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Graphic By PNN Staff

"Live" Notes from the Democratic National Convention

By Aaron Shuman

....Stories about provocateurs in the crowd is true, though there's been some exaggeration about the materials thrown over the fence separating delegates from the protest zone. black-clad anarchists were pressing against the fence and giving cops the finger, and the lapd was using "supersoakers" to douse the crowd with pepper spray to force them back, though don't know who's chicken, who's egg. police directed protesters out of the protest zone and up figueroa; then a cavalry of officers on horseback came riding down figueroa, driving protesters back into the zone. they attempted to herd protesters against the fence separating them from the delegates and drive them out one exit. a toronto globe-mail reporter caught up in it told me it was a "run the gauntlet" type situation, with police lined along a narrow fenced-in corridor, delivering verbal and physical abuse (kicks, batons). the protesters emerged onto olympic; some were given contrasting directions from police lines, told to go east, then to go west, then to go east again.

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A freelance news photographer recognized homeless activist ted hayes lying "semi-conscious or unconscious" in the street, surrounded by folks from his encampment trying to tend to him or get him up. when the photographer circled to get a clear shot of hayes's face, police charged and started beating everyone in the circle. by the end of the night, the photographer got three rubber bullets and a baton blow, one of which shattered the filter over the lens of his camera.

I saw lots of wounds last night, and with one exception, all of them were in the back. rubber bullets break the skin, btw, at close range.

I saw lots of wounds last night, and with one exception, all of them were in the back. rubber bullets break the skin, btw, at close range.

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