Cleveland police anticipate 'days' of protests after Republican convention


Republicans are busy packing their bags for Cleveland, where the national convention is set to take place from Monday, July 18 through Thursday, July 21. But also setting their GPS devices to point them toward the Buckeye State will be protesters — and lots of them.
Everyone from the Westboro Baptist Church to the Bikers for Trump to the Coalition to Stop Trump is slated to make an appearance, and in anticipation, police are bracing for days of protests, USA Today reports. Authorities have been preparing for possibly violent clashes for months, as dozens of groups have signed up for permits for marches, demonstrations, and speaking events.
"We do intend to show a force. We don't want these out-of-towners coming to our city and causing trouble. We have to stand up and defend our city," Bikers for Trump organizer Bill Daher told USA Today. Meanwhile, the organizers for the Westboro Baptist Church released a statement reflecting an entirely different set of priorities: "The 'Christians' and 'conservatives' that will flock to Cleveland are full of idolatry, adultery, fornication, and sodomy … No one gives a single thought to his or her duty to submit to, fear, and obey God." The Coalition to Stop Trump predicted a peaceful event, however, and said, "We're just asking that the Trump people be aware of who we are and when we're going to march, so they can choose to keep a distance. And we're asking the police to respect our right to express our opposition to hate and intolerance."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Code Pink, Cleveland Peace Action, and other groups will also be attending the convention in Cleveland. Some of their protests and speeches are listed here.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashion
In the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing
-
Crossword: September 13, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Sudoku medium: September 13, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants