RNC Protesters: Just 4 Percent Turnout For Monday Protest
TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) — Protesters at the Republican National Convention found a far lower turnout than they expected.
The protesters blamed Tropical Storm Isaac and a massive police presence.
Only about 200 protesters gathered for a Monday rally in a lot near the arena where Republicans will be nominating Mitt Romney as their candidate for president.
Instead of 200, organizers had expected 5,000. There was intermittent heavy rain and winds at 35 miles per hour.
Protester Mick Kelly said the weather had curtailed turnout but the organizing groups were going to carry on with a planned march later in the day. Cara Jennings said the massive police presence near the arena had scared away some demonstrators.
The 60 organizing groups included labor unions, Students for a Democratic Society, Veterans for Peace, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Occupy Wall Street and Code Pink.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
