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Here you go Folks
For the record, the 100% Democratic City Council in St Paul and all Democrats except for the one Green Party Councilman "progressive" elected officials gave the police the legal authority to do what they are doing. In a secret meeting, with NO PUBLIC allowed just three weeks ago.
I just wanted everybody to hear a first hand account for the Shephard St./Wabasha "riots" The black block left the capitol after the peace rally to go to Harriet Island to watch the show. Myself and some other friends joined them since we were going there as well. Walking from the Capitol on John Ireland, turning onto Kellogg there were about 40-50 riot cops around the corner denying us access to Wabasha. I actually went up to a couple of them trying to get information on a alternative route. No body was from St. Paul let alone Minnesota. My friends and I decided to walk around the block and eventually got to Shephard St. Once there, they would not let anybody across the road to get up on the bridge to get over the island. There were also Coast Guard in the river with guns attached to the boats pointing at the the people. We tried to cross the road to get up on the bridge. Riot cops would not let us pass. We walked up a little further (past Wabasha) and the black block caught up. They tried to cross the street (on a green light) and the riot cops opened up with tear gas first, smoke bombs second and then they broke out the rubber bullets. We got away, but may people did not. There were many people that were there that weren't even in the black block (sorority types) as well as residents out for a daily jog or bike ride by the river. A protest boat got in between the coast guard and the protesters. After running from the cops, we went to Harriet Island to tell as many media as possible as well as all of the people watching. We were about to leave, when the coast guard boarded the boat. I want to be very clear, there was no chanting, signs, or anything else that would be "threatening" going on other than a bunch of people dressed in black (their normal everyday clothing). Most of these people were between 15-25 years old and just wanted to see the concerts at the park.
Michael Cavlan
