american civil liberties union thursday accuse city cleveland take long issue permit protesters plan demonstrations republican national convention july threaten sue city delay delay city effectively block group exercise fundamental right political expression christine link executive director aclu ohio say statement cleveland use security plan mask suppress political speech thousands demonstrators expect converge outside convention july 18 21 presumptive republican presidential nominee donald trump likely receive party nomination nov. general election raucous protest candidate erupt trump events primary campaign large group require parade permit cleveland demonstrations would obstruct traffic occur special events city spokesman dan williams say permit would issue time convention decline say date consider appropriate say unaware permit issue far normal permit process could expect convention normal williams say city philadelphia host democratic convention week late already begin issue permit cleveland tell protesters wait two weeks convention aclu say undue delay may infringe protesters right free speech aclu say suggest deadline june 1. cleveland delay long aclu would file lawsuit federal court ask expedite hear link say telephone interview protesters need adequate time make travel arrangements rent need materials portable toilets sound stage equipment link say aclu write behalf citizens trump apply permit one month ago liberal activist group organize ohio wait two months permit citizens trump anticipate 104 cars truck 100 motorcycle four horse least 5,000 people participate event organize ohio expect 3,000 5,000 marchers aclu say another attorney represent individual john penley say city yet even respond request permit application aclu say aclu threaten cleveland delay convention protest permit