The Republican National Convention will take place in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1 to 4 September 2008. The convention will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the convention as a National Security Special Event, which heightens the security measures that will be in place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will restrict airspace over the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. More than 3,500 state and local police officers and 2,100 National Guard troops will be deployed. Authorities will maintain a robust security presence around the Xcel Center. Authorities will close two interstate ramps in downtown St. Paul beginning at 1800 local time on 29 August 2008.

City officials expect more than 50,000 protesters to converge on the city. The RNC Welcoming Committee, an anarchist group, has threatened to “blockade” downtown St. Paul and disrupt transportation on bridges. Anti-war activist groups plan to march from the Capitol building in St. Paul to the Xcel Center beginning at 1100 local time on 1 September.