Alex Boerner

PHOTO ESSAYS: 2008 Republican National Convention

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's speech is shown outside the Excel Energy Center on the giant screen in front of the FOX News Channel tent on the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, MN.
   
Red Shoes at the RNC. Wednesday September 3, 2008. St. Paul, MN.
   
A man talks on the phone on the patio behind Cosetta's Italian Restaurant, two blocks away from the Excel Energy Center, where the Republican National Convention is being held in St. Paul, MN. The convention is estimated to bring in $150 million to the local economy.
     
  
Texas delegate Barbara Thornburn. Wednesday September 3, 2008. St. Paul, MN.
   
Law enforcement forms a tight line at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 12th Street during a march on Thursday September 4, 2008, the final day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. The day remained calm, but police used tear gas, concussion grenades and pepper spray on crowds later in the evening and arrested nearly 300 people who were trapped by police lines.
   
A protester uses a megaphone to lead the crowd in chants during a peaceful protest Thursday September 4, 2008 on the final day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. Protesters' marching permit expired at 5 pm, but many continued to march. A large group sat down in the middle of John Ireland Boulevard directly in front of the police line that had formed to close off the bridge and access to downtown St. Paul.
     
  
Police clash with protesters the morning of Monday September 1, 2008 during day one of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. Fewer than the expected 50,000 protesters showed up for the first day of the convention, and over 200 people were detained following Monday's events.
   
Protesters help a pepper sprayed friend toward help following a run-in with the St. Paul police during the first day of the Republican National Convention Monday September 1, 2008 in St. Paul, MN.
   
Freelance photographer David Banks, of Atlanta, is interviewed by members of the media while being treated for pepper spray while covering a march by an anarchist group on Monday September 1, 2008, the first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN.
     
  
   
Toby Blome, 53, of San Francisco, member of Code Pink, a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement, looks out the back of a Ramsey County Sheriff's Department vehicle after being arrested the afternoon of Wednesday September 3, 2008 in downtown St. Paul. She was one of three code pink women arrested at that time for disorderly conduct and trespassing after they ducked under barricades established by law enforcement.
   
Daniel Koecher, owner of Grandma's Attic antique store on West 7th Street in downtown St. Paul, MN, looks out towards the store entrance while waiting for customers Tuesday afternoon on the second day of the Republican National Convention. Koecher was disappointed in the amount of business the store was receiving during the convention. "It's been sickeningly slow. We we're preparing for a big storm and we didn't get it," said Koecher. "I think a lot of store owners are very upset. We'd sell more if this wasn't going on. We're losing money," he added, saying that the store is making about of quarter of its regular daily revenue.
     
  
Helicopters patrol the grounds near the State Capitol building in St. Paul, MN during a march that began following a concert and an appearance by members of the band Rage Against The Machine during the second day of the Republican National Convention Tuesday September 2, 2008.
   
Police and marchers stand off at the intersection of Main Street and Smith Avenue in St. Paul, MN the evening of Tuesday September 2, 2008 following a peaceful demonstration on the second day of the Republican National Convention.
   
Protesters gather at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 7th Street West following a peaceful march from the State Capitol building the evening of Tuesday September 2, 2008 during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. Police ended up using concussion grenades and chemical agents to disperse the crowd.
     
  
People at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 7th Street West run from the smoke grenades and tear gas used by the police to disperse the crowd following a peaceful march that was later designated an unlawful assembly on the second night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN.
   
People at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 7th Street West run from the smoke grenades and tear gas used by the police to disperse the crowd following a peaceful march that was later designated an unlawful assembly on Tuesday September 2, 2008, the second night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN.
   
A protester yells at the police as she walks up and down the line formed in front of the portable toilets at the State Capitol building on Thursday September 4, 2008, the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.
     
  
Republican presidential candidate John McCain speaks to the crowd during his speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, MN.
   
From left, Dean Mahlstedt, Representative Tom Emmer, Representative Kurt Zellers, Steve Hackbarth and Drew Emmer, all of Minnesota, watch as John McCain joins Sara Palin on stage Wednesday evening following Palin's speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. "That was a home run," said Drew Emmer, about Palin's speech. "We're a pretty conservative bunch, and it's pretty inspiring to have a person like that on the ticket," he added.
   
A convention-goer tries to make a phone call in a hallway of the Excel Energy Center during the third day of the Republican National Convention Wednesday September 3, 2008 in St. Paul, MN.
     
  
Bill Yalen, an alternate delegate from Connecticut, and volunteer co-chair for the 2nd Congressional District in Connecticut, poses at the podium on the main stage during cleanup on the last night of the Republican National Convention Thursday September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, MN. "I imitate him out of love because I know exactly why he does that," said Yalen, about imitating McCain.
   
  
Tamara Young, an alternate delegate from Jacksonville, Fl, uses her high heels to pop the balloons that fell from the ceiling of the Excel Energy Center following republican presidential candidate John McCain's speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday September 4, 2008, in St. Paul, MN