unlawful and if protesters don’t clear Cedar and 12th intersection, they’ll be subject to police action, which could include chemical agents. Five minute warning.

6:30: Police: “You must go to the left.” Protester: “Your left or ours?”

6:33: Another warning.

6:35: Horses trying to circling people in.

more from MN Independent:

6:38: A few journalists and protesters are trapped within a circle of horse-mounted cops. People in circle are sitting down. A few hold peace signs.

6:44: Two people in a tree are having rifles trained on him. One is coming down. Protesters shout: “He’s coming down, idiots! Put your guns down!” An older woman in a jean jacket just walked into the line of fire and glared at the officer. He ignores her, but lowers his rifle. Woman remains standing with arms outstretched. Steve Perry, also on site, says she blocked traffic at 12th and Cedar earlier in the day. She looks to be in her 60s.

Kevlar soldiers and Palin's coming.
We're finally on our own.
This summer we start a lootin'
Four pepper sprayed in Min-neh-so
Four pepper sprayed in Min-neh-so

@2: the cops won't check IDs because they don't want their agents outed.

It's a "capitol" building and a "capital" city.

report of police macing peaceful protesters and press:

6:46 p.m. We just got our asses beat by the cops. We're both fine. What happened was: the police at 12th and Cedar wanted to eject a small group of protesters, they surrounded the group and threatened tear gas. Andy Mannix and I were standing outside the circle, between the protesters and police, trying to take pictures and report. The police said we needed to leave, we showed them our press credentials. I said I was a reporter and that it was a public street. An officer struck me and knocked me backwards over a curb. I tried to get up, and three or four officers shoved me to the ground. Andy was maced. I got up, told them I was a member of the media, I asked them where to go. One of them struck me with his club. Eventually they jostled and threw me out of the circle.

The crowd is chanting "The whole world is watching." --Jeff Shaw

6:48 p.m. Jeff and I were standing outside the circle in the perimeter. Jeff and I were holding out our press passes. I tried to walk away. It was difficult to know where to go with so many officers, then one of them told me to "get the fuck down." I put my hands on my head. Another one started macing me from behind and sprayed up to my face when I was laying down with my hands on my head. Another told me to "get me the fuck up" and threw me outside of the police line. When they maced me I had my hands on my head, and I was on my knees.

Motherfucking pigs.