St. Paul media fueling paranoia over RNC 'anarchists'
 Watching St. Paul, Minn. television station WCCO-TV's new reports on security precautions for the upcoming Republican National Convention, one might begin to assume that the city is about to be invaded by an army of black-clad anarchists.
On August 12, the station aired a fear mongering report detailing security documents reporters unearthed from St. Paul police. News anchors opened the segment stating outright, "some visitors hope to cause chaos."
"Police estimate anywhere between 700 to 1,200 anarchists, or anti-authoritarian protesters, may be in the twin cities for the convention," reports Frank Vascellaro, referencing police documents.
Showing a video clip from the 2004 RNC protests in New York City, the station immediately transitioned into footage of a group of black-clad youths kicking in windows. The 'anarchists' in focus, however, were captured on tape in 1999, during a Seattle protest which turned violent after police attempted to unlawfully disperse, then attacked, a crowd demonstrating against the World Trade Organization.
Video of the 1999 Seattle police riot is avaialble on YouTube.
Over 50,000 protesters are expected to march in St. Paul during the RNC. Likewise, Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader plans to hold a rally during McCain's nomination acceptance speech, and organizers with Congressman Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty expect over 15,000 participants at its libertarian flavored counter-RNC convention.
Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the city of St. Paul on behalf of Impeach for Peace, a Minnesota activist group. The suit alleges that protest space set aside by the city is "inadequate and unacceptably small" for a truly free expression.
The city argues it has the 'right' to alter its guidelines for protesters in any way, and at any time; a 'right' the ACLU says is unconstitutional in Minnesota. Impeach for Peace demands to be given space within sight and earshot of RNC delegates.
The two leading groups of principal concern, reported WCCO-TV, are the RNC Welcoming Committee and Unconventional Action. Both Web sites openly provide details of the organizations' plans to disrupt the convention. At no point do the plans encourage violence.
The WCCO-TV report also focused on two so-called 'anarchists' who appeared on a local, independent broadcast called Our World In Depth. The guests, part of the group RNC Welcoming Committee, went by the monikers "Barry Cade" and "Bara Cade," espousing their political views and plans for the convention.
Twin Cities Indymedia has the full interview video with the masked youths.
The RNC Welcoming Committee recently produced a humorous Web video of black-clad, masked youths going about daily activities as they prepare for the protests. The group mocks the media's 'anarchist' stereotypes by miming hand-to-hand combat with cardboard tubes, turning bolt cutters into hedge trimmers, and throwing a bowling ball past a Navy recruitment office and into a series of makeshift white pins on the sidewalk.
St. Paul police are preparing a militarized contingent of their own: 1,200 officers in a 'Mobile Field Force,' capable of rapid deployment anywhere in the city. Additionally, St. Paul has arranged for about 3,500 officers to attend the security detail, which would stretch around the convention and all the way through the lines of transit for the delegates.
And yet, these measures are not quite enough for some. WCCO-TV interviewed Dave Titus, president of the St. Paul Police Federation, who stated: "We would like to see up to 6,000 cops. That's a number that can take on, you know, anything that's thrown at us."
The news report offered no balancing views from area activists or civil libertarians, many of whom have repeatedly proclaimed the protest will be peaceful.
This video is from WCCO-TV Minneapolis, broadcast August 12, 2008.
Download video
| 
