Clashes break out during protests; 284 arrested

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 2008 | by Alan Gomez

ST. PAUL -- Sporadic violence broke out as thousands of protesters marched on the Republican National Convention on Monday, chanting for an end to the war in Iraq and demanding Republicans be denied the White House in November's election.

Members of the Connecticut delegation were roughed up in one incident. Mary Jerde, a spokeswoman for the St. Paul Joint Information Center, said 284 arrests had been made by late Monday.

Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan helped lead the march, which started at the state Capitol building and weaved its way to within a block of the Xcel Energy Center, the site of the Republican National Convention.

Roving groups dressed in black and wearing masks smashed windows of stores and police cruisers, shut down...