CT GOP delegation roughed up

As reported on Politico, and in State GOP Chairman Chris Healy's blog, the CT delegates were assaulted by violent protesters when they arrived by bus today:

Protesters harassed two state delegations in St. Paul to attend the Republican National Convention Monday. Someone threw a rock through the window as delegates from Alabama rode their bus to the Xcel Energy Center, where Republican National Convention events took place. And masked protesters confronted and harassed the Connecticut delegation — several of them were spat upon, roughed up and doused with a mixture of water and bleach.

[..]

As they walked on the sidewalk, a group of masked protestors chanting anti-war slogans appeared in front of them.

They linked arms, attempting to create a human barricade. As police on horseback arrived, Fahle and other members of the group tried to push through.

Most of them escaped unscathed, but the protesters splattered the last group of delegates with the liquid.

“Two got doused, and several more got sprayed with it,” said Fahle. Former Rep. Rob Simmons was hit on the face with the liquid.

Delegate Rob Simmons was outraged. “We were attacked by a mob,” he said. “We were subjected to violent and anarchist behavior by a bunch of thugs."

Fahle said two people were spat upon: Lila Healy, the mother of Connecticut party chairman Chris Healy; and 83-year-old Fred Biebel.

Beibel was reportedly shoved, and his credentials were torn off. One protester grabbed the purse of the state party finance director, who tussled with the protester to save it.

This is simply inexcusable. But you have to wonder, wasn't there ANY security at the delegate off-loading area?

“They had cameras, backpacks and bandanas covering their faces. They were prepared for pepper spray or whatever,” said Fahle.

[..]

“They were dressed all in black, black pajamas, kind of a black hat and mask on, except for their eyes — a Ninja look,” Butts said.

He said about 30 protesters swarmed the bus. The area was supposed to be secured, he said, “but this was a breech in security, obviously.”

Obviously. When there's people approaching the delegate area wearing bandannas over their faces, or if masked ninjas suddenly appear, maybe it's time to loosen the riot sticks and get ready for trouble. I'm not employed in law enforcement, but it just seems like common sense.

Another Alabama delegate, Randy McKinney, was also on the bus. He attributed the attack to “a couple dozen Ninja-wannabes, and I didn't see any taxpayers in the group.”

That's a funny line.



What's not so funny is the way police arrested "Democracy Now" reporter Amy Goodman, who was peacefully trying to reason with them to release her two producers that were detained while covering the protests.

Where were these tough, Kevlar-clad riot cops when the CT delegates were being assaulted? It's wonderful how they rough up a harmless older woman, but aren't anywhere near the masked ninjas attacking the delegates. Not only are they bullies, but they're shitty as providing security, too.