St. Paul police protect citizens from protests

[mckitterick]

This article describes how...

Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets.

Seriously? This is "the land of the free"? There's more. Police arrested...

dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying.

That is not the Minnesota where I spent my formative years. Now the (bad type of) Republicans are screwing up the one state I still considered free of national politics. Dammit. If the Repubs manage to steal this presidential election, we should all protest in the streets until they go away... or arrest everyone who doesn't tow the line. Holy crap.

Thanks to ellen_datlow for the tip.

Good luck out there,
Chris

Comments

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Also check out pecunium for a long and thoughtful analysis.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

wow. i read the article.
that is absolutely shocking.
and scary.
and it makes me sad. and ready for change.

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS --THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTRED AMONG PEOPLE, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED, THAT WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT...

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Ain't it great to live in the Land of the Free, with the right to Peacably Assemble?
Perhaps it matters what your assembling...

I like your avatar, BTW.
And, in true Jeopardy style, I ask, "I can haz change?"
(Or should that be, "What is, 'Can we haz change?'")

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I've been collecting links on my LJ to various articles and news sources covering this, if you are interested.

[skyflame.livejournal.com]

My friend freeimprov was there this afternoon and has a post about his experience.

[fortyozspartan.livejournal.com]

Hopefully, the Republicans win the Presidency and both Houses, then pass a bill forcing democrats to wear a Donkey patch. Our system is winner takes all right?