Cleveland Seeks to Buy Large Amount of Riot Gear For Republican National ConventionBy Joseph Jankowski According to a report from Cleveland.com, the city seeks to obtain theElite Defender riot-control suitmanufactured by HWI Gear and a 26-inch baton manufactured by Monadnock, along with2,000 bags to carry them. Cleveland received $50 million as part of a federal appropriations bill back in December to offset the cost of security for the convention. The city is also seeking to buythree miles of interlocking steel barriers, each 3.5 feet high, and buy another 3,250 feet of interlocking barriers that each would be 6.5 feet tall for the RNC, according to Cleveland.com. The RNC has been designated as aNational Special Security Event; therefore, its hosts can receivefederal funding. Cleveland will plan the event security under the direction of the Secret Service. The same appropriations bill which granted Cleveland with security funds also handed the same amount to Philadelphia, who will host the Democratic National Convention from July 25-28. Its unsure whether or not the cities expect any violence to occur while the conventions are in town. One thing is certain, though, if security receivesthe equipment they are bidding for in Cleveland, they will be more then ready to handle a crowd. The ClevelandRNC, scheduled for the week of July 18, is expected to attract 50,000 visitors. The riot gear model is called Elite Defender? And the whack-a-noodle baton is made by Monadnock. Are you sure its not Gonadnock? Is this some kind of joke? I pray neither city needs it because our citizenry behaves. Considering BLM is wacko, is it any surprise they need to protect the actual participants of the convention? Must be ascaret of us big bad republicansI would say not enough. 