St. Paul, MN – Standing in front of the Minnesota State Capitol Building Aug. 13, organizers announced that the city of Saint Paul has issued a formal permit for the Sept. 1 anti-war protest set to mark the opening day of the Republican National Convention.

The Sept. 1 protest, organized by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, is expected to draw thousands of Minnesotans and others from the upper Midwest and from across the U.S. The protest is being organized under the calls of: “U.S. out of Iraq now! Money for human needs, not for war. Say no to the Republican agenda. Demand peace, justice and equality!”

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “The stage is now set for the Sept. 1 protest. The issuance of the permit is a major step to guarantee that everyone who wants to come out to say no to the continued war and occupation of Iraq, everyone who wants funds used for housing, health care and human needs instead of an endless war, everyone who wants to speak out for peace and justice, has a place to be on Sept. 1. While the Republican politicians gather, the majority of the population who are against the war will have a place to gather to send a clear anti-war message.”

While organizers point to many deficiencies in the permit, Jess Sundin, of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War noted, “This permit is really the result of a two-year long struggle with the city of Saint Paul to make sure that there is a place at or near the Republican Convention for all those who have suffered from and who oppose the policies of the Bush administration to gather and speak out.”

The Sept. 1 protest will start at 11:00 a.m. with a rally in front of the Minnesota State Capitol building. The march will go past the Excel Center, site of the convention, and return to the Capitol mall.

An ever-growing coalition of peace, student, women’s, union and other organizations have endorsed the Sept. 1 protest and are committed to turning out the largest numbers possible.

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