Rage Against the Republicans

The Stimulator, host of the "It's the End of the World as We Know It", gave me his Rage Against the Machine concert ticket last night, feeling bad that I was arrested on Monday. The concert was amazing. Before the show began, lights above the concert stage read "RNC FUCK YOU". The crowd cheered. The four band members began the first song dressed in orange jump suits with black hoods on their heads. Tom Morello mentioned at one point that the US Federal Government has broken two countries, Iraq and Afghanistan, based on lies and misinformation. They tell us now that some broken windows in downtown St. Paul will constitute "conspiracy to riot in the furtherance of terrorism", a charge being pushed against the RNC Welcoming Committee, which is an anarchist and anti-authoritarian group who invited activists to shut down the city of St. Paul during the convention.

Rage encouraged the group after at the end of the concert to be "peaceful but not passive". After their concert last night, the crowd poured out onto the streets just like any other concert, only this time to be met with hundreds of riot cops flexing their muscles and pulling random people behind their riot lines for detainment. A stand-off ensued for over an hour, as police blocked roadways and sidewalks. Apparently 30 - 70 people were arrested.

If the police were not outside this building, and in such large numbers, there would be no confrontations possible. The police were looking for action, the police were looking for confrontation, and the police were the ones who obstructed the streets and sidewalks after the concert.