Two protesters arrested in Boston

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BOSTON -- After three quiet days of peaceful demonstrations, state police donned riot gear and used force to arrest protesters who disrupted a rally for peace yesterday.

Police arrested two protesters for burning an American flag, as well as effigies of President Bush and Sen. John Kerry. Authorities formed a human barrier between protesters and the perimeter fence surrounding the FleetCenter.

The strong police presence overshadowed what was intended to be a peaceful anti-war rally sponsored by the United for Peace and Justice (UPJ), a large network of social-justice groups. Members of UPJ were protesting the American presence in Iraq and the suppression of dissent at the convention and other high-profile events, said Bill Dobbs, spokesman for the organization.

The rally was held outside the designated protest area, which is being referred to as "The Cage." Three protesters attempted to cut into the fence but were stopped when the police pushed the protesters back about 50 feet from the perimeter.

The Boston police have said that the protest area gives protesters access to the convention and the delegates while keeping the delegates and demonstrators out of harm's way.

"I don't know how you have access through netting and razor wire," Mr. Dobbs said.

A man identifying himself as Vermin Love Supreme led a protest against the police. Mr. Supreme attempted to secure a place for himself on the presidential ballot in several states, running under the Misinformed Citizens of America Party.

Mr. Supreme and his supporters originally intended to demonstrate against what they say is the corporate ownership of America. Most of his message was centered on characterizing the country as the "police state of America."

Numerous protesters were wearing bandannas soaked in lemon juice across their face to guard against potential police use of tear gas and to protect their image from police records, said a young woman who identified herself only as June, an anarchist protesting the government.

This relative upsurge in protest activity comes after three largely uneventful days at the Democratic National Convention. Indeed, the designated protest zone was nearly empty throughout the week. At times, curious onlookers and reporters outnumbered protesters.