Secondly, there was no good way to get out. Cops were barking out all kinds of conflicting orders–first sending people west, then bombing the area they were sending people to, then sending people east into another volley of bombs. I personally tried my best to scramble to the other side of the Sears parking lot to the safety of my car but was nearly trampled by horses and forced back into the panicked crowd by cops on bikes who blocked my path.

I've been a political activist and community organizer (unpaid–I also hold down a conventional job) for 30+ years. What I saw of police conduct over the last two weeks is the most repressive I have ever seen or experienced–and I've been to Northern Ireland twice and was in Dublin on the day Bobbie Sands died. Cops in that situation acted with great restraint by comparison.

Civil rights protesters were subjected to vicious police brutality including beatings, sprays from high-powered fire hoses and mauling by dogs. Is it because they were not “grown ups” like you? Did their protests–also claimed to be illegal by racist cops–not create social change? Did Rosa Parks “taunt police” by refusing to sit in the back of the bus?

As we live in the Summit Hill neighborhood I was aware of the detour into downtown along John Ireland Blvd. yet I chose 94 to 10th street. I was surprised to find 10th street now closed so I opted for Marion to follow the designated detour into downtown. 10th street is the exit for St. Joseph’s hospital by the way for those unfamiliar with the area; I know this route in my sleep it’s where my 4mo old daughter was born. Following the detour signs up Marion towards University we passed what appeared to be a growing number of police gearing up for something exciting. As we approached University we were buzzed by police lights and horns leading minivans, police and sirens escorting a Chippewa Springs water truck. Well heck, we must be going the right way!

As we crawled around the corner onto University and neared the capital I recalled the route via John Ireland and decided to naively attempt a bypass along the western edge of the capital grounds on MLK. The road was open I figured what the heck, the worst that could happen is more time on detoured roads right? As I cleared the capital and neared John Ireland where I intended to make a right turn, I was met with barking commands from the capital lawn “Sir, U-Turn here now! Sir, U-Turn now!” Wasn’t aware I was the target mind you so it took several times for the State Patrol officer to gain my attention. When I discovered I was the intended audience, I U-Turned left and headed back towards University. This is where I grew very concerned. The officer proceeded to block other traffic in my mirrors. Looking right we could watch waves of riot gear laden officers marching down the lawn towards 94. Ok, maybe not a good place to be with my partner and 4mo old daughter? However we are residents of Saint Paul, residents of Minnesota, residents of the US, we have every right to be here. My only choice was a right turn on University, it was now closed to the west! I proceeded with several hundred others along the ordained detour to downtown. Traveling south towards the bridge over 94, imagine my excitement when finding a wall of overcharged men in riot gear blocking the bridge from cars or pedestrians. At to this, snow plows were on the streets in August!

The only option to turn right on 12th street at this point I did so, along with many other vehicles. We haven’t heard any commotion and have only seen several hundred officers in polished gear marshalling across the lawn in formation and lined up on each of the bridges across 94. Walls of riot gear, temporary fencing and Snow Plows blocked bridges across 94 into downtown and roads north away from the scene. I was growing very concerned with this from several perspectives. We had two choices to exit from here. A snow plow on Rice street at the point of determination, 35e south or 94 west as we watched pedestrians try to cross bridges on foot being denied I wondered if any of them would care to walk 35e or 94 themselves.

When we made our destination there was one noticeable difference from the patio at GW, less traffic on St. Peter. The same “Repent or Perish” truck circling the block, I was hoping someone would give him better speakers the sound quality from his PA system and music was just awful. For a couple of hours we could see the plow trucks parked on the bridge over 94, wondering if we would ever get to see a protest march. Guess not tonight, the sheriff has determined enough’s enough? It has been written several places and I agree. The folks determined to march from the capital where herded like cattle along side countless pedestrians. With such force that one could only imagine how much fear could be generated. You stir up enough fear in someone, and now you have yourself an angry participant.
After watching several days of men in blue on bikes circling the blocks in formation, fire engines racing down St. Peter with lights and sirens only to circle back again without emergency and impatiently squawk pedestrians out of cross walks, puffy men in and out of minivans, herds of horses crappin on the grass, coast guard boats darting around outside the Science Museum, National Guard troops haphazardly controlling traffic outside Mickey’s diner netting a maroon Buick a T-Bone after work one day, spotters and rifles on roof tops, building security guards morphing into manly men all over down town, far too many well armed people stone faced looking for a reason, I am glad it’s over. Clean up my city and get out! I can only hope the hordes of people who suffered greater inconvenience through detention or a knee in the neck have their chance to be heard. If not the intended audience on the streets of Saint Paul along with attendees to the RNC, I hope they get their chance in court.

Blanketing the news with recycled stories of poop in bags, items that “could be used” to make Molotov cocktails or topple horses or blow out tires to promote a concept equalizing threat and force is right out of the book of Rove.

(from http://susanjoan.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/what-...)

'The message Jesus tried to convey to his disciples through the judgment parable in Matthew 25. Jesus tells those who will be saved: when I was hungry, you fed me; … when I was in prison you visited me. When those saved ask him in confusion when they did any of those good things, the response is: “whatever you did for the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” What determines whether one will be saved is: did you recognize Christ in the face of those in need and respond to that need. '

In this case, the people in need were those having their rights violated and I applaud your decision to step in for your fellow citizens. Wouldn't it be nice if more people in this Country had values like those that Jesus Christ taught us?

Maybe a similar quote from someone not connected to the Nazi era would avoid bringing in the stigma that goes with Nazi references, because there have been plenty of dictatorships and even dictatorial moments in democracies. Sorry, I don't know a similar quote offhand. I fully recognize that oppression of an unpopular group doesn't necessarily lead to such oppression for everybody, but that's only because enough of us stop it early.