"I've been to seven conventions and I've seen it all," Barr said.

And although the R2K network, the protesters' organizing body, had issued a statement saying that Tuesday "was a day to turn the tables on them and to disrupt the delegates' lives," Barr stood calmly a few feet from the masked woman.

He surveyed the group.

"A spoiled brat will only go so far. It makes good entertainment for the conventioneers," Barr said.

At that moment, two more rows of police followed by dozens of vans and patrol cars appeared at the other end of the street, boxing the demonstration between the buildings. A yellow school bus pulled up behind the police batallions who had arrived first, and a plainclothes officer told the sitting demonstrators they would be arrested in five minutes.

The protesters got up and slinked away quickly between a photographer and a traffic signal, moving down 13th Street.

One of the demonstration drummers, who gave his name as Drum, was left among a crowd of press, police and businesspeople.