GOP Convention Marchers Promote "Peaceful" Event
Thursday, August 16, 2012
By: Steve Newborn

August 16, 2012 | WMFE - A massive protest bringing together thousands of people from around the country is planned for the streets of downtown Tampa during the first day of the Republican National Convention. A group of organizers met this week and they're they promising the event will be peaceful.

They call themselves the Coalition to March on the RNC. A handful of organizers came out to Perry Harvey Park, the sliver of green on the outskirts of downtown that will be the starting point for their parade on the convention's first day.

One of the speakers was Mick Kelly of Minnesota, who helped organized the 2008 RNC Protest in St. Paul.

“Really, at the end of the day, there's things we can control, and there's things we just can't.” Kelly said.  “What we're doing is we're bringing people together for a family-friendly march. That's what's going to happen. We have permits. Everyone should feel good about bringing their kids here and putting demands on the Republican Party.”

Those demands mirror the demands of the occupy movement, including petitioning the government for help in getting good jobs, affordable healthcare and education and equality.