Here in St. Paul, Iraq war veterans and antiwar activists are planning to hold a large march today from the State Capitol building to the Xcel Center. It is expected to be the largest protest during the Republican National Convention. Over the past week, local police, with assistance from federal agencies, have raided at least five homes. Six activists tied to the group the RNC Welcoming Committee have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to riot and other charges, following what police described as preemptive raids. Minnesota Public Radio reports the raids were coordinated between the FBI, the county sheriff’s office and local police. According to the Star Tribune, the raids were specifically aided by informants planted in protest groups. During one raid on Saturday, police detained Democracy Now! producer Elizabeth Press and Eileen Clancy of I-Witness Video.

Eileen Clancy: “We were videotaping and photographing as we heard the police bust through an attic door, yell 'Police,' come down the stairs and enter the living room with a handgun drawn on us, pointed at us.”

Interviewer: “Did you tape that?”

Eileen Clancy: “Yes.”

Interviewer: “Is that recorded?”

Eileen Clancy: “Yeah. So they told us to keep our hands visible, put our hands on top of our heads, and to put down our cameras.”

On Saturday, National Lawyers Guild and Communities United Against Police Brutality filed an emergency motion seeking “injunctive relief” to prevent police from seizing video equipment and cellular phones used to document their conduct.

Gena Berglund, National Lawyers Guild: “The restraining order, if we get it, would potentially enjoin the Minneapolis police officers from confiscating video equipment and cameras from people who either document police — unconstitutional police activity or are journalists. And we don’t know if we’ll get it, but that is what we’re attempting to do.”