After the recent acts of violence targeting law enforcement this month, it’s no surprise the largest demographic at the Republican National Convention this year is blue.
The Cleveland police union, in the wake of the tragic murders of three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, requested patrolling officers be allowed to work in groups, particularly when venturing outside the downtown security zones. That appears to be exactly what happened—except the groups are a little larger than one might have expected.
More than 500 Cleveland police officers are guarding the downtown area, which has been divided in quarters by patrols. Thousands of outside officers have also been deployed, though their supervisors report directly to Cleveland P.D. “We want to put the agencies that are assisting us in the least amount of vulnerability as possible, as far as arrests,” Cleveland’s police chief, Calvin Williams, told reporters last week.
There have been few arrests, however. Police nabbed three perpetrators early Tuesday morning after a group of climbers hung a banner outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The display was meant to oppose fracking and to support immigrant rights. The banner, which was promptly removed by the Cleveland Fire Department, reportedly read: “Don’t Trump Our Communities.”
Activists arrested Tuesday during banner protest near the Republican National Convention.
Williams sounded pretty satisfied Tuesday morning, noting only five arrests had been necessary thus far. Arrest No. 1 took place on Monday after an event-goer allegedly tried to steal a police officer’s gas mask. A second person was arrested for an outstanding warrant near Speaker’s Corner.
“All in all, not a bad day,” said Williams. “Lots of things going on, lots of moving parts.”
But as for why things have remained so calm, well, it appears there is little choice. The police in downtown Cleveland—many of them appearing almost sci-fi in their blacked-out mountain biking gear—outnumber any other group, including journalists, of which there are reportedly 15,000 in the area. By sheer force of numbers, the cops are keeping things on an even keel.
Cornel West is speaking at the #RNCinCLE protests, but police blocked me from trying to move closer to hear him pic.twitter.com/vLQQ9aFnTV
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) July 19, 2016
So. Many. Cops.
https://twitter.com/michaelhayes/status/755502909845016576
https://twitter.com/timothy_stanley/status/755478019410694145
So. Many. Bike cops. These men and women are helping to protect demonstrations around #Cleveland all week. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/YHx4xCmWBu
— John Bedell (@JBedellWHIO) July 19, 2016
Tons of cops, and they are swarming.
Tons of cops swarming demonstration in Public Square #gopconvention – outnumber protesters 3:1 at least pic.twitter.com/1L9w72XAuC
— Joe Garofoli (@joegarofoli) July 19, 2016
Tons of cops on Euclid, overheard one saying they were looking for a “couple anarchists” #RNCinCLE
— Kyle Swenson (@kyletalking) July 19, 2016
Saw my first swarm of 50 heavily padded cops on black bikes. Shades of 2000 DNC in L.A. #RNCinCLE
— Matt Welch (@MattWelch) July 17, 2016
Slate is reporting there is an armed Muslim in #publicsquare and cops are everywhere! pic.twitter.com/ZvHqPYb1X2
— Gunnar Thorderson (@Gunnar_Thor) July 19, 2016
One thing is for sure, they outnumber protesters wherever they go:
Trying to get to #RNCinCLE opening night party with the Doobie Brothers. Police outnumber pockets of protesters. pic.twitter.com/bySajNNruv
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) July 17, 2016
Cleveland police on bicycles outnumber demonstrators here. pic.twitter.com/XVWXr2c3Fg
— Nick Castele (@NickCastele) July 15, 2016
And it’s kind of hard to kick off an angry protest with all these cops around.
https://twitter.com/CandiceBernd/status/755509094237233158
https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/755502775124000769
The RNC will kick off its second night of prime-time TV coverage, hoping to reboot what was by and large a disastrous opening day. Tuesday night’s theme is “Make America Work Again.” Headliners include Donald Trump, Jr., Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, former Trump campaign rival Ben Carson, and American actress Kimberlin Brown.
