Mark your calendars

Pioneer Press Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:08:06 -0600
St. Paul / 'Peace picnic' to tweak RNC-goers

Come September, Republican delegates who walk from the Xcel Energy Center to the bluff for a view of the Mississippi River might find Coleen Rowley smiling up at them. St. Paul has given the former FBI agent and former congressional candidate a prime spot during the Republican National Convention: Harriet Island. The one-time Time magazine co-person of the year has secured a permit to host hundreds of people for a "Peace Island Picnic" in the park Sept. 4, during the convention. Rowley said she hopes the event will focus attention on ending the war in Iraq, just as the Republican Party moves to anoint John McCain as its 2008 nominee. "The connections they tried to make between Saddam (Hussein) and al-Qaida " you could say (they were) distorted, but they were just concocted," Rowley said. "It is the quintessential quagmire. I just think people need to take responsibility, because it really is affecting us all." Rowley and her husband, Ross Rowley, were given the permit after being the only applicant for Harriet Island for that date. The park is widely considered a prime location for an outdoor event for any group during the convention, which is expected to bring 45,000 media members and attendees to the Twin Cities. Some estimate that an equal number of protesters will be on hand. Rowley said she is still organizing the event and expects no more than 1,000 people, according to the permit application. She said she has contacted folk singer Pete Seeger about being an honorary co-chair. Seeger expressed interest, she said, but likely would not attend because of health issues.

[[keywords: Elections;]]