August 5, 1999
The battle is fought on two fronts as members of Earth First! and other environmentalists flood the State Capitol Rotunda with 150 protesters. The protest lasts for about 3 hours until about 30 State Troopers threaten everyone in the building with an arrest. 8 protesters remain locked down inside the building as police attempt to clear the media out. When the protesters tell the media that they will be brutalized if the cameras leave, the police allow the tapes to keep rolling and the eight people are removed and arrested. The lockdown is staged in an attempt to force a public referrendum on the highway project. A state official was quoted today on WMNN (AM 1330) as saying, "They've had plenty of chances to get input on this issue before. It's too late for their opinions now."
Meanwhile, back in the park, religious leaders and youths from North Minneapolis join with the Mendota and the people of South Minneapolis on the front lines for another rally. There were no arrests in the park today.
Four members of Earth First! lock themselves together at the center of the rotunda. Another four lock their arms together around a pillar. All eight are arrested.
