On September 4th, 2008 I covered the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. I blogged in real time via Twitter, shot video and took thousands of photographs. Below find my real-time twitter entries along with photos. On day 4, the largest mass arrest took place with police arresting 300 marchers, shoppers and journalists. This brought the total arrests up to almost 900 of the estimated 15,000-20,000 protesters all week combined. In comparison, 1,800 of over 500,000 were arrested in New York in 2004.
Video: University Ave concussion grenades and tear gas (Short version)
Video: The march and the clash on University Ave (Long version)
The 2008 Republican National Convention - This is what I saw.
All photos copyright Chad Davis
04:11 Overheard at Super America..two cops getting gas talking to another pumper “one day to go..we will see what happens tonight..”
04:57 Got totally screwed by traffic. Walking over 35E now and up to capitol. Cameras in hand..
05:03 Bridge over 35E behind United Hospital is blocked off.
05:30 No one allowed to cross on John Ireland and Kellogg. About 50 riot cops in army suits with body shields waiting on Kellogg and Mulberry.
05:34 10 riot cops literally walking with me up to John Ireland Blvd over I-94..
05:36 Just got up to the bridge by walking around the museum..I’m behind the horses and I don’t know how many riot police..this does not look good.
05:40 Thinking to myself…there is no way they will gas the entire bridge..
05:53 Video rolling from roadway overlooking I-94 and John Ireland Blvd.
05:54 I can confirm plows are coming down John Ireland Blvd.
06:03 Marchers are moving off the bridge!
06:12 I see two being carried away in plastic cuffs walking toward plows into unmarked van.
06:12 They have allowed more access to bridge as police move to middle of bridge. Now standing behind them on bridge.
06:20 Cops in khakis and walkies with metal cuffs pushing us off the bridge back towards Kellogg on John Ireland..bridge being cleared.
06:22 Just spoke to officer who said we have to either be behind the wall by museum or by fence on other side on John Ireland.
06:23 I’m watching a man get into a bomb suit on John Ireland in front of museum.
06:30 Bomb squad is approaching a bag on the bridge.
06:30 We are now being pushed all the way back to the True Blue Minnesota sign on Kellogg and John Ireland.
06:38 Metro bus rolled up..says POLICE BUS. Parked at John Ireland and Kellogg
06:46 Ambulances pulling up on Kellogg and John Ireland.
06:47 Riot cops have now formed a line across the Kellogg side of the bridge.
06:49 Plows are back! Driving onto bridge.
06:52 Plows and Ambulance with flashing lights at Kellogg and John Ireland…plows blocking access to bridge.
07:00 Reinforcements arrived at Kellogg out of about 5 minivans. Full riot gear..looks to be ready to march.bridge completely blocked by plows.
07:00 Bag still in middle of bridge…
07:02 The reinforcements have now formed a line right on Kellogg. There is now a line on both sides of bride and in between the bag and first line.
07:05 Bomb squad guy in rubber suit went to put robot back on sidewalk..why have a robot?
07:24 Seems to be ppl moving around on other side of bridge.
07:32 There are two robots..they have bag now.
07:37 Things calm for now on Kellogg side of bridge.
07:40 Walking down kellogg to get to other side of bridge by capitol.
07:42 Secret service driving down Kellogg towards bridge in golf cart.
07:46 Was able to walk down Kellogg to Marion St….nevermind..new thought..just hear loud bang.
07:47 Was able to walk down Kellogg to Marion to St. Anthony..now on other side of John Ireland bridge..crowd is marching strong!
07:49 “this is what democracy looks like” marching down St. Anthony to Marion to get over bridge.
07:51 All the way up to in front of Sears..still peaceful. Police are creating the tension.
07:52 Our street they chant as cops on bikes fly by blowing whistles…barricades on Marion and St. Anthony now.
07:53 “if you do not leave to north other measures will be used” protesters marching down away from I-94 on Marion.
07:56 “This is what democracy looks like” “Who’s streets? Our streets!’
07:57 March is now up to Aurora and Marion..
07:58 Up to Marion and University..traffic stopped…
08:02 Tear gas smoke bombs cucussion bombs.
08:06 Major clash on University..attacks on media as well. Smoke bomb thrown right at protesters.
08:08 More concussions…”where do we go” ppl scream.
08:09 Plows clearing Marion.
08:10 Chants are back..”who’s streets..our streets!”
08:15 People are told to go on bridge..everyone is afraid if they do they will be arrested.
08:16 Everyone on bridge..trapped. They continue to throw gas and smoke.
08:18 Everyone on bridge sitting down..hands on head.
Last night I decided to go for a ride to Door County in Wisconsin. This area is actually a pretty neat part of the state. It is primarily known for its tourist attractions in the summer months. There are tons of little shops and restaurants. I learned last night that for whatever reason driving down highway 42 in the winter months is somewhat “suspicious”. At least that is what the door county police said when they called me a 10-37. I was pulled over 3 times in less than a hour. I was not given a ticket for anything. First in Sister Bay, WI. I first heard my plate being called driving north on 42. Officer asked dispatch for a “27″(10-27, drivers license check).I took a immediate right giving the squad behind me something interesting to deal with. I then heard dispatch come back and say I was valid and stated my expiration date. The officer said “hold on to it” in reference to keeping the information up because he was going to pull me over. In the meantime the road I had turned off on turned out to be a circle. I had to drive back out onto 42. Sure enough, as expected the officer was sitting at the bottom of the hill waiting for me to drive by. His lights went on immediately after passing him. He came and got my license. This time requesting a “28″(10-28, vehicle registration check). Came back good. He came back and told me I was good to go. Not offering a reason as to why I was stopped. He told the dispatcher to “file the 27 and 28″. Meaning, close the call. About 15 minutes later that same officer chimed back in to dispatch asking her to run a criminal record check on “that green bay car” he stopped a few minutes ago. She promptly did so and came back with “I was unable to find any criminal record for subject”. 10-4 the officer replied. By this time I was heading up towards the Fish Creek area. I was pulled over again here. This officer also ran my plates..but did not do so until I was stopped. He said I should be careful in this area because of deer. Right, whatever. Now I was on my way back south down some on county road ZZ. I noticed a vehicle following me. It was right after shift change (10:44) so I figured i’d once again get some grief. I slowed down a bit and even took a left turn into a closed BP gas station. The vehicle passed and it was a door county police officer. I grabbed a peice of paper towel and then slowly went back to the road and saw that this police officer had slowed and was turning around. I then continued on my route. I then took a left on county road F and then eventually in a empty restaurant to turn around. It was here I was pulled over upon entering the road again. This time there was backup. I knew he had called for backup. After all, I was listening. He asked what I was doing. I told him the same story about just driving around. Then I changed my story and said I was going home. He said to make up your mind. I said if I want to go home i’ll go home if not i’ll drive around. After all, I wasn’t doing anything wrong by doing either. He said fine and let me go. After pulled away I heard more chatter on the radio. He asked the other officer to “go to B”(sic: referring to Channel B, Car-To-Car, or Tactical frequency. 154.9500 051DPL) . I recorded this exchange. The mp3 can be found here: HERE
They did not see the scanner in my vehicle…
Technorati Tags: Door County, Police, Radio Frequencies, Wisconsin
Here are a list of radio frequencies I have come across in the Green Bay area. Motorola Type II Trunk 856.2125 / 856.7375 / 857.2125 / 858.2125 / 859.2125 / 860.2125 Users Brown County Jail Green Bay Police Department Green Bay Fire Department Green Bay Local Government (Water Department / Parks / DPW) Green Bay Transit Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Green Bay Bay Beach Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety (Police / Fire) Talkgroup - City / Agency - Misc Notes 48 City of Green Bay Police “A” Emergency Channel 80 City of Green Bay Police “B” Dispatch 112 City of Green Bay Police “C” Alternate Dispatch 144 City of Green Bay Police “D” Record Checks / Teletype 176 City of Green Bay Police “E” Special Events (Packer Games) 208 City of Green Bay Police Detectives 592 City of Green Bay Police Supervisors 1136 1264 City of Green Bay Police Parking 1680 City of Green Bay Fire “A” Emergency Channel 1712 City of Green Bay Fire “B” Dispatch 1744 City of Green Bay Fire “C” Tactical 2 / EMS Operations 1776 City of Green Bay Fire “D” Tactical 3 1808 City of Green Bay Fire “E” Tactical 4 1872 City of Green Bay Fire Inspections / Training / Prevention 1904 City of Green Bay Fire Training 2000 City of Green Bay Fire Special Operations (Packer Games) 2224 City of Green Bay 2256 City of Green Bay 2320 City of Green Bay 2416 City of Green Bay DPW Main Operations (Although, some units still on 158.820) 2768 Green Bay Transit “A” 2800 Green Bay Transit “B” 2832 Green Bay Transit “C” Main Operations 2864 Green Bay Transit “D” Maintenance 2896 Green Bay Transit “E” Special Operations 3312 City of Green Bay Parks Bay Beach - Amusement Park “A” 3344 City of Green Bay Parks Bay Beach - Amusement Park “B” 3376 City of Green Bay Parks Wildlife Sanctuary “A” 3408 City of Green Bay Parks Wildlife Sanctuary “B” 3408 City of Green Bay Parks Wildlife Sanctuary “C” 3472 City of Green Bay 3600 Mason Manor Retirement Community Operations 3856 City of Green Bay Fire Station 1 Operations / Paging 3888 City of Green Bay Fire Station 2 Operations / Paging 3920 City of Green Bay Fire Station 3 Operations / Paging 3952 City of Green Bay Fire Station 4 Operations / Paging 3984 City of Green Bay Fire Station 5 Operations / Paging 4016 City of Green Bay Fire Station 6 Operations / Paging 4048 City of Green Bay Fire Station 7 Operations / Paging 4400 City of Green Bay Water Department Meter Shop (Also, still using 153.710) 4848 4944 ???? Unknown Surveillance Type Traffic 4976 ???? Unknown Surveillance Type Traffic 5008 ???? Unknown Surveillance Type Traffic 5488 Village of Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety - Primary / Police Ops 5520 Village of Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety - Secondary / Fire Ops 5552 Village of Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety (DES was Used) 5984 ????? 6576 6608 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 1 6640 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 2 6672 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 3 6704 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 4 6736 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 5 6768 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 6 6832 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 7 6928 Brown County Jail Jail Operations 8 7088 7536
Technorati Tags: Radio Frequencies
