The Capitol Steps

Here's what the crowd looked like during the March on the RNC rally, about 11:30 this morning, before the trouble started. Polly Mann, of Women Against Military Madness, was speaking from the stage at the time.

Panorama of Capitol Steps on CleVR.com

I was disappointed by the coverage of the anti war protest. People of all ages gathered together united for peace. While the media, including MPR focuses on the splinter groups and talks about arrests and some property damage, it did not focus on the masses that walked together for peace. My husband gave a water bottle to one of the police in riot gear - which he took gratefully. My husband also talked to another policeman about his bike. I saw many others talk to the police in a respectful manner. I wish those events could be mentioned - and not focus on the self described anarchists and the splinter groups. It was very powerful to be part of that gathering.

There were a lot of friendly people downtown, including the police. The splinter groups were in the minority, but they did cause a lot of trouble. I felt kind of bad for the police who had to deal with a situation they normally wouldn't have to and really shouldn't have had to. Those officers that weren't buried under a mountain of people they were trying to direct were very polite and apologetic of the situation.

No, I wasn't in the protests. I live downtown and had to deal with the aftermath of those non-peaceful folks. Unfortunately they kind of ruined it for everyone, and didn't even seem to have a real message themselves.