Two officers were assaulted and suffered minor injuries, police said. “Stay on the sidewalk”, Lt. Michael Butler said as the demonstrators made their way. One officer was seen bleeding from his elbow.
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Protests outside the Republican National Convention have been peaceful, but police have received at least a dozen calls so far related to concerns about the small groups of black-clad anarchists who often don masks during demonstrations and other protests.
Police issued a dispersal order for everyone, including reporters Wednesday in the area around Quicken Loans Arena. Officials and security personnel from as many as 37 different organisations and several states have been keeping a close eye on all protestors for the past few days.
Pushing and shoving broke out, and police quickly had several group members on the ground in handcuffs.
The flag-burning was organized by the Revolutionary Communist Party.
Police say a large white van that appeared to be turning out of a downtown hotel struck the motorcycle, leaving it on its side about 20 feet away.
Police later told convention delegates to line up in the middle of the street and ordered bystanders to leave.
At a news conference yesterday morning, Police Chief Calvin D. Williams said that Cleveland’s police would not impede the Second Amendment rights of the protesters, but neither would they be allowed to menace anyone with those weapons-or be perceived as being menacing. Minutes before the protest, a religious group that had been spotted around Cleveland earlier in the week said it could burn a gay pride flag instead of the American flag.
Police used their horses to create a path to a van for people being detained.
Pundits predicted “violence and mayhem” for this week’s Republican National Convention.
Two women kissed in front of a group saying gay people were going to hell.
The president of one of Cleveland’s police unions asked Ohio Gov. John Kasich to suspend the law that allows legal gun owners to carry firearms openly.
Cleveland Police Chief, Calvin Williams, left, listens to protesters, Tuesday, July 19, 2016, in Cleveland on during the second day of the Republican convention.
There were no signs of trouble through mid-afternoon, unlike Tuesday, when skirmishes broke out among demonstrators and police used their bicycles to keep them apart. “I do not feel safe under him”, said Kareem, who said he has travelled from New York City to register his protest against the newly-nominated Republican candidate.
The activities have resulted in only a handful of arrests, including three early Tuesday related to anti-fracking and immigration rights causes.
Chief Williams says, “We are prepared”.
Health officials say no additional people have shown norovirus symptoms after members of the support team for the California delegation to the Republican National Convention got sick.
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The health commissioner for Ohio’s Erie County said Wednesday that the 11 people who fell ill are recovering and taking precautions not to spread norovirus, or what’s commonly known as stomach flu. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
