Republican National Convention!
This picture shows how far I was away from the Xcel Center, you couldn't get much closer. I tried to but there are fences surrounding it. When I took pictures closer, the fence was in the picture, so I thought this was much clearer!
I started my trek by going to the Cathedral and the Capital Mall where all the protestors were protesting. Of course there were many cops to make sure that things didn't get out of hand.
I was able to get onto the Capitol steps and take pictures to show how many protestors actually were there. It was just packed and it smelled really bad! You could tell that many of them didn't find taking a shower a requirement for their day!!
I noticed sharp shooters on the top of the building, keeping an eye on the protestors.
More pictures from the Capitol steps. The trees cover some of the protestors but there are just a ton of them.
I headed back downtown. The buses with the delegates were trying to get to the Xcel for the convention but as you can see protestors started taking over the streets. 
The police quickly got involved and the buses were eventually able to make it through. They did this for every bus that came through. The road was blocked off for the buses, thus no other traffic.
Soon after the bus incident many SWAT members decided to start taking back the streets. At this point there was a big group of protestors. The protestors also had spray bottles and 5 gallon buckets with bleach in them and were spraying bystanders. I believe it was bleach since white stains on the sidewalk remained.
Here the SWAT are and the police on bikes also got involved. It was nice to know they were there to protect those of us who were just there to take in the convention activities.
As the day went on the protestors became rioting and started being hostile so the National Guard was called in.
Here are the buses with all the National Guards in them.
And out they come ready with their shields and protective gear. I was getting a little worried by this time because hundreds, maybe thousands of protestors starting trashing Kellogg Blvd. and becoming unruly. It was definitely not a safe place for those of us on the sidewalk.
As you can see the hundreds of National Guard members were taking back Kellogg Blvd and Wabasha. In the background you can see the SWAT members trying to push the protestors back. A little after this photo was taken all the SWAT members and National Guard members were ordered to put on their gas masks. 
I started following the SWAT members who were trying to get order and prevent the protestors from destructing the City. There was tear gas and pepper spray. I could feel a little tingle in my eyes and nose and I was fairly far away. I took a few other photos but didn't want to fill the blog with 100's of photos but the majority of protestors are either wearing gas masks or bandanas over their face, obviously prepare that when they were rioting that the police would have no other choice to keep themselves safe and those of us abiding by the law safe, without using pepper spray/tear gas. I also think they wore them to hide their faces so if pictures were taken of them no one would know who they were so they couldn't be prosecuted. In the news there was a police officer arresting a protestor and out of the crowd another protestor, completely in black with a black mask, hit the police officer. They know that they are going to be causing destruction and assaulting police officers so they wear the masks so they won't be arrested. Childish if you ask me.
The SWAT team was able to push the protestors back to Shephard Road. Unfortunately that is the way home and the road was closed off. Thank you protestors for making me take the long route home. Really appreciate it.
Even the U.S. Coast Guard was in the Mississippi River. They were going under the Wabasha Bridge where protestors were at. The protestors were holding banners on the bridge, even though it was closed off.
I am all for freedom of speech but when protestors make me fear for my safety I say enough is enough. I am so glad that the SWAT and National Guard was there to protect me. Protestors also broke windows in the Macy building and damaged a Police car. I will say that the protestors, many of them, were really only out to cause destruction and chaos in the City. I love how I live here 365 days a year and these people have the audacity to come here and completely destroy my City and then blame the cops for causing this, it is completely ridiculous. I was there and saw it with my own eyes.
I also heard a male protestor tell another male protestor that if the police searches them to tell the police officer "I do not consent to this search". Now, if you were going to abide by the law and have a peaceful protest would you need to know this? Again, because they came here to break the law. Those of us taking pictures and abiding by the law never had any interference by the police. Heck, the police were very nice to me. They always said hi and if I didn't know where the street was closed off, they would give me directions to where I wanted to go. I noticed many people asking police for help in directions and never once did I see a police officer not treat them with respect and kindness.
Oh, and lastly, a woman protestor told me that they were just yards away when a bunch of protestors smashed the cop car and broke the windows, I replied "Anything for publicity" to which she replied "It is better that the protestors get publicity than this administration". Really? Honestly? I cannot believe that people actually feel this way. If you feel that you have been wronged make sure you break the law in a big way to get publicity because that may make you feel better. This country really is going down the gutter, and it has nothing to do with the administration, whether I agree with the President or not, because of protestors like the ones I saw in Saint Paul. Yes, there were many peaceful protestors, but one bad egg ruins the bunch.
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