GOP protestors say they're ready to mobilize for RNC

TAMPA - With protests, frightening images from conventions in the past and worried Tampa residents, 2012 Republican National Convention protest organizers took some time Wednesday to address fears.

"The only thing we absolutely have to worry about is what the police are going to do," said Corey Uhl, who spoke on behalf of the Students for Democratic Society. 

"Not," he continued, "what the protestors are going to do."

Standing before a media contingent that outnumbered them two-to-one, those seeking to coordinate more than 40 groups into the Coalition March on the RNC talked about their plans for this coming Monday.

"And on the 27th, the opening day of the convention, this park will be filled with people who say 'no,' who have said, 'they've had enough,'" said Mick Kelly, one of the driving forces behind the protest in Minnesota during the 2008 Republican Convention.

With varying degrees of specificity, representatives of some of the other protest groups took shots at the Republican Party and partiers, saying they'll have their own event here in the park. A party they believe will be of epic proportions.

"We're expecting about five thousand people from across the country and from across Florida to be here," said Tampa-based organizer Jared Hamil.

"We're here to demand good jobs, health care, affordable education equality and peace."

Of course, all of this outdoor activity will have something to do with the weather.  But to a person, the protestors told me that even if Isaac (as a Tropical Storm or Hurricane) comes, they're still going to show up, so that they can be heard.