Exclusive: Day 1 of the RNC
By Kathlyn Stone

After a day of sirens and hovering helicopters in St. Paul, Minnesota, host city for the Republican National Convention, numerous protesters and journalists, including Amy Goodman and two Democracy Now! producers were arrested late this afternoon. Goodman was released after being held for about two hours. Ramsey Country Sheriff Bob Fletcher said Goodman and others arrested were believed to be rioters. Video Goodman arrest can be seen here:

(Live coverage of other mass arrests at 5:20 p.m. taken by The Uptake are at http://qik.com/theuptake)

The rally in St. Paul attended by about 20,000 began peacefully this morning with military veterans, 9/11 Truthers, Green Party Activists, Somalian immigrants, Code Pinkers, Ron Paul and Barack Obama supporters and others gathering to jointly protest government policies regarding the war and economy.

Police and protesters clashed in heavily barricaded downtown St. Paul during the march that followed the rally after a protester tore off a street sign and slung it into a Macy's department store, breaking two windows. Then another protester jumped on a police car and broke out the windows. At least 56 arrests followed.

A National Guard unit  that had been trained to assist with the RNC convention was quickly on the scene to help local police and the county sherriff's department subdue protesters. (A convoy of National Guard military vehicles including humvees and buses was spotted traveling toward St. Paul this evening.)

The National Guard and police were wearing riot gear with gas masks. At one point there was a small, but loud, explosion from what is believed to be a gas canister. Questions abound about the source of the explosion but some who were present believe it was a police deterrent.

Other protesters were dancing in the streets when they were sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray. Different contingents were rounded up and herded into different locations, some were arrested after being told to sit on the ground with their hands behind their heads, and some were let go.

Many marchers were prevented from crossing St. Paul's Wabasha Bridge that would have taken them to a Labor Day gathering organized by Minnesota's unions.

According to a family member whose son was a National Guard member who served in Iraq, the National Guard unit put on stand-by for the RNC has been home for one year, and took part in skirmishes in Falujah.

The vast majority of protesters, who come from a wide range of demographics and focus on divergent issues, have been peaceful.

More rallies and marches are planned tomorrow and throughout the week.

Rally photos

Arrest of anarchists

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