Dozens recount Republican convention experiences
ST. PAUL, Minn.---- One young man claimed he was tortured while in police custody. One woman got a face full of police pepper spray. But another woman said an officer kindly gave her a ride when he noticed she was tired.
These stories and others were shared Wednesday night as residents, business owners, activists, lawyers and media representatives recounted experiences they had during the Republican National Convention.
More than 800 people were arrested during the convention Sept. 1-4. Officers in riot gear used tear gas, pepper spray and percussion grenades to control protesters. Some observers have questioned the use of force and criticized police for arresting journalists and legal observers.
''We have to take a long, careful look at what happened and figure out how to genuinely change the direction of our society,'' said Eric Angell, a guest at an anarchists' convergence center that was raided by police the weekend before the convention began.
City Council member Dave Thune, whose district includes downtown St. Paul, said he invited members of the police department to speak, but they declined. Mayor Chris Coleman and Police Chief John Harrington sent representatives.
Some of the more than 200 gathered for the meeting called for a public hearing in front of the full City Council and the mayor.
Mayor Coleman has appointed former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Luger to lead an independent review of law enforcement planning and tactics.
Many of the speakers told about their personal experiences during the convention. Some showed video clips, and accused police of misconduct and abuse.
Bruce Nestor, president of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, called for an independent investigation with a budget, the power to compel testimony and to subpoena records. He also called for discipline of officers who acted wrongly, and -- like many others -- asked that the charges against all protesters be dropped.
Leah Lane, a 19-year-old from Eau Claire, Wis., showed video of herself being repeatedly pepper sprayed and knocked down by police, as she was holding her fingers in the peace sign and saying ''I love you.''
Lane, who was 18 at the time of her arrest, said police never told her why she had to move. She said she feels police were doing their job, but that too much force was used.
Another 19-year-old, Elliot Hughes of St. Paul, was visibly distraught as he claimed he was tortured in the Ramsey County Jail.
Hughes said he was punched and fell to the ground, and that his head was slammed on the jail floor. He said he was taken out of his cell to another area, where his ankles were bent backward and a bag was placed over his head. He also claimed he was denied food and water.
''I was screaming, crying, begging God for mercy,'' Hughes said. ''One officer was even disgusting enough to say, 'Your God is not with you right now. We are all devils.' And this horrified me.''
Phone messages left with a spokeswoman for Sheriff Bob Fletcher were not returned Wednesday.
But Patty Guerrero said she had some positive run-ins with police -- including one instance when, while she was dressed like a war prisoner, an officer noticed she was tired and offered her a ride.