ST. PAUL—A coalition that wants to hold an anti-war march on the opening day of the Republican National Convention has received a conditional permit for the parade, but it is still waiting for details on where its people can march.
Members of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War expressed frustration with the city on Monday, saying a May 31 date to outline a parade route is too late. The group wants to march Sept. 1 from the state Capitol to the Xcel Energy Center, where the four-day convention is being held, and back to the Capitol.
Coalition member Meredith Aby said she is concerned the city won’t let marchers within sight and sound of the Xcel Center. And she said waiting until May 31 doesn’t give the coalition much time to plan for its expected 30,000 to 50,000 demonstrators, or time to challenge the route if they need to.
So far, she said, the routes being considered by the city don’t go past the Xcel Center.
“The protesters could wave at the Xcel Center but nobody who’s actually at the Xcel Center would actually get to hear our message,” Aby said. “We don’t want a permit to march around downtown St. Paul. Downtown St. Paul is not the target of our message.”
Tom Walsh, St. Paul Police Department spokesman, said the city has assured the group they will be within range of the convention site.
“It may not be exactly what they want,” he said of the final route, “but I think we’ve assured them.”
The city of St. Paul began accepting permit applications on Monday. As of Monday afternoon, the Community Services Unit of the police department received no applications for demonstration permits, but a few people had requested information. The city parks department received about 20 applications for group gatherings during the convention, Sept. 1-4.
But Aby, whose group has also requested city park space, said she’s frustrated the city isn’t allowing demonstrators to gather in two prime park locations near the Xcel Center and near a hotel where Republican delegates are likely to stay.
“We feel like the city of St. Paul has decided that they’re not only going to let the Republicans have their convention here, but they are going to give them this beautiful, isolated experience where they don’t have to talk to anybody who disagrees with their political agenda,” Aby said.
Brad Meyer, a spokesman for the city parks department, said Rice Park and other locations are unavailable until the city knows for certain whether those sites are outside the security perimeter.
“We’re open and accommodating to all groups,” Meyer said. “We don’t view them in terms of party affiliation. We want to make sure it’s safe—that’s the biggest thing.”
Details on the security boundaries will be available June 1, Meyer said.
