protesters

On Thursday morning, as the RNC geared up for its final day, storm clouds were gathering over downtown St. Paul -– both literally and figuratively.

With police preparing for another wave of protests and possible riots in the downtown area – protesters’ last gasp – the management of the First National Bank building, 332 Minnesota St., in which the Saint Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report has its office, is warning tenants to be careful in advance of a “large demonstration/protest march” planned for 4 p.m. this afternoon.

In an e-mail sent to all tenants, Tanya Hemphill, general manager of the building for management firm Cushman & Wakefield, writes, “We have been informed that today’s protest has a possibility to escalate into ‘riot’ conditions.”

The building is taking this step, Hemphill explains, because of the potential for trouble: “Activities may not occur around the vicinity of the First National Bank Building, but activities were not projected to be in our location on Monday when the building sustained damage during the protests.”

Around 2 p.m. Monday, writer Betsy Sundquist reported from 5th and Jackson, on the edge of Mears Park about eight blocks east of the Xcel Center, that protesters are breaking windows with rocks and bricks and throwing tear gas.

A police officer who would not give his name said, "People are getting hurt, and it's just the beginning."

As he spoke, ambulances flew past on 5th Street.

Sundquist said that protesters tossing bricks had shattered a big picture window along the front of Galtier Plaza, 380 Jackson St. A woman helping clean up the debris asked, "What does this have to do with ending the war?" 

Terri Dresen, a spokeswoman for United Hospital at 333 Smith Ave. N., reported about 3 p.m. that the hospital's emergency room had seen no RNC-related injuries yet. "It's really quiet over here," she said.