Truckers select route for rolling RNC protest
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 4:35 pm
- 13 Comments
Updated: On September 2, hundreds of semi-trucks are still planning on doing a rolling protest of the Republican National Convention, as MnIndy reported last month. According to driver and event organizer, Michael “JB” Schaffner, the protest has hit a bump in the road: The event’s protest permit application was lost in transit en route to St. Paul. But Schaffner says he’s working with Sgt. Jane Jane Laurence of the St. Paul Police Department to get the issue quickly resolved. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” he said. “We’re one of the four cooperating groups. I think they see we’re peaceful people and think, ‘They’re going to set a tone for everyone else.’”
He adds that he asked Laurence to play a special role: “I even put out an invitation for her to drive in front of the first truck with her lights and sirens on.”
The truckers are protesting high fuel prices that are driving many in an industry that’s still largely made up of owner-operators out of business. But as their fliers point out, it’s bigger than that: “It is time the U.S. Government begins focusing on economic issues at home! …When Shell and Exxon/Mobil are raking in record profits, drivers and consumers are getting squeezed out!”
The drive will begin at 11 and make its way past the capitol, looping west on University then south to to eventually cross the Mississippi again at the High Bridge. At 4 pm, the convoy will participate in the “March for Our Lives” with the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign, which starts at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at the United Nations, 45th Street and 1st Avenue.
13 Comments
Comment posted August 19, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Ah, you’re right, Mitch. I’ve got the direction wrong. Thanks for pointing it out. I’ll make a correction.
Comment posted August 19, 2008 @ 6:37 pm
Oh, and Paul? You might want to check your timeline:
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=3112
Comment posted August 19, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
Hah!
Paul – are they planning on pulling trailers, or is this just the tractors?
They may have Saint Paulites rooting for higher prices just to spite whatever idiot laid out this route.
Comment posted August 19, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Ah, you're right, Mitch. I've got the direction wrong. Thanks for pointing it out. I'll make a correction.
Comment posted August 20, 2008 @ 10:17 am
What a bunch of idiots, it's Republicans that what to drill.
Comment posted August 20, 2008 @ 10:23 am
ummm it's illegal fro trucks to travel Summit, IIRC. Also going up Summitt Hill should be an adventure for a gear grinder.
Comment posted August 20, 2008 @ 10:41 am
If you read closely, you'll see the truckers don't yet have a permit. Their route will naturally be subject to law-enforcement approval.
Comment posted August 20, 2008 @ 11:31 am
Whoa, they're planning on driving semi-trucks UP Ramsey Hill, turning Left at the University Club onto Summit?
That's some interesting terrain right there. Might turn into re-enactment of the old Bill Cosby skit about Lombard Street. Somebody ought to set up a video camera for America's Funniest Videos.
Comment posted August 20, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
If I were a SPPD member, I think I might park some squads on Summit and increase the city coffers with fines on that day.
Comment posted August 20, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
Dag Hammarskojold Plaza at the UN. Hmmm… Is that the UN in Minneapolis or the UN in St. Paul?
Comment posted August 21, 2008 @ 1:18 am
Apparently diesel doesn't cost that much since the tough guys are driving their trucks. And like “clowns” said, the Conservatives are the ones wanting to drill. It's House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) who shut the door on the up or down vote and sent Congress on vacation.
Comment posted August 31, 2008 @ 12:50 am
We have received confirmation of our permit approval this evening. Our assembly time, start time and final route map is posted at http://www.theamericandriver.com/tca/rncprotest.html .
Our protest parade is not directed solely at the republicans. It is to raise awareness of American citizens to unite as one force…to put aside our differences and realize our common problem with our government's ignorance to focus on our economic issues at home. This problem MUST be dealt with. With the changing of the guard (President) coming quickly…we must, as one nation, impress upon our government to begin to act in the best interest of America.
Safe Trails and God Bless,
Frederick (SilverSurfer) Schaffner
http://www.theamericandriver.com
STAND UP, SPEAK OUT OR ACCEPT WHAT COMES!!!
Comment posted September 2, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
12:30 pm and we had 1 truck and a car go by on University….Thats it??????
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