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ACLU criticizing Cleveland's RNC plans

Posted at 4:37 PM, Jun 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-07 16:37:45-04

With the RNC less than two months away, tension continues to build between the city of Cleveland and the ACLU. Their debate over how the city will handle the event heated up Tuesday

The city outlined protest and demonstrator regulations in a meeting last month, where they designated a route for groups who want to demonstrate and march.

But several protest groups have a problem with the plan. The ACLU understands their concerns. 

ACLU attorney, Elizabeth Bonham said they're fighting for them.

"It's very hard for many people to have a vantage point to their audience, the delegates of the convention," Bonham said. 

A demonstrator's right to be heard is not the ACLU's only concern. A panel, that included the Ohio Chapter of the NLG and the Cleveland Chapter of the NAACP, expressed other concerns, including prohibited convention materials and basic security outlines- like, what is an arrest-able offense at the RNC.

What most of the criticism boils down to? A lack of transparency on behalf of the city. 

Bonham told NewsChannel it's late in the game to have this many unanswered questions. 

"We need to know where the hard security perimeter will be, when dispositions of permits will be, we need more information and we need it yesterday, she said. 

NewsChannel 5 reached out to the city of Cleveland for a comment on these criticisms and did not heard back in time for publication.