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More held as convention protests continue

Tally grows to 315, expected to rise

By Gary Emerling (Contact) | Thursday, September 4, 2008

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ST. PAUL, Minn. | Another day brought another series of protests during the Republican National Convention, as law enforcement officials remained on guard in a week filled with violent activity.

National Guardsmen in full riot gear took up posts around the Xcel Energy Center following two days of protests that saw hundreds arrested, traffic disrupted and tear gas in the streets.

Officials said 315 people had been arrested as of Wednesday evening, up from 280 on Monday. Secret Service spokesman Darrin Blackford said more arrests could come later, particularly with the band Rage Against the Machine playing a concert Wednesday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

"I think it's just earlier in the day," Mr. Blackford said. "We anticipate more activity this evening."

Some protesters still took to the streets Wednesday, as the convention passed its halfway point. The antiwar group Code Pink demonstrated at a breakfast for Texas delegates to protest what it said is the Republican Party's relationship with the oil industry.

Later in the day, Code Pink members also staged a peace march to protest Sen. John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Group spokeswoman Jean Stevens said four members were arrested by law enforcement authorities and charged with trespassing during the march.

"There are several members who are surrounded by police," Ms. Stevens said from the scene in St. Paul. "Within a span of 40 minutes, police really descended."

On busy Wabasha Avenue in downtown St. Paul, activists were dressed as Abu Ghraib prisoners and protesting U.S. soldiers' purported mistreatment of terrorism suspects. Trucks drove past bearing anti-abortion signs and a "keep religion out of politics" mobile billboard.

Most of the arrests this week stemmed from a group that splintered off from a massive antiwar march held Monday. Police said many of those protesters were part of an anarchist group and that they slashed police tires, broke the windows of buildings and harassed convention delegates.

According to a search warrant application and supporting affidavit, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies started investigating anarchist organizing body the RNC Welcoming Committee more than a year ago.