Day #2: A Slow Start but Not for the Protestors

It seems quieter inside the Xcel Energy Center this morning. It was pretty uneventful as we broadcast our morning and midday shows from the suite overlooking the convention floor. That certainly wasn't the case outside the X yesterday. As my crew and I left the Xcel Energy Center, we were right in the middle of thousands of protesters on one side and police in riot gear on the other side. It was quite the scene in downtown St. Paul which is usually so quaint and quiet.

It seemed so surreal to be in the middle of something we are so used to seeing on television screens. As a reporter at heart, I was so frustrated I didn't have a photographer with me and no way to record it except my digital camera. I did snap some photos. Our crews were at different points of the protest getting even better video of people (Click here for the video from KSTP.com) getting pepper-sprayed and tear gas being used. I observed the situation and noticed that police were really calm and simply stood in the way of protesters. The people who were causing problems seemed to be going in every direction and frankly, as someone on TV, you feel a little vulnerable because some of them don't like journalists either.

We did eventually get out of the fray but it was fascinating to watch it all unfold. I wonder what today holds as far as protests. There is some word that the more radical groups may be in downtown St. Paul today. Our KSTP-TV crews were fantastic yesterday getting every angle of the protest and really getting in the middle of the craziness. It was impressive.

Republicans are moving ahead with their full schedule for the day. That is good news for a community that wants to see convention business move forward as planned. I am hearing mixed news when it comes to how the business community is doing but I hope a full schedule will mean more dollars for our community.

I am truly grateful for the great work people are doing behind the scenes here at our suite. I appreciate our crew so much and they have made my job easier. I can truly focus on just reporting and anchoring. An anchor can never pull it off without a good crew.

Comments

Add Comment