As the Republican National Convention opened in St. Paul Monday, thousands of antiwar protesters took to the streets. Local police arrested nearly 300 demonstrators, as well as several journalists covering the protests. I was arrested along with two producers from Democracy Now! — Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Also arrested were Associated Press photographer Matt Rourke and two filmmakers from Pepperspray Productions — Lambert Rochfort and Joseph La Sac. Officers in riot gear fired rubber bullets, teargas, pepper spray and concussion grenades at the protesters. Gena Berglund of the National Lawyers Guild said the police action was “completely out of proportion.” While most protesters took part in a permitted antiwar rally, some activists staged breakaway marches and were seen breaking windows at the First National Bank, Macy’s and other buildings. One of the broken windows came in the building that houses Saint Paul Neighborhood Network, where Democracy Now! is broadcasting this week. Some activists also set up makeshift barricades in the streets and tried to block delegate buses from reaching the convention. By late afternoon, 150 Minnesota National Guard soldiers were deployed in St. Paul to help police control the city. At the antiwar march, demonstrators called for all US troops to withdraw from Iraq.