Police attack biotech protest

By Amy Mayron and David Hawley

Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 25— In a conflict building for days, Minneapolis police arrested 81 people Monday after about 150 protesters marched through downtown to protest an animal genetics conference.

The protest started calmly in the morning and then erupted shortly after noon in sporadic violence, though no serious injuries were reported. Most of the clashes occurred as police used pepper spray and struck protesters who tried to break through police lines. Police actions, protesters said, infringed on their free speech rights and efforts to protest. Police countered that they tried to allow protesters to get their message across but had to prevent them from disrupting downtown Minneapolis.

Since last week, police have barricaded parts of downtown, closing a segment of Nicollet Mall and saying they were prepared for protests of the International Society for Animal Genetics conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel. Despite the clashes, the conference was not disrupted.

Until about noon, the most visible part of the scene downtown had been the police buildup. That changed in fast-moving fashion, as groups of protesters broke from a planned march route and were met by officers intent on reining them in.

Some of the most violent clashes occurred near Loring Park at 14th and Willow streets, where baton-wielding officers clashed with sign-carrying protesters. Police also used pepper spray after they said some demonstrators threw rocks and used a chemical agent on them. Protesters denied using any violence toward police.

Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson said he was pleased with the way his officers handled themselves throughout the day. At any given time, police had 200 officers on the street, plus another 75 Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies and support personnel.

“We tried our best not to make an arrest,” he said. “Overall, (officer) restraint was remarkable. We tried to be as gentle as we could.”

Protesters disagreed. They continually chanted “this is what a police state looks like” as police blocked their path.

“It seems like the police were once again trying to show who was in charge,” said Olivia Cramer, of the group Upper Midwest Resistance Against Genetic Engineering, or GrainRAGE. “We feel we should be allowed to take the streets. It’s unfortunate so many people got arrested and the police had to pepper-spray the media and bystanders.”

Maxine Klein, a veteran protester from Minneapolis, believes police used tear gas without warning.

“This is more than outrageous. We have been disallowed our rights to protest in the streets. We were cordoned off repeatedly by police and we felt terribly endangered,” she said. “This is well designed to get people to never go into the streets again.”

Police denied using tear gas, instead blaming any gas on protesters.

The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) questioned the way some protesters were treated.

Chuck Samuelson, MCLU executive director, described the scene as “too much” police and news media for such a small group of protesters.

“They (officers) were tense, they were scared and they looked keyed-up for this,” Samuelson said.

It was a cat-and-mouse game during the middle of the afternoon as protesters tested their boundaries, getting close to police lines and deviating from a designated march route. They spent nearly three hours being chased by police in riot gear, though there were no reports of property damage.

Police had warned protesters Monday morning that they would not allow the protesters to march through downtown as they did Sunday night.

About 150 protesters began to gather at 10:30 am in Peavey Plaza. It started out low-key, with people passing out food and laying out posters and banners on the sidewalk along Nicollet Mall.

Clashes began after police let protesters march with a police escort west on 12th Street, south on LaSalle Avenue and west on Grant Street to Loring Park.

As they approached Loring Park on Grant, they turned onto Spruce Place in an area of streets closed for construction and engaged police near 14th and Willow streets.

There was a loud bang and what appeared to be tear gas exploded near the police line. As protesters moved toward Loring Park, a group of police in riot gear confronted them.

As protesters with stinging eyes tried to pass through the police line, several officers used pepper spray on them. The group finally rushed through the police line, and several officers struck them with their riot sticks. Police deny using any tear gas during the protest, saying they believe protesters released some type of chemical.

In what the FBI is suggesting may be a related incident, an unidentified, noxious chemical agent was released by two individuals in a local McDonald’s restaurant. The customers were evacuated and the establishment closed for the remainder of the day out of concern that the agent may have been harmful.

A short time later, a group of protesters marched down Hennepin Avenue and had a second, smaller clash with police. Finally, others headed back toward Nicollet Mall but were surrounded by police on 12th Street, and many were arrested quietly. Those arrested were taken to Hennepin County jail.

Police are preparing for two more days of possible demonstrations.

“So far, they’ve been following the schedule. But we don’t know what we’ve got for the next two days, so we’ve got to be on our toes,” Olson said.

Source: St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press

Citizens protest planned Wal-Mart; council delays action

By Celene DeLoach

Asheville, North Carolina, July 24— Nearly 120 people, from toddlers in strollers to silver-haired elders, joined together in protest of the proposed JDN/Wal-Mart development at a rally in front of the City Hall prior to the Board of Adjustment hearing on Monday. The atmosphere was almost festival-like, with juggling and acrobatics. Two drummers were in attendance, contributing to the high energy as folks chanted, “Use common sense, no variance!” and “Have a heart, no Wal-Mart!”

Asheville police were present, but didn’t interfere with the protesters other than to ask that they keep the doorway and stairs clear for people wishing to enter the building.

The 46 seat North Conference Room, where the Board of Adjustment meets, was over flowing with citizens wearing anti-Wal-Mart signs on their chests. Many folks had to stand and there were roughly 60 people in the hallway outside the doors, all eager to find out what decision the Board would reach.

The JDN variance request was originally scheduled fifth on the docket, but was heard first, instead. Ralph Knauss, the representative of JDN Development Co., came before the Board and asked for a continuance until the September Board of Adjustment hearing, claiming JDN required more time to review the Zoning Board’s response to the variance request. The last sentence of the Board’s comments to JDN may be a good example of our city’s commitment to her citizens: “Granting of the variance would not result in substantial justice being carried out. On the contrary, granting the variance would effectively change the intent of the citizens and elected officials who developed and adopted this requirement.” (7. That the public safety and welfare have been assured and substantial justice has been done.)

After the Board agreed to Mr. Knauss’s request for a continuance, the majority of the protesters left. A few of those remaining caught sight of the JDN representatives walking toward their SUV. Sayles neighborhood resident Felice Piserchia confronted one of them, telling him to “go home and fuck up your own city. Stay away from mine.” The SUV was soon surrounded by protesters shouting, “Go home!”, “Shame on you!” and “We don’t want you here!”. A police woman present asked the protesters to step away from the vehicle and then the somewhat disgruntled developers promptly drove away.