Twittering Our Impending Riot Police Beatdown

Our fearless reporters, Michael Kraskin and Dennis DiClaudio are in the middle of an RNC protest whose permit is about to expire. Since the last thing we heard as we hung up the phone was, "2-4-6-8, fuck the permit, smash the state," we decided to twitter the inevitable carnage.

Upadate: We're back now.  Maybe there was a riot after we left, but I doubt it.  It was getting dark and the protesters looked tired.  Below the fold is the entire transcript of our twitters.  All times are relative to about 9:30 EST on Sept. 4, 2008.

Update 2: We were wrong. Stuff happened.

We've escaped from the police blockade. And not even an ounce of teargas. Kind of disappointed. 39 minutes ago

We're going to try to leave again.   about 1 hour ago

People are linking arms in front of the police. about 1 hour ago

Things are tense, moving but peaceful for now. Someone said "we're going to get a better intersection." about 1 hour ago

Crowd is marching away now. They busted a cop car window. about 1 hour ago

Apparently cops charged the crowd causing the run. about 1 hour ago

That was kind of scary. about 1 hour ago

Arrests happening. about 1 hour ago

Everyone is running. about 1 hour ago

We are told tear gas or pepper spray was deployed by the police. about 1 hour ago

LiveBlog: Barack Obama on The O'Reilly Factor http://tinyurl.com/5rjyjn about 1 hour ago from twitterfeed

Things have calmed down again. about 1 hour ago

Cops are backing off. Protestors are applauding. They have conquered the parking lot. about 2 hours ago

The protestors are claiming this is their parking lot. I find that unlikely. about 2 hours ago

Protestors are advancoing on police and clapping. That's not a good idea. about 2 hours ago

MN peace team encouraging people to leave. about 2 hours ago

Oh boy cops have pepper spray out. People are definitely eaving now. about 2 hours ago

I'd really rather be watching Obama on O'reilly. about 2 hours ago

They are singing the national anthem now. about 2 hours ago

Sign: "9 out of 10 killer robots vote republican." about 2 hours ago

Protestors leaving again. Some shouting "don't leave! We outnumber them!"   about 2 hours ago

Spoke with members of the MN Peace team. Very interesting work they are doing making sure the protest does not turn violent. www.fnvw.org. about 2 hours ago

Cop just told me the protest is still going on and it's heating up. Headed back in. about 2 hours ago

Stuck behind a police blockade. Might not make it back in time to see Obama on O'reilly! about 2 hours ago

N614EF says "Peace and Iraq withdrawal can't compete with opening of NFL season tonight." LOL! about 2 hours ago

I think we're done here. Everyone was well behaved. about 2 hours ago

The guy who was trampled by the horse doesn't seem to be injured or care. But a lot of hippies are shouting "fascists!" about 2 hours ago

A guy's ankle was trampled by a horse, but he can stand. about 2 hours ago

I heard a young woman lamenting the fact she did not get plastic cuffs put on her. about 2 hours ago

Everyone is leaving this area but I'm not sure they are leaving entirely or going somewhere else. about 3 hours ago

Sign: "anyone for scrabble later?" Me! about 3 hours ago

Another huge wave just got bored and left. about 3 hours ago

Woah! I just saw a GUY riding a GIRL'S bike! Anarchists are crazy!! about 3 hours ago

@quick13 thank you for the info! about 3 hours ago  in reply to quick13

A sign:"please don't arrest me. I'm just holding a sign." about 3 hours ago

More protestors getting bored and leaving. about 3 hours ago

From quick13: John Ireland was archbishop a reformer on education & immigration but conservative on alcohol & political corruption. Oh irony about 3 hours ago

Police are now requesting that the protestors return to the capital grounds. about 3 hours ago

Protestors are getting bored. 13 kids are playing, I kid you not, Red Rover. about 3 hours ago

Protestors are getting bored and leaving. The first day of school was this week. They probably need rest. about 3 hours ago

I walked towards the back because the tobacco smoke was really getting to me. Stll no tear gas though.   about 3 hours ago

Now they are getting antsy: "let us march! Let us march!" about 3 hours ago

Voring protest but the rhythm section ROCKS. about 3 hours ago

Quick13 tells us we are on the John Ireland bridge. Thanks! about 3 hours ago

They have snow plows ready to plow the crowd out of here. We'll have pics when we get an internet connection. about 3 hours ago

Chant: "Who is a terrorist? McCain is a terrorist.!" Really, that seems over the line. about 3 hours ago

Sign: "call chris hansen. This war is raping our youth." That might be hyperbole, though. about 3 hours ago

The chanters: "our peaceful protest is under attack…". I'm here to tell you, it really isn't. about 3 hours ago

They have snow plows ready to plow the crowd out of here. We'll have pics when we get an internet connection. about 3 hours ago

Sign: "call chris hansen. This war is raping our youth." That might be hyperbole, though. about 3 hours ago

Boring protest but the rhythm section ROCKS. about 3 hours ago

People are now starting to link arms. about 3 hours ago

New one "we demand justice, we demand peace, we say no to the RNC. about 3 hours ago

A republican is walking by with a ladder. I have no theories. about 3 hours ago

Dennis: "protests are a lot less exciting than I thought they'd be." about 3 hours ago

Dennis says the ratio of protestors to reporters is probably about 1:1. about 3 hours ago

I found Dennis btw. about 3 hours ago

People are now starting to link arms. about 3 hours ago

Ok here's a new one "lezzies and queers are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!" about 3 hours ago

Not sure how something like this ends. Do the protestors get bored and leave or does there have to be a physical conflict? about 3 hours ago

Riot police have replaced mounted police. They are wearing gas masks.   about 3 hours ago

Uh oh. Folks are standing up now. about 3 hours ago

They are running out of chants. Starting to repeat themselves. about 3 hours ago

The chant leader just asked the protestors to link arms. They didn't. about 3 hours ago

"The criminals are in the xcel center." about 3 hours ago

A McCain supporter who described himself as a freedom supporter just called a journalist "on the side of peace" gay. about 3 hours ago

Twittering Our Impending Riot Police Beatdown http://tinyurl.com/6g765m about 3 hours ago from twitterfeed

Kidz for McCain! For Realz! http://tinyurl.com/6pyvvw about 3 hours ago from twitterfeed

Dispatches from a Police State: Digital Backdrops Across America http://tinyurl.com/5j548l about 3 hours ago from twitterfeed

Woman speaking. "Does this look like a riot to you?" Questioning why police are here. about 3 hours ago

I just saw a riot helmet that said "press." about 3 hours ago

Big sit in. "This is what democracy looks like!" about 3 hours ago

"The whole world is watching." Frankly I doubt it. about 3 hours ago

Just smelled clove cigarettes but still no tear gas. about 3 hours ago

"Ain't no power like the power of the people 'cuz the power of the people won't stop." about 3 hours ago

A lot of handkerchiefs over faces. No tear gas but lots of cigarettes. about 3 hours ago

Republican guy next to me annoyed he can't get to the convention. about 3 hours ago

Police still aren't letting anyone across. about 3 hours ago

"Who's war? Their war! Who's streets? Our streets!" about 3 hours ago

Woman speaking. "Does this look like a riot to you?" Questioning why police are here. about 3 hours ago

Big sit in. "This is what democracy looks like!"   about 3 hours ago

About 20 cops on bikes just arrived. about 4 hours ago

Crowd chanting "let us go! Let us go!" March is stopped by cops. about 4 hours ago

Kids are running away, but all still seems peaceful. about 4 hours ago

Riot police running to front of crowd. about 4 hours ago

"Who's streets? Our streets!" about 4 hours ago

Ok, protest seems to be halted on a bridge. about 4 hours ago

Girl next to me in fatigues freaking that she has a project to finish. Probably shouldn't be marching. about 4 hours ago

Police are letting them march peacefully despite no permit so far. about 4 hours ago

Effigy of McCain says McCain equals war criminal. about 4 hours ago

Separated from Dennis. He's taking photos. about 4 hours ago

Police have sticks at ready, but peaceful so far. about 4 hours ago

Couldn't quite hear a clever chant based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme. about 4 hours ago

Police are letting them march peacefully despite no permit so far. about 4 hours ago

Overheard "2 4 6 8 fuck the permits smash the state." about 4 hours ago

Sign says rnc '08 equals tieneman sq. about 4 hours ago

Watching angry protestors break the law. about 4 hours ago

On our way to a riot! Should be awesome!!! about 5 hours ago

Tags: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, Republican National Convention, St. Paul