Associated Press
09-01-08 30 mins ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. - About 10,000 protesters waving peace sign flags rallied at the state Capitol on Monday before an anti-war march to the Republican National Convention site. Hundreds of police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying billy clubs stood by.

Preparing for disruptions from a self-described anarchist group, officers in riot gear were stationed along the march route.

The anarchist group, known as the RNC Welcoming Committee, was targeted in police searches over the weekend that resulted in six arrests. The group, which did not organize Monday's march, said in a written statement that it was "moving forward with a national call to crash the convention."

One of the six arrested over the weekend on probable cause of conspiracy to commit a riot was released Sunday, according to attorney Bruce Nestor. No charges were filed against the woman, 23-year-old Monica Bicking. The other five remained jailed, possibly until Wednesday, Nestor said.

"Conspiracy to commit a riot"??? Doesn't that violate the right to congregate and the right to freedom of speech? Constitution? What constitution???