Session schedule meshes with protest plans

Antiwar marchers want to be within sight and sound of RNC delegates. An afternoon session makes that more likely.

By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune

Last update: July 24, 2008 - 11:09 PM

Republican National Convention officials announced Thursday that they will hold an afternoon session on Monday, Sept. 1. Protest leaders said that could alleviate one of the concerns of demonstrators who fear they'd be marching in front of an empty convention center.

Protest organizers had expressed dismay that St. Paul police wanted their antiwar march to begin at noon and be out of the area near the Xcel Energy Center by 3 p.m.

The protesters assumed that there would be only an evening session and that delegates would neither see nor hear them as they marched by. They said they are anticipating 50,000 demonstrators.

In a news release Thursday, Maria Cino, chief executive officer and president of the convention, announced that the Sept. 1 session will run from 2:30 to 10 p.m.; the Sept. 2 session from 6:20 to 10:05 p.m., Sept. 3 from 6:20 to 11:20 p.m., and Sept. 4 from 6:20 to 10:15 p.m.

Joanna Burgos, the convention press secretary, said the Sept. 1 schedule had nothing to do with the protests.

Asked if she expected most delegates to be seated at 2:20 p.m. on Monday, she said, "You could assume so."

Burgos said that in 2004, when the GOP convention was in New York City, the first day's schedule went from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and then from 8 to 11 p.m.

Jessica Sundin, a protest organizer, noted that the permit issued by St. Paul police said marchers coming from the State Capitol had to clear the area near the Xcel by 2 p.m. An attorney for the city told a federal judge during a hearing two weeks ago that police had agreed to extend that time to 3 p.m., but Sundin said it had not been put in writing.

Nonetheless, she said, by having an afternoon start time she hoped it would make it more possible for demonstrators "to be able to protest while the convention is in session."

Convention organizers have not yet released what the program will be for the convention each day, although they have disclosed that President Bush will speak on the night of Sept. 1.

Marie Braun, another of the antiwar coalition leaders, said she was concerned that delegates might only be trickling into the Xcel at 2:30 p.m.

Randy Furst • 612-673-7382

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