War protesters revving up for St. Paul in '08

[babylonsister]

http://www.twincities.com/ci_6214599?source=rss&nclick_check=1

War protesters revving up for St. Paul in '08
But turnout estimates vary as well-organized coalition plans for GOP convention
BY JASON HOPPIN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 06/24/2007 12:02:42 AM CDT

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Forty-five thousand volunteers, delegates and media members for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul?

It's chump change to these guys.

If tens of thousands of protesters - perhaps even hundreds of thousands - show up in St. Paul next year, it's because the groundwork was laid this weekend in a low-slung hotel near Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

United for Peace & Justice, the nation's largest anti-war coalition, held its Third National Assembly here. Made up of 1,400 organizations - from activists to communists to pacifists - the group has demonstrated an ability to organize massive demonstrations, including half a million people on the eve of the 2004 Republican convention in New York.

And this weekend, the 2008 Republican National Convention, to be held Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, seemed to be on a lot of people's minds.

"We are like different rivers," Philadelphia activist Baltazar Pinguel said, addressing a 300-strong coalition of peace activists. "But we will merge into one sea!"

more...

[MnFats]

1. here is something I heard from good sources:

the GOP and security planners want 4,000 cops to patrol the convention center and related venues, hotels etc.
Outlying police departments will be expected to provide officers to work the convention, presumably for paid contract in-uniform overtime.
trouple is, there are only about 8,000 cops in all of Minnesota.
you can't assign half the cops in the state to a single event.
the solution?

you know what's coming, don't you?

that's right: "Private contractor" security forces!

Blackwater comes to Lake Wobegone!!!!

[babylonsister]

2. Whoa. That has the potential for ugliness. nt