Police block off bridge as protesters organize final march at RNC

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Police on horseback blocked a bridge this afternoon as hundreds of anti-war protesters attempted to march from the Minnesota State Capitol to the Republican National Convention.

Within a block of the Capitol, hundreds of protesters were met and stopped by police, who had announced they didn't have a permit to march. A group of protesters sat in the street in front of the police chanting, "Whose war? Their war. Whose streets? Our streets." Others chanted, "This is what a police state looks like." Police donned gas masks for a possible confrontation.

Protesters attempted to cross the bridge after another possible route was blocked off by police.

Two people were arrested before the march even started. A group of about ten police officers on bikes rode onto the Capitol lawn to arrest a young man and young woman lying on the grass.

St. Paul Police Sergeant John Lozoya says the man was suspected of breaking a window at Macy's downtown department store during a march on Monday. He did not know why the other person was arrested.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-04-08 1730CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list