A report published in the Minnesota Independent details the continued assault on peace activists and protesters in St. Paul. As the convention came to a close hundreds of protesters were arrested including a number of journalists and photographers. In addition, Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism under Minnesota's version of the Federal Patriot Act. In what has been an unprecedented display of force the Department of Homeland Security, the Minneapolis-St. Paul police force, the Secret Service and even the FBI have demonstrated just how the Patriot Act will be used here at home: To silence dissent. According to Lindsay Beyerstein, the RNC even took out a $10 million insurance policy to pay off police brutality settlements.

For all those who did not watch John McCain's tiresome speech last night, at least two protesters were removed from the convention hall, the only inspiring moments of the evening. The first held a sign that said, "You can't win an occupation" on one side, and "McCain votes against vets" on the other side. The second protester ran down one of the aisles with the words pro-choice written on the back of her dress.


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