Weather cited as reason for RNC protest wash-out

At least one Occupy protestor has cited the inclement weather in Tampa as the reason for a relatively light turnout of protesters at the Republican National Convention.

https://twitter.com/drewharwell/status/240572813461839872

Other reports from local media echo the idea that the streets of Tampa are relatively quiet compared to the raucous protests that dogged the GOP’s conventions in New York (2004) and St. Paul, Minn. (2008).

Per Tampa Police Department, two RNC-related arrests so far. Contrasts to hundreds in St. Paul in first two days.

— Naureen Khan (@naureeninnyc) August 28, 2012

Things are so quiet in the city that Tampa police have cancelled the scheduled 4pm daily update. #RNC2012

— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) August 28, 2012

Protest march downtown Tampa #RNC2012 pic: pic.twitter.com/AF4aiUcT

— Jeremy Campbell (@JeremyWBIR) August 28, 2012

Photos posted by media outlets and by protesters themselves reinforce news reports that police outnumber protesters by a four-to-one ratio.

Lovin the clown bloc #owsRNC #ResistRNC #OccupyRNC pic.twitter.com/L5vtY33J

— DarkHeartNews (@heatherb102) August 28, 2012

#OccupyRNC sure is flouting the establishment rules by parading timidly through the preset course set by the establishment. rules. #ows

— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) August 28, 2012

https://twitter.com/nbaynews/status/240593712105795586

https://twitter.com/drewharwell/status/240588946717958144