Protesters are ready for a party ... the Republican Party

Ever since at least 1968 and the Democratic convention in Chicago, when the whole world watched riots in the streets and the disintegration of Hubert Humphrey's presidential aspirations, protesters have looked at party conventions as a chance to draw attention to their cause -- or no cause at all.

Tampa in 2012 will be no exception.

The Bradenton Herald's Nick Williams and Miriam Valverde report:

Labor unions, student groups, immigration rights organizations, equality supporters and possibly anarchists will converge on Tampa next week to publicly protest the Republican National Convention.

Groups from the Manatee and Sarasota area will also be present. Members of Occupy Bradenton, a grassroots organization that stands for equality and opposes corporate greed, will join an inclusive public protest event Monday, the Coalition to March on RNC.

The gathering is expected to draw thousands of people.

"They are way out of touch as far as their platform and out of touch with people's lives in the U.S.," Jaime Canfield, a member of Occupy Bradenton, said about the Republican Party.

The event will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. at Perry Harvey Senior Park in Tampa, and continue with a two-hour march through the streets of downtown Tampa from noon to 2 p.m.

"The goal is to support the coalition of people putting on the march," said Canfield.

A rally will begin at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Borein and Nebraska Avenue.

"We'll be gathering to demand better jobs, health care, affordable education, equality and peace against the RNC and their 1 percent agenda," said Jared Hamil, spokesman for the Coalition to March on RNC and member of Fight Back Florida.

Read more here.