At least 10,000 protestors took to the streets Monday, the first day of the Republic National Convention. Hundreds of them were arrested--and many hundreds more mercilessly attacked by law enforcement with pepper spray, rubber bullets, tear gas and brute force. There are even reports of horseback police trampling protestors.

By 8 p.m. Monday, the Ramsey County Sheriff's department reported that its jail had processed 163 protesters:73 felony arrests, 42 gross misdemeanors and 48 misdemeanors. Arraignments were to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At 10:30 p.m. Monday, Coldsnap Legal Collective reported much higher numbers: 284 arrests, 130 felonies, 51 gross misdemeanors and 103 misdemeanors.

Coldsnap's web site also reported, "We've gotten many reports that people are not getting proper medical attention, are being refused their medication, and/or have been separated from the rest of the group. Also, there are also many felony charges, which allow the state to hold the protesters for a longer period of time. Felony charges have historically been used as scare tactics against activists, and there is much less precedent for them to hold up in court. More often, these bogus charges are simply used to keep protesters off the streets and as a way to oppress and silence people."

Photo by Anna Pratt/Paul Demko

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