Security concerns in Cleveland
CLEVELAND — Two days out from the official start of the Republican National Convention, security in downtown Cleveland appeared ready Saturday with heavy metal barriers blocking streets.
Vehicle and pedestrian traffic began to thicken Saturday afternoon along one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Children splashed happily in water jets at the refurbished Public Square nearby, which officials view as the city’s commons.
Traversing downtown became a challenge with barricades staffed by Ohio National Guard members blocking or restricting traffic on streets surrounding police headquarters and the Cleveland Convention Center, where many of the 15,000 credentialed media in town will work.
A hardened security perimeter under control of the U.S. Secret Service around the convention venue, Quicken Loans Arena, also was in place.
Cleveland’s mayor and police chief have repeatedly said the city is prepared for all kinds of situations, but as other cities in the U.S. and abroad have experienced in recent days and weeks, it’s impossible to foresee everything.
On Friday, a U.S. Secret Service official said security planning for the Republican and Democratic national conventions took into account large-scale threats similar to last week’s deadly truck attack in France.
“There is nothing we leave to chance,” said James Henry, the agency’s special agent in charge in Philadelphia, where Democrats will gather later this month.
Ricky Stokes, a Cleveland resident, said he’s comfortable with security and that the city’s been transparent with its preparations by providing town hall briefings on what to expect.
Ohio resident Virnette House said she also feels safe but added the events in France have led to heightened awareness.