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Cleveland FBI 'door knock' protesters expected at RNC

Posted at 5:19 PM, Jun 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-24 18:17:32-04

Known protesters are calling out the FBI; they say the agency is coming to their homes to intimidate them with less than a month to go until the RNC.

The FBI, Secret Service, and Cleveland police said they're trying to prepare for the RNC.
 
Dionne Hudson told NewsChannel 5 she is not ok with their preparation methods. 
 
"It's intimidating. I felt like why are they doing this," Miller said.
 
Agents and officers are visiting the homes of people who've protested in the past. Hudson said two agents were on her doorstep Tuesday looking for her 20-year-old  daughter.
 
Hudson said they were asking multiple questions.
 
"Where can we find her at? They asked things of that nature. What's her phone number. It was like they were hunting her down," Hudson said.
 
Hudson's daughter was arrested for protesting during last year's trial for Michael Brelo, the Cleveland officer was found not guilty in the deaths of two people. Her case was later thrown out. 
 
Hudson said her daughter has no criminal record and has no plans to protest the Republican Nation Convention. 
 
"She has no plans on protesting and has not protested since that day. But if she did, what's the problem, isn't that one of our basic constitutional rights?"
 
NewsChannel 5 took Hudson's concerns to the FBI and Cleveland police- they would not go on camera, but sent a statement;
 
"Law enforcement is reaching out to individuals known in the community who may have information that could help to ensure a safe and secure environment during the RNC," an FBI Special Agent shared.
 
Cleveland's NAACP President, Michael Nelson said he statement isn't good enough. He called the door knocks intimidation. 
 
"It's a constitutional right to assemble and that should no be chilled by what FBI and law enforcement is engaging in," Nelson said.
 
Nelson requested a meeting with FBI, Police, and Secret Service in hopes of changing the way the agencies 'reach out' in the future.
 
"They need to cease and desist from intimidating innocent young people and go and get involved in the serious issue of security," he said.
 
It's not the first time law enforcement  reached out to protesters before a political convention. Police infiltrated groups with known plans to protest in 2008 and 2012. 
 
Michael Nelson said he's still waiting on a response to his request for a meeting with the FBI and Cleveland police.