Cleveland sets rules for Tuesday’s presidential debate

The city of Cleveland has set up an “event zone” for the upcoming presidential debate and banned a long list of items.

Cleveland also will receive support from the Ohio National Guard.

The first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will begin 9 p.m. Tuesday on the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic.

But city officials expect people to arrive a lot sooner than that.

A presidential debate event zone has been designated as East 79th Street to Stokes Boulevard and Hough to Cedar Avenue, surrounding the Cleveland Clinic main campus.

Mayor Frank Jackson reached out to Gov. Mike Dewine, who approved the deployment of the state’s National Guard to help ensure safety during the course of the debate.

The newly passed regulations will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday and end 6 a.m. Wednesday.

A long list of items are banned in the event zone, including in public places. Most of the banned items are things that could be used as weapons or items used to camp out or sleep on the streets.

Any lumber wider than 2 inches or thicker than a quarter-inch is banned, including supports for signs. Rules also are in place to ban pipes and tubing, or other material that could be used as a weapon.

Air rifles, air pistols, paintball guns, BB guns and other weapons are banned, as well as any knife or blade longer than 2½ inches.

Explosives, fireworks and any other dangerous ordnance also are prohibited.

Sound-amplification equipment, drones and other unmanned aircraft are banned. So are mace, pepper spray, umbrellas with metal tips, water guns, ropes, chains and locks.

Tents, mattresses and other items to camp out are not allowed.

For a full list of all banned items, visit bit.ly/308lmfx.

The city said law enforcement will work to ensure safety and security in and out of the event zone. Officials said they are there to support citizens’ First Amendment rights, but won’t tolerate violence or illegal activity.

Cleveland officials ask anyone who sees something to say something, and to report illegal and suspicious behavior to police. Information and crime tips can be provided to Crimestoppers by calling 216-25-CRIME.