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Press Release: Massive anti-war march successful despite police repression; Coalition expresses solidarity with other activists

Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2008
Contact: Jess Sundin 612.272.2209

Massive anti-war march successful despite police repression; Coalition expresses solidarity with other activists

Press Conference: Tuesday 9/2 @ 9am at Bushville, 400 Western Ave. N., St. Paul

A Press conference will be held jointly between the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, the RNC Welcoming Committee and the Poor People's Economic and Human Rights Campaign.

Yesterday, anti-war protesters rallied at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, and marched to the Xcel Center, the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention. Protest organizers estimate 30,000 joined the rally and march.

Speakers from the national United for Peace and Justice, the ANSWER Coalition, and the Troops Out Now Coalition addressed the crowd in addition to several other speakers from organizations nationwide. Contingents of veterans, immigrants, low income people, union members, and students participated in the demonstration to oppose the Republican agenda and make the following demands: U.S. Out of Iraq Now; Money for Human Needs, not for War; and Peace, Justice and Equality for all.

Protesters condemned police raids of community kitchens, meeting spaces and protesters' homes. According to Jess Sundin, who spoke for the Coalition at Monday's protest, "We are here today, in the tens of thousands, because we refused to be scared away (by police repression). Because what we are marching for is too important to be silenced. Because this is the only way we can answer the Republican agenda, and demand an end to policies that wage war, deepen poverty, and fuel racism."

At the press conference, organizers will comment on the events from September 1, denounce police repression and brutality, and discuss plans for continuing protests planned for the week of the RNC.

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