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Cleveland police chief uses social media to keep peace during RNC

Periscope video urges unity
Posted at 10:08 PM, Jul 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-18 22:08:42-04

Cleveland's Chief of Police is turning to social media to spread a message of calm and unity to avert violence among RNC protestors.

Chief Calvin Williams appeared Monday in a "Periscope" video along side a resident he described as "a young African American male" whose message was tweeted out by the Cleveland Police Department.

Periscope is one of the fastest growing mobile apps that has 2 million users every day.

In the video, Chief Williams described Cedric D. White, Jr. as "good friend" who he had met about a year ago and added "he's a brother and he likes to make sure people hear the truth."

White's message acknowledged "a lot going out throughout the country" but "here in Cleveland Ohio--we're not going to tolerate racism of any kind from no one."

The department's chief spokesperson said it was part of a communication strategy to "get out " and "see what the officers are doing, what's going on in the community--talk to the police, tell us what's going on."

Chief Williams praised White as a voice that's "saying on both sides--we need to sit down and talk and stop the violence and really get some positive change going."