Police swarm RNC site as protesters clash with Trump supporters

Jokpeme Joseph Omode July 19, 2016
California Highway Patrol officers confront protesters during demonstrations near the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, July 19, 2016. (Reuters)
Hundreds of police swarmed the site of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland where protesters clashed with supporters of Donald Trump who was officially announced as the Republican nominee for US president.
A scuffle erupted at Public Square on Tuesday afternoon as protesters opposed to Trump and his supporters engaged in a shouting match against each others.
Cleveland police intervened to break apart the groups, and then reinforcements, including officers with tear gas, descended on the square.
Female activists raise a banner from the flagpoles outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Reuters)
Three women were arrested after climbing a flagpole near the convention center and hanging a banner protesting Trump. “Don’t Trump our communities,” read the banner.
“They actually climbed the flagpole and hung a banner and our officers responded and made the arrests,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams told reporters. “They were arrested for criminal mischief.”
An attendee is escorted out by police after shouting in protest on the second day of the GOP convention. (AFP)
Police also chased a small group of young people, some wearing masks, in the streets around the square.
“We are still making sure that we don’t let our guard down,” Williams said. “There is no need to do anything unless there is violence perpetrated against somebody.”
The convention which began on Monday and runs through Thursday has been the scene of largely peaceful protests so far.
Trump, who has vanquished 16 rivals since he announced his candidacy last June, will formally accept the GOP nomination during a speech at the convention on Thursday.
The real estate tycoon will now have to face his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, to win the white House in a national vote in November.
“It is something I'll never ever forget," Trump said Tuesday night. “Together we have achieved historic results with the largest vote total in the history of the Republican Party. This is a movement, but we have to go all the way.”
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Jokpeme Joseph Omode

Posted by: Jokpeme Joseph Omode

Jokpeme Joseph Omode stands as a prominent figure in contemporary journalism, embodying the spirit of a multifaceted storyteller who bridges history, poetry, and investigative reporting to champion social progress. As the Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Alexa News Network (Alexa.ng), Omode has transformed a digital platform into a vital voice for governance, education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in Africa. His career, marked by over a decade of experience across media, public relations, brand strategy, and content creation, reflects a relentless commitment to using journalism as a tool for accountability and societal advancement.

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