Tonight Twin Cities activists are awaiting the release of two individuals arrested this afternoon during a protest in downtown Minneapolis against Illegitimate President Bush. Approximately 200 protestors gathered outside of the Radisson Hotel on Tenth Street South and Marquette Avenue at 4:45 PM to voice a myriad of complaints against Bush, the "War" on terrorism and subsequent infringements on civil liberties as the Installed President schmoozed with local Republicans to raise funds for Senate hopeful Norm Coleman. Demonstrators from a wide variety of groups including the National Lawyer's Guild, the United Steelworkers of America and the Minnesota Anti-War Committee held banners and shouted chants for nearly two hours from the west sidewalk of Marquette Avenue. A mysterious group calling itself the Pretzeltistas distributed (low fat) pretzels to the crowd and threw them into the street and possibly at police officers. At least fifteen members of the Minneapolis Police Department in uniform were also present, as well as one man some demonstrators believed to be an undercover cop. The arrested activists, identified by comrades only as "Sir Bakesalot" and "Puddle," were arrested after the Prezeltistas ignored an order by MPD officers to cease the pretzel throwing. Numerous eyewitnesses confirmed that around 5:20 PM four or five MPD officers shoved and kicked their way into the crowd and grabbed "Puddle" first. The woman was dragged from the arms of those around her, thrown against a wall and arrested in a scene one onlooker described as being "like a mosh pit." "Sir Bakesalot" was arrested a moment later. "The cops came running in here, pushing people aside, and they go after one person who happens to have a jar of fucking pretzels" said one eyewitness who declined to be identified. "They threw her up against the wall, and they pushed everybody else away who was trying to hold her back and then they took her and another person away and arrested them" said the witness. Several witnesses insisted that neither Sir Bakesalot nor Puddle resisted arrest. "Apparently they have very little sense of irony" speculated Steve Young, a University of Minnesota graduate student who saw the incident occur. Anonymous Pretzeltistas later admitted to the IMC that they, not the Pretzel 2, were responsible for hitting police with pretzels. Caroline S. Palmer, a member of the National Lawyer's Guild said that her group was there to show the "President" and state lawmakers that the public was aware of and angry about infringements on civil liberties through legislation like the USA PATRIOT Act and the Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002. "People are here today because they're sick of seeing their rights taken apart" said Palmer, adding that anyone interested in civil liberties could learn more at www.true-patriots.org. "I'm here to stick up for my rights, " said Bridget MacDonald, a retired school teacher and Sister of Saint Joseph. "I'm here for democracy. I don't think Mr. Bush understands the erosion of democracy that's happened in this county. He only listens to the rich, the corporate oligarchy. He needs to listen to the people on the street." Shortly before six o' clock approximately 40 protesters split off from the main demonstration and headed for the Hennepin County jail to demonstrate in solidarity with the pair immediately dubbed as "the Pretzel Two." With black banners flying in the early evening breeze, the faction marched through the street without police permission up Marquette Avenue to Fifth Street, then up Third Avenue to Fourth Street without a major police appearance. As the demonstration turned south on Fourth Avenue, a police car backed through a clump of demonstrators crossing the street legally as another officer directed traffic with his club drawn. Police did not threaten the illicit marchers with arrest until demonstrators voluntarily claimed the sidewalk on Fourth Avenue. The marchers then waited outside the Hennepin County jail and sent a representative, who asked to be identified only as "Maude," who inquired as to the status of the Pretzel Two. Officer WR Wilen told Maude that the Pretzel Two were being booked and would remain in police custody for at least four hours. The last of the demonstrators dispersed by 7:30 PM. A posting on the IMC newswire claims that the Pretzel Two should be released by 10 or 11 PM tonight.
