REFLECTIONS

I wasn’t in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. I’m glad for that.

I was in St. Paul, however, for four days covering the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC). Comparisons could be made with these two events, but it is comforting to know that St. Paul law enforcement, with the assistance of many other police agencies, was able to keep a lid on the violence.

More than 800 protestors were arrested over the four days but few were actually prosecuted.

Press credentials

I was credentialed and had pretty much free access to the media spots in downtown St. Paul. The actual convention was held in the Xcel Energy Center at 199 W. Kellogg Blvd.

I was representing ECM Publishers and teamed with Capitol Reporter Tim Budig to provide coverage for our 40 newspapers.

In addition to holding press credentials, I was privileged to have even better access than most media because I was traveling with my brother-in-law Curt Mowers, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper.

Trooper #277 (Curt Mowers) and another trooper, Andy, were staying at our home in Lino Lakes during the RNC and were assigned duty at the RNC Convention.

So, every day of the RNC would begin for me accompanying Trooper Curt to the State Capitol. Curt dropped me off at whatever stop I desired.

My mission was to find some local angle to cover. Tim covered all of the action inside the Xcel Arena.

He even had a key to some of the buildings near the Capitol. I remember going to the top floor of the State Office Building and watching the protest action in front of the State Capitol.

In constant contact

We kept constant contact and when the day would end, we would return to Lino Lakes.

Separated from Curt, I made my way daily to the Xcel Arena. I had to wade through a large contingent of heavily armed SWAT team members closing off travel from the Capitol to the Xcel Arena.

Media types, like myself, had to walk many extra blocks to get around the SWAT team.

Trooper Curt was free to roam the Capitol grounds and was ready to respond to any unusual activities near the Capitol.

Having this special transportation to the Capitol assured me of a ride home, too.

Exciting night

The most exciting night of the RNC Convention happened on the final day. There were rumors that some angry protestors were going to storm the Xcel Center. In fact, I was trying to leave the Xcel Center when told a large of protestors were on their way to the Arena.

I nervously phoned Curt and told him that I was able to see the large group of protestors heading my way. HELP!

Curt responded by asking my location. I told him I was about 12 blocks from the Capitol. “Hang on, I will have someone come and get you,“ Curt said. It was just a matter of a few minutes and my ride came in a golf cart driven by a RNC official.

I didn’t get to see the acceptance speeches of nominees John McCain and Sarah Palin, but I did get to taste some of the violent protest action near the Capitol.

I can only imagine that the events of Jan. 6, 2021 were much more volatile than what I saw first hand at the RNC in 2008.

The RNC convention of 2008 was another memory put into my scrapbook.