TWIN CITIES/OCTOBER 15, 2010—A National Guard advertisement currently hanging on the side of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN, proposed site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, depicts National Guard members being deployed against protesters during the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota (hi-res photos for media use at bottom of page).
The multiple-panel advertisement, which stretches around the Metrodome, depicts various Viking players above the text, "FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE". Other panels depict members of the National Guard, above text that reads "MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD... MINNESOTA'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE".
The panel depicting National Guard members and a helicopter is a composite image derived in part from a September 1st, National Guard press image taken by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, and depicts some of the 150 National Guard members being deployed against protesters during Day One of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN.
Nigel Parry, coordinator of the RNC '08 Report project, a citizen's archive of media reports, government documents, and other resources relating to the 2008 Republican National Convention, held in St. Paul, MN, commented:
"Of the more than 800 people arrested during the 2008 Republican National Convention, 75% of those arrested were arrested in mass arrest situations. On September 1st the Minnesota National Guard, coordinating with police, drove protesters, bystanders and concert-goers into the first of three mass arrests that took place during the RNC."
"Using percussion grenades and teargas, the army and police drove protesters and onlookers from Kellogg Boulevard down onto and along Shepard Road where the protesters, together with members of the public attempting to reach the free 'Take Back Labor Day' concert on Harriet Island, were surrounded and detained. Over 200 people were arrested and held for up to 72 hours. No one who was arrested was ultimately prosecuted and there is a civil suit against the City of Saint Paul for the mass arrest."
"On September 1st, the Minnesota National Guard were hardly required in a security situation that already had access to 3,500 police officers, and which was a response to a literal handful of windows being broken and a few free newspaper dispensers being dragged into the street."
"It is unbelievable that the National Guard would use an advertising image under a banner declaring 'Minnesota's first line of defense', which depicts its soldiers being deployed against Minnesotans and other American citizens. The fact that this image appears hanging on the proposed site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention completes the Orwellian picture perfectly. It is hard to imagine this juxtaposition happening by accident. The National Guard know very well where this image came from. They took it."
"The Vikings should similarly be ashamed of allowing their image to be used alongside a symbol of the political repression of Americans that is still painful to many residents of the Twin Cities. Many Vikings fans were among those who were mass arrested while peacefully protesting, watching events on the streets, or merely trying to catch a free music show on Harriet Island. The Vikings should remove this offensive image immediately."
Contact Nigel Parry via the RNC '08 Report here. See below for zip file with hi-res photo package.
Image Gallery
Click for larger images.
National Guard advertisement on the side of the Metrodome in Minneapolis, proposed site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (Photo credit: Twin Cities Indymedia)
ORIGINAL CAPTION: Minnesota National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor stand guard to assist police in maintaining order during an overly-aggressive demonstration Sept. 1, in St. Paul, Minn. The demonstrators were protesting during day one of the Republican National Convention. (Photo: Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
National Guard advertisement on the side of the Metrodome in Minneapolis, proposed site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (Photo credit: Twin Cities Indymedia)
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