St. Paul to restrict GOP convention protesters to 1 route

ST. PAUL (AP) - The city of St. Paul plans to restrict demonstrators to one marching route during the Republican National Convention in September.

Masses of protesters also will be confined to one set area.

Police say protesters won't be able to interact with delegates as they enter the convention site at the Xcel Energy Center. But Assistant Police Chief Matt Bostrom says protesters will be close enough that people near the doors will be able to hear them.

Bostrom says neither the marching route nor the stationary area has been set. The city is studying four possible march routes for the first day of the convention. A decision is expected by May 31.

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected during the GOP convention, which runs Sept. 1-4.