Rumors of imminent violence at the Republican National Convention may be exaggerated as state delegations received “nothing to worry about” security updates Monday morning.
“The police say they’ve got everything on lockdown and there’s nothing to worry about,” said Robert Rabon, a Republican delegate from Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“I mean look at them,” Rabon said nodding to a pack of roaming officers stationed on every other street corner downtown.
Ohio delegates who attended a closed-door security update were given the “standard stuff about awareness,” one delegate who attended the private meeting said.
At a similar Monday morning breakfast for the Illinois delegation, the state’s Donald Trump campaign co-chair John Cabello told delegates to stay on alert and report any suspicious behavior.
“Pay attention,” the Rockford, Ill., police detective told the Chicago Sun Times. “If you see something, report it right away.”
The gavel drops on the first day of the nominating process Monday afternoon, a little more than 24 hours after three police officers were shot and killed in the second attack by a black veteran. The shootings follow the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police in Louisiana and Minnesota in the past week.
The incidents have put police, who number in the thousands this week in Cleveland, on edge.
In planning for the political event, Cleveland police set up a tip line (800-225-5324) for anyone who wishes to report suspicious activity.
Beacon Journal reporter Doug Livingston will be in Cleveland with the convention through the acceptance speech. He can be emailed at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com