A Lens on the GOP Convention: Protests, Police and Politics on Day 2 (Multimedia)
Protesters and activists took to the streets in Cleveland on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention, and the tenor was much different than on Day 1.
Protesters clash over the American flag in Cleveland's Public Square on the second day of the Republican convention. (John Minchillo / AP)
Photo Essay
A Lens on the GOP Convention: Protests, Police and Politics on Day 2
Editor’s note: Photojournalist Michael Nigro is in Cleveland to provide Truthdig with photos and videos of noteworthy moments from outside the 2016 GOP convention, where protesters and activists have gathered to express their views. Be sure to tune in to Truthdig daily this week to see Nigro’s dispatches.
CLEVELAND—The “presumptive” label no longer applies to Donald J. Trump. The property mogul turned reality star is now officially the Republican nominee for president. But while the dog-and-(ahem)-elephant show pranced and preened inside Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, the tenor around the convention grounds, which were far more crowded than on Day 1, changed rather dramatically.
By noon, the veneer of calm revealed itself as a facade, and the omnipresent, overheard phrase of people telling each other to “be safe” was far more earnest.
As of 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, there were no reported arrests, but the various acts of civil disobedience and performative actions, from both protesters and counterprotesters, were schismatic, vitriolic and aggressive when compared to Day 1’s passive and parade-like feel.
Law enforcement tactics turned into more combative posturing. Bikes were picked up and used as instruments of crowd control, riot units arrowed into the fray, and mounted units clopped around the perimeter of Cleveland’s Public Square. All the while, open carry gun owners holding AR-15s stood menacingly at the ready.
Welcome to Day 2.
Click to watch the or check out video coverage from Day 2 of the RNC below.
Michael Nigro’s multimedia coverage for Truthdig of Day 3 of the Republican National Convention continues here. He also will be streaming live on his Facebook page during Day 3 of the Republican National Convention. Check out his videos below, and also look back at Nigro’s photo coverage of Day 1 here. You can also follow Truthdig’s live blog coverage of the convention here.
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