Danke
09-13-2008, 04:39 PM
30 confront St. Paul mayor over RNC police action
They say Coleman should have had bigger presence
By Jason Hoppin
jhoppin@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/13/2008 12:01:35 AM CDT
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2008/0912/20080912_100210_Coleman1.jpg
About 30 demonstrators showed up outside a fundraiser for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, objecting to what the group saw as an overreaction by police during last week's protests outside the Republican National Convention. (Pioneer Press: Jason Hoppin)
Carrying signs that read "I Am Ashamed" and "I Survived 9/1," the group strolled the sidewalk in front of a St. Anthony Park residence where the event was being held, briefly confronting Coleman when he arrived.
The crowd objected to everything from the appointment of two former prosecutors to lead a city probe into police tactics during the four-day event to reports that Molotov cocktails were found during police raids related to self-described anarchists who sought to disrupt the convention.
"This is the first time that I've really been ashamed of the city and its leadership," said St. Paul resident Nolan Zavoral, who carried a sign linking Coleman and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, whose agency led some of the pre-convention raids.
Asked what Coleman should have done differently during the protests, which included masses of people marching peacefully but also bouts of sporadic violence, Zavoral and others said Coleman should have been a more visible presence as clashes between police and protesters elevated.
Coleman did stop to talk with the crowd and has been supportive of police actions during the convention. He said later he thought most people understood the need for the city's probe and disputed demonstrators' contention that reports of Molotov cocktails and other instruments of mayhem were overblown.
"To say that we didn't find Molotov cocktails is not true," Coleman said. "We did, and a lot of other things."
But that wasn't enough for the demonstrators, many of whom said they are now former supporters of Coleman.
"He stood by while police were used to suppress political dissent," St. Paul resident John Schatz said.
Whether there are political repercussions for Coleman remains to be seen. He has sent a letter to supporters explaining and defending the city's actions during the convention, and so far no serious contenders have emerged to challenge him during his expected re-election run in 2009.
Schatz said the convention could change that.
"He just opened the door for somebody to make a serious run," he said.
They say Coleman should have had bigger presence
By Jason Hoppin
jhoppin@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/13/2008 12:01:35 AM CDT
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2008/0912/20080912_100210_Coleman1.jpg
About 30 demonstrators showed up outside a fundraiser for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, objecting to what the group saw as an overreaction by police during last week's protests outside the Republican National Convention. (Pioneer Press: Jason Hoppin)
Carrying signs that read "I Am Ashamed" and "I Survived 9/1," the group strolled the sidewalk in front of a St. Anthony Park residence where the event was being held, briefly confronting Coleman when he arrived.
The crowd objected to everything from the appointment of two former prosecutors to lead a city probe into police tactics during the four-day event to reports that Molotov cocktails were found during police raids related to self-described anarchists who sought to disrupt the convention.
"This is the first time that I've really been ashamed of the city and its leadership," said St. Paul resident Nolan Zavoral, who carried a sign linking Coleman and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, whose agency led some of the pre-convention raids.
Asked what Coleman should have done differently during the protests, which included masses of people marching peacefully but also bouts of sporadic violence, Zavoral and others said Coleman should have been a more visible presence as clashes between police and protesters elevated.
Coleman did stop to talk with the crowd and has been supportive of police actions during the convention. He said later he thought most people understood the need for the city's probe and disputed demonstrators' contention that reports of Molotov cocktails and other instruments of mayhem were overblown.
"To say that we didn't find Molotov cocktails is not true," Coleman said. "We did, and a lot of other things."
But that wasn't enough for the demonstrators, many of whom said they are now former supporters of Coleman.
"He stood by while police were used to suppress political dissent," St. Paul resident John Schatz said.
Whether there are political repercussions for Coleman remains to be seen. He has sent a letter to supporters explaining and defending the city's actions during the convention, and so far no serious contenders have emerged to challenge him during his expected re-election run in 2009.
Schatz said the convention could change that.
"He just opened the door for somebody to make a serious run," he said.