Marching on the RNC by Jo Freeman

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Between twenty and twenty-five thousand people gathered on the lawn in front of the State Capitol in St. Paul on Monday, September 1, to listen to two hours of speeches before marching to the Xcel Center where the Republicans were holding their convention.

[image: March on RNC Sept. 1-4]
Organized by a coalition of anti-war groups, local unions and left-wing political parties, the common goal was ending the occupation of Iraq. Some groups carried signs promoting other issues. There were plenty of anti-McCain signs, but only a few for other candidates — Obama, Nader, McKinney and Ron Paul.
Protestors had planned to confront Republican delegates on the first day of their convention, but concern over Hurricane Gustav led convention organizers to reduce the Monday meeting to the two hours necessary to cover essential business.

Because it was Labor Day, business and government buildings were closed and the downtown streets were deserted. The rally and march had few outside observers other than police, press, and, as the march neared the Xcel Center, an occasional person wearing a McCain button.

Rally at the state capitol:

photos StPmarch 17 through StPmarch 36 (put StPmarch 19 first, followed by StP 17and StP 4, then the rest)
March to the Xcel Center
photos StP march 38 through StP march 122

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