Critical Mass

This is what we have to look forward to next year when the GOP comes to town.

About 200 bicyclists were riding on La Salle Avenue, with two officers
monitoring the protest that called for reduced reliance on automobile
transportation. The ride was also linked with weekend protests of next year's
Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities.

When officers tried to arrest a rider they felt had been trying to
provoke them, a scuffle broke out, said Minneapolis Police Lt. Marie Przynski.

"When the officer went to arrest him, his buddy came up, and they started
to struggle with the officer," Przynski said.

A group surrounded the officers, and begin to chant "Let them go!"Then
several people tried to prevent the officers from arresting these individuals,"
she said, and a skirmish ensued.

Soon, the two officers were surrounded by about 30 people, and they issued
the call "officer needs help."

That brought 48 officers from six different law enforcement agencies racing
to the scene, where the situation escalated and the officers used chemical Mace
in an attempt to control the crowd, Przynski said.

It is so predictable and at the same time rather worrisome. This was one of many "tune up events" according to the organizers. A warm up to the RNC convention. These protesters, with the tacit blessing of certain members of the St. Paul City Council", are going to ratchet things up during the real thing, of that you can be certain. It's going to be difficult for the police and the delegates to get around town without running into these folks.

Which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. As long as no one gets hurt, if we can show the rest of the country what supports the Democratic Party, they are going to lose a lot of support from the middle. Next fall could be very interesting indeed.