Shamako and PPHERC at Bushville
By Megan Boldt and John Brewer
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 08/29/2008 12:55:32 PM CDT
They couldn’t afford a room at a Motel 6, let alone the St. Paul Hotel.
Instead, about 30 poor and homeless people wanted a view of Republican National Convention preparations this weekend in St. Paul from a makeshift campground at downtown’s Harriet Island.
It didn’t last long.
At about 8 p.m. Thursday, police started negotiating with the group of about 25 protesters and homeless, who intended to remain in the park overnight.
But according to city ordinance, no one is allowed to remain in the park overnight.
By 11 p.m., police arrested the only two protesters who remained.
A mass of 60 to 70 police, some on bikes and some on foot, had surrounded the group of all ages.
The police’s mobile field force was in training at the time of the incident, and responded with full crowd control gear — batons, helmets and at least one assault rifle.
“It was a good exercise for us,” said Sr. Commander Joe Neuberger, adding that it was good training for what might happen next week.
Arrested were Cheri Honkala, leader of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, and supporter Tim Dowlin of Philadelphia.
Just before half a dozen officers arrested the duo, Honkala sat with an American flag across her lap.
“It’s a sad day when you have this much money spent on police officers, and the poor only have their voice, and we can’t allow that to be taken from us,” she said.
Neuberger said the two would be cited for trespassing, a
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misdemeanor, and likely would be released.
On Thursday afternoon, the organizers set up the camp, dubbed “Bushville,” as a protest in itself. But it was also a necessity, they said. They wanted it to be home to hundreds — perhaps thousands — of impoverished protesters who don’t have money for a room but want their voices heard.
Weekly Updates | berkhhc August 29, 2008
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