Cleveland, a City in the Crosshairs (Updated July 4, 2016) | Oath Keepers


In three weeks, the city founded by the General of the Connecticut Militia will be the host of the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC). As I previously reported in the article titled “Protests and Preparations”, thousands of Black Lives Matter, Revolutionary Communist Party, Workers World Party and La Raza protestors intend to Shut Down the Quicken Loans Arena and interdict (and prevent if they can) the nomination of Mr. Donald Trump as the Republican Party Presidential Nominee.  Convention activities are scheduled not only at the main Quicken Loans Arena, but also in over 40 separate meeting facilities, restaurants and private clubs in the downtown Cleveland area.
The RNC has been designated as a National Special Security Event (NSSE). Many previous NSSEs have turned the host city into a police state for the duration of the event. Police officers in riot gear will be highly visible in the vicinity of the convention arena, snipers will be stationed on rooftops, helicopters will be assigned to patrol the area, and barriers will line the security perimeter. Police will conduct bag searches on public transportation leading to the downtown area and stop/search anyone approaching the Quicken Loans Arena.

The City of Cleveland had originally planned to field 4,000 uniformed officers with the assistance of Cincinnati, Denver, Greensboro and many other cities.  This force has now dwindled to less than 1,000 with most of the major supporting cities pulling out. In their original plan, the city anticipated marches and protests of up to 20,000 people. As of today, the city is anticipating greater than 100,000 anti-Trump protesters with upwards of 10,000 being bused in from Chicago.


As of June 29th, only two march/rally permit applications had been denied:
  1. Citizens for Trump (pro-Trump)
  2. Organize! Ohio
Currently, 23 march/rally permit applications have been approved:
  1. America First Unity Rally (pro-Trump)
  2. Black on Black
  3. Bring Back Ohio
  4. Cleveland Baptist Church
  5. Cleveland Peace Action
  6. Code Pink Women for Peace
  7. Food Not Bombs (out of state group)
  8. Food Not Bombs – Lake County/East Side Cleveland
  9. Gaye Lub
  10. Greater CLE Immigration Network
  11. Imperial Women Coalition
  12. S. Longwell
  13. LVW Greater Cleveland
  14. NE Ohio American Friends Service Committee
  15. PAMI: Curious End to War Against Ourselves
  16. Peoples Fight Back Center
  17. Pierre Nappier
  18. Revolution Books (RevCom.US)
  19. Salam I Come in Peace
  20. Scott Roger Hurley
  21. Stand Together Against Trump
  22. Stop Trump
  23. Westboro Baptist Church

It is crystal clear from the lists above, that the vast number of “approved” protestors are severely anti-Trump. In my earlier article, I discussed preparations and a list of restricted items that the city council had passed to improve the safety and security for RNC participants. As of yesterday and at the order of a Judge, Cleveland has issued new rules for the protests and demonstrations during the RNC:
  • The restricted/prohibited items zone has been reduced to the area immediately surrounding the Quicken Loans Arena (vice the entire downtown area as originally planned).
  • Protest marches will travel a new route that passes much closer to the Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field, the baseball stadium where some convention events will be held.
  • On the first day of the convention, marches are limited to beginning between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., ending no later than 5 p.m. On the final three days of the convention marches may begin at 8:30 a.m. and must end by 2:30 p.m.
  • Cleveland residents inside the security zone are exempt from possessing items on the restricted items list. Homeless people will now also be considered “residents,” exempting them from the restrictions.
  • There will be no segregation of pro/anti-Trump rallies/protests.
  • Speaker podium time at the official protest area has been extended.
  • The City has purchased a $50M insurance policy to cover damages and claims resulting from protests/riots.
There are now dozens, if not hundreds of Facebook pages and websites offering protest training, legal and transportation assistance to RNC protest participants. Classes are scheduled by Black Lives Matter, The Revolutionary Communist Party, the Workers World Party, Black Bloc and many other organizations on everything from how to get arrested without being hurt, posting bail, to training on how to perform emergency medical procedures.

If you are interested in learning more about the plans, preparations and objectives of the groups interested in shutting down the RNC, please see the following articles:

Black Bloc – It’s Going Down – WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE RNC:
http://ift.tt/1UEkSWP
Revolutionary Communist Party – A Call to Take the Revolution to the Political Conventions:
http://ift.tt/29BttvC
Workers World Party – Shut Down the RNC/DNC:
http://ift.tt/29I4tpn
Dozens of Leftist Groups Plan RNC Protest Coalition:http://ift.tt/28Xt9Xg
Unicorn Riot – RNC Preparations from the Protester Perspective:
http://ift.tt/28LR0Nq





[Look for the punchline...Bolded for convenience]

“Americans across our county are feeling a sense of helplessness, of uncertainty and of fear,” Lynch said. “And these feelings are understandable, and they are justified. But the answer must not be violence. The answer is never violence.”
The answer, Lynch maintained, is action — “calm, peaceful, collaborative and determined action,” she said. “We must continue working to build trust between communities and law enforcement. We must continue working to guarantee every person in this country equal justice under the law. And we must take a hard look at the ease with which wrongdoers can get their hands on deadly weapons and the frequency with which they use them.”