Despite continual protests that began days before the Republican National Convention even opened its doors to delegates, Cleveland police have been on high alert. As of Tuesday, only a handful of arrests had been reported, although that number jumped by five or so Wednesday afternoon (update: make that 17) as agitators went through with their planned protest, which included a flag burning at the edge of the designated security zone.
.@CLEpolice says 2 officers assaulted during protests. Minor injuries. #RNCinCLE
— Samah Assad (@SAssadNews) July 20, 2016
5 people arrested, 2 officers injured during flag burning demonstration at E. 4th and Prospect.
— Jonathan Walsh (@JonathanWalshTV) July 20, 2016
Police officers arrest protesters from the Revolutionary Communist Party as they try to burn a flag. ?? #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/GGimuzX6he
— Marcus Yam 火 (@yamphoto) July 20, 2016
Firefighters just entered the crowd here at the flag burning protest. pic.twitter.com/Ni8h5cddll
— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) July 20, 2016
Some media outlets, including Newsweek, ran with reports that demonstrators were doused with pepper spray.
https://twitter.com/Newsweek/status/755877218304167936
Um, we don’t seem to be the only ones who see an officer with a small fire extinguisher putting out the burning flag. The City of Cleveland reports that police have not deployed pepper spray.
No pepper spray was used. A fire extinguisher was used. #RNCinCLE Follow @CLEpolice for confirmed, real time updates.
— City of Cleveland (@CityofCleveland) July 20, 2016
Firefighters extinguished and took the flag that protesters attempted to destroy pic.twitter.com/8y63HApqnP
— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) July 20, 2016
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Now that that’s cleared up and we’ve been assured the protesters were not pepper sprayed (or shot with foam ear plugs) … are the police who were assaulted OK?
Update:
Newsweek has deleted its original tweet, but here’s a screenshot.
Unfortunately, the correction still gets it wrong.
Correction: Cops sprayed protesters attempting to burn a U.S. flag outside the #RNCinCLE https://t.co/P9z32FXffM pic.twitter.com/ANdw4SFFLx
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 20, 2016
The L.A. Times might need to take another look as well.
Flag was set on fire. Cops used pepper spray to break it up. Melee erupted #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/K6MGSjKI7L
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) July 20, 2016
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