So the RNC was in town, if you didn't know, and I worked every day during it. This whole convention brought up tensions of epic proportions yet it also made many republicans happy. I took pictures and video footage from everyday I worked and I learned a lot about people in general. I did a lot of asking the various law enforcement what they thought about the situations and demonstrations taking place. Saturday I worked at the counter and the only thing one could see out of the windows was gates everywhere. They built two checkpoints for us to get into our building, one with a revolving door that was locked immediately when we entered. We were required to have our driver's license on us and our Ordway Badge at all times when entering and exiting. After a while, I got to the know the guards and make friends with them and they would let me in just with my badge. Every day that I took my lunch break I would take pictures. This convention was one that was Scary but exciting too. I have never seen anything to this caliber in Saint Paul nor Minneapolis. I was not asked once while walking around if I was Repub, Demo, Indep, or Green Party, though I was offered T-shirts and buttons and information from both protesters and McCainites which I took for the scrap book. I now have a healthy collection of goods for both sides! :-)
Monday, rioters broke windows of Macy's and threw Balloons filled with urine at the police. According to people in the nearby businesses, there were a group of kids dressed up like "Ninjas" that were walking down the street and they looked suspicious. I later found out they referred to themselves as "The RNC welcoming committee.The Police were strapped in their riot gear almost everyday because of the protesters. I didn't have to work on Monday but I saw the news and WCCO.com and actually talked to a few police officers regarding the incident. They said "you wouldn't believe the rage that the protesters have towards us. We are not the government. They are against the government. Don't attack us" They went on to say that they were people too and were just trying to keep people from damaging property. Also that they were only doing their jobs.
Tuesday was the first day I had to actually work of the convention but again it was action filled. The gates were finally all in place and I had to get a ride to work everyday but only as far as 6th and St.Peter and then I walked from there. When I got to the gate I had to wave to a guard and they had to check my driver's license and badge. Then the door closed and locked behind me. Another gate was built a little closer to the Ordway as another checkpoint without a locked door. I went out on my lunch break to get food from the Landmark Center and heard music and saw the mass of people out in what was days ago Rice Park. Walking into Landmark center everyday I had to have my bag searched. There were 5 older gentleman there who were very nice to me because I was nice to them. They told me they were retired police officers. As I got my lunch and walked outside it was very cold and dreary. I heard loud drumming to my left, looked, and discovered the police had ushered a few of the more animated protesters onto that side of the street. I ran into a few musicians singing about various subjects and then two Code Pink protesters wearing a giant Dick Cheney head and a giant George Bush head. I talked to them and they kept saying that George bush was a war criminal and actually had pink tape plastered on the giant heads with those same words written on them. Overall the protesters were very peaceful that day or so I thought. After work since I could not drive, I caught a ride from my mother at 5pm. While leaving the downtown area we were soon stopped by a bunch of police officers in Riot gear. The police were getting ready for the protesters coming from the Poor Peoples protest in Mears park. It was scary and exciting at the same time. I had never seen anything like it in person. I had only seen it on CSI or Cops or something. I took lots of pictures and even saw a guy I went to High school with in the riot gear. Soon thereafter however, The police teargassed the crowd containing small children, elderly and even animals. They were still teargassing at 9pm.

Wednesday was a very eventful day because it was 9/11 conspiracy protester day. Again on my lunch break I went out to get footage of the protesters holding up their signs that said "Impeach Bush" and "Investigate 9/11". (TO SEE THAT FOOTAGE WATCH MY VIDEO) Walking through rice park, There were several police officers and secret service men guarding the delegates. I managed to take pictures of all the many protesters that were in the park that day. A pregnant woman handed me a "I'm for McCain" button which I took. I actually acquired a pretty big collection of paraphernalia from all parties by the end of the week including T-shirts and hats they were giving away for free at the MSNBC stage. I tried to remain non-partisan that week. Anyway, I came across some interesting characters including two people dressed up as pigs with signs that were for taxing meat, and a woman who was walking around with a sign that said "Stop Bird porn." When you go to the website on the sign WWW.STOPBIRDPORN.ORG, the administrators state that people watch birds to get pleasure? I didn't understand it. I must have to read the whole entire website. As I continued my walk through Rice Park, the guards by our gate ushered me in quickly because they were afraid of what the 9/11 conspiracy protesters were going to do.

Thursday was the last day. The tension was high. There were more police than ever. Cowboys were shaking in their boots. I arrived at work at 10am and was told at 1pm that we could go home! They said they didn't know what kind of activity was going to go down so as a safety precaution they were letting us go early. Well with that being said I knew I had to find where the trouble was so a co-worker and I set out looking for this big thing that was going to happen. First, we ventured over to Rice park where again there were more people handing out brochures and selling T-shirts and placards. I happened upon a gentleman very closely monitored by police. He was a Muslim man who had chosen to pray in the middle of everyone there in the grass. It was Ramadan and so he was praying. (SEE PHOTO BELOW) He had lain out his prayer rug, took off his shoes, and began his prayer. I thought that was very powerful to see amongst the busy Park. To see one person praying.. it was very picture worthy. (TO SEE FOOTAGE VIEW MY VIDEO) Next we decided to get a glass of wine and fraternize amongst the republican delegates staying at the Saint Paul Hotel. First person I see, Sam Donaldson a news anchor for ABC. He looks the same in person as he does on TV! Next we hit the bar and are greeted by a woman whose husband was a delegate. We had a long conversation about politics, which I hate (Haha) but we discussed it anyway. To my right a gentleman who was merely here for business who happened to be a democrat. Fast-forward to 3pm and we step outside once again because we hear the sounds of sirens. walking down the street I see a sea of police officers again in Riot gear. There had to have been over 300. I'm a pretty bold person so I go up to them and ask to take a picture with them. They didn't seem to mind. Quite a few of the police officers were actually quite nice. Some of the police officers I had talked to later in the day expressed concern about the protesters. They said that they were only trying to do their job and that the protesters did things like fire urine filled balloons at them and slash tires on the police cars and such. They were paid to protect and serve and the protesters would get mad at them when they tried to protect the public from the shenanigans. Leaving the policemen, my co-worker and I stood in the busiest portion of the area and spotted only a few protesters on stilts and republican advocates handing out buttons. I received a button with an elephant on it which I later gave to a police officer because he asked for it. Funny thing happened though. While standing on the corner there who might happen to come up to me but Thomas Shepard, a guy I went to Junior High and High school with. Turns out he is a screenwriter and is living the life in California. He looks like a total model and I almost didn't recognize him from the Tom Shepard. I had known. I got his contact information and I continued walking toward the next high tension filled area. On Cedar street and 7th street down the street from Mickeys, there were police officers waiting to veer the Peace March protesters from downtown. I was bummed because I waited almost two hours with the police to take pictures and the protesters wound up getting stopped on John Ireland Blvd over by Sears.

Friday, since everything was done and the dust had settled, the city workers had to put everything back in order. A wedding party was taking pictures in Rice park while barricades lay piled behind and in front of them. The grass had been all run down because of all the media cords and cables and the traffic of people. I got a tip that there were protesters standing by the Ramsey County Court house and so I grabbed my camera and ran down there. I managed to get an interview with a woman who had just gotten released from Jail (FOR INTERVIEW, VIEW MY VIDEO) She explained the situation that had happened the night previous and explained that they were now protesting because of the police brutality that had taken place during the RNC. After the interview I headed back to work.


The whole week was high tension for everyone who worked in the area and it was a hassle getting around. Looking back at the whole event, I feel it probably went well in some aspects but at the same time it was mas anarchy. There were days I was scared to go outside but at the same time I was intrigued to see the political viewpoints of everyone who made a presence at the convention. I would love to be a journalist or photojournalist someday because there are just so many moments in life that need to be documented. Hopefully I didn't bore everyone but I felt like sharing!