Police in riot gear subdue U of M crowd

[annm4peace]

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

A block party near the University of Minnesota turned into mayhem Saturday night when revelers hurled beer bottles at police officers, lit a fire in the street and jumped on cars, Minneapolis police said.

In the end, seven people were arrested, Sgt. Jesse Garcia said, but not before officers used smoke grenades, tear gas and foam bullets to disperse the crowd of several hundred people that gathered along Seventh Street between 13th and 14th avenues.

Several students who were at the off-campus block party said Sunday that it was partly a spillover from the university's annual "Spring Jam" event, which was planned by the student activities office and ended Saturday night...........
"At one point, someone threw a 12-pack of beer at an officer," he said. "There was a lot of defiance there, and it was all
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alcohol related."

The initial responding officers were forced to retreat and call for backup. In the meantime, Garcia said, the crowd swelled to an estimated 400 partygoers who "only got more incorrigible" by lighting a large bonfire, jumping on cars and trying to tip one over on its side.

"They were creating mayhem in the neighborhood," Garcia said.

About an hour and a half later, more than 50 officers —- wearing helmets and gas masks and carrying battalions — tried to
People cheer next to a fire on Seventh Street near the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis Saturday, April 25, 2009 during the school's Spring Jam festivities. Six people are under arrest after a block party near the university led to Minneapolis police in riot gear subduing the crowd with tear gas. (AP Photo/The Minnesota Daily, Matt Mead) (AP)
quell the crowd with smoke grenades and chemical irritants. The foam bullets were used to "identify the main agitators," Garcia said.



Read more: http://www.twincities.com/ci_12232644?source=most_viewed

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Just for reference. Two weeks before the RNC and during RNC.. over 800 people where arrested. AT least 20 charged with Felonies, and the rest Misdemenors.

Compare the pictures and video from online documentary "Terrorizing Dissent".. and see if you can find any violence or "rioting" like what happened during Spring Fest. http://www.terrorizingdissent.org/
(no bonfires, no cars turned over) and 1 broken window

http://rnc08report.org/

It is the most telling evidence that those arrest before and during the RNC was due to POLITICAL PROSECUTION and not justice.

Arrest the Organizers of Springfest !
Where was Sheriff Fletcher and why didn't he and his goons raid the organizers of Spring Fest a week ago?
This is just shameful..I hope District Attorney Susan Gaertner should be ready to charge the organizers with Conspiracy to Create Riots. And Furtherance of Terrorism...
Look at all the damage. I hope the FBI came out and ATF to make sure there weren’t any bombs planted by the rioters. Where is St. Paul John Choi to handle all the misdemeanors? At least this time they could arrest kids whose parents have money unlike the protesters during the RNC.
Boy, Mayor Coleman must want to shut down the whole campus especially since the students had unregistered fire arms (bonfires).
Broken windows... fires in the street... they could have burned down a whole block.
I hope they arrested all these punks and charge them with Felonies. What did the start they fires with? Molotov Cocktails? I heard those college punks where throwing feces at the cops. Disgusting.. They should throw them in jail and throw away the keys.
They should drop the charges against the RNC protesters who didn’t damage anything so they can handle the cases from these real rioters who did do damage.
Shameful.

[Downwinder]

1. Were the pyrotechnics left over from the RNC?

Shouldn't the Federal Government or the Republicans be reimbursed for their usage.

[annm4peace]

4. 14 million spent on law enforcement weapons for RNC

Republican National Party gave St. Paul 50 million.
14 million was spent on law enforcement weapons and pay.

the various cities who sent police/deputies where sent home with the riot gear and tear gas.

But what was left here during RNC is what they can use.

200 tazers were purchased by st. paul police.

The only thing these kids at the U were protesting was being told they can't still drink.


The difference between the 60's and now. the colleges cost too much for most kids to go to....

The ones protesting for the poor, social justice, war. etc.. are not college kids.

The ones parting and causing real riots.. there parents are paying for college.

[Cherchez la Femme]

2. Oh those crazy kids

I'll bet their finale wasn't how many they could squeeze into a Volkswagen or phone booth (if the latter could be found anymore) :eyes:

I remember Kent State, even though I was a child. With their protest they burnt down er, only, the ROTC building and the local draft office in town (I think, I don't believe it was a utilities company or similar anarchist-like deed but I could be wrong) and targeted no other buildings and for that, with no people harmed, 4 were shot dead.
These U of M people --those which are our "Future", to repeat a cliche-- sound no better than the 1999 Woodstock rioters, only with (apparently) even less provocation.
It's a shame they couldn't channel their energies and passion (whatever 'passion' is indicative of or evokes that kind of pointless rioting) into meaningful protest/dissent.

Tch, kids nowadays... :yoiks:

[reggie the dog]

3. well at least they wern't smoking weed!