With 69 Delegates, 66 Alternate Delegates, and many staff members all present at the convention, the Illinois Republican Delegation is bound to contain many differing views on proceedings here. Since almost all delegates in Illinois are bound to vote the way people in their Congressional districts voted, these differences are set in stone. This morning, we visited the hotel where the delegation was staying and asked many of them their views on one of the most contentious moments of the convention so far: Ted Cruz’s speech.

Continue reading Illinois Delegation Views on Cruz’s Speech

“Why do those guys have guns?  Are they cops?”  This has been an often asked question around Public Square and other places throughout Cleveland this week.  One of the most contentious issues surrounding the outside of the Convention has been whether people would be allowed to open carry in the city during the event.

Continue reading Open Carry Controversy Continues in Cleveland

As excitement grew on Day 3, so did the tension.

Continue reading Day 3 Summary

At Wednesday’s Republican National Convention, speeches didn’t begin until the evening. The day before, the main events began at 5:30 PM, but the Wednesday schedule didn’t commence until 7:20 PM. Because of the late starting time, few people appeared in the arena until well after 4:00. Regardless, I tried to find members of the Illinois delegation inside the arena.

There’s very little about the international press center in Cleveland that’s convenient or inviting. It’s located in a convention facility that’s 12 long blocks from the Quicken Loans arena where sessions of the Republican National Convention sessions are held. A shuttle ride between the two locations can take as long as a half hour when there is heavy traffic and when wayward protest marches stray off their approved routes. Which is often.

One of the traditions at the Republican National Convention is the roll call, in which the delegates from each state and territory announce their votes for president. Yesterday, the delegates were bound to vote as their constituents voted, leading Donald Trump to be officially nominated by the Republican Party. One of the delegates is elected to speak for the others from their state. The process takes a while, not only because there are 56 states and territories, but also because each state takes time to brag about its accomplishments, natural beauty, and/or conservative credentials.

The second day of the Republican National Convention was just as exciting as the first. Protests on Tuesday were centered in Public Square with a variety of groups demonstrating. The majority of the organizations that were protesting were speaking up against Trump, but many also spoke out against police brutality. A Black Lives Matter related organization began an impromptu march through the streets, causing road closures and blockages. The law enforcement officers in the area were very professional and kept everyone safe. The Westboro Baptist Church showed up in the afternoon to demonstrate, but were generally ignored by the public and quickly spoofed by a counter-protest group holding signs that satirized the infamous organization. However, not all of the demonstrations were peaceful. In the mid-morning hours, controversial radio host Alex Jones was punched by an unknown individual while walking through the plaza.