CLEVELAND — Mayor Frank G. Jackson held a press conference regarding Tuesday's protests in Cleveland during the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
The demonstrations took place at Wade Oval on the city's east side just minutes away from the Cleveland Clinic's Samson Pavilion, where Trump and Biden were facing off. Although there were four arrests, the vast majority of the hundreds of people gathered expressed their views peacefully.
"Our goal was to ensure a successful debate in terms of what happened external to the debate venue itself," Jackson said.
The mayor had requested assistance from the Ohio National Guard in preparation for the debate, fearing a repeat of the riots that took place on May 30 downtown. Gov. Mike DeWine granted the mayor's request, and the violence seen four months ago was nonexistent on Tuesday.
"The eyes of the country and around the world were on the city of Cleveland, and the men and women of our public safety forces stood by and...represented the city very well," Public Safety Director Karrie Howard said, also complimenting those who demonstrated for exercising their First Amendment rights in a peaceful manner. "Cleveland served as a model yesterday, and again, all eyes being on us, Cleveland shined."
Of the four people arrested, one was taken into custody for driving with a suspended license, while two others were accused of trespassing inside the debate zone or failing to comply with officers' orders. In addition, an 18-year-old woman allegedly tried to steal one officer's equipment.
Police Chief Calvin D. Williams said more than 700 of both his department as well as surrounding communities were on-duty for the event, along with around 300 National Guardsmen. He also addressed an incident that saw a Shaker Heights officer make an obscene gesture towards one of the protesters, saying his individual commander took him off the detail.
"That's the way we expect our partners to operate in the city of Cleveland," Williams said. "That Shaker Heights commander did exactly what he was supposed to do."
You can watch the full briefing again in the player below:
