Posted on 08/26/2012 3:13:48 AM PDT by Libloather
Threats from anarchists have Tampa on lockdown ahead of GOP convention
By Jordy Yager - 08/25/12 04:00 PM ET
The city of Tampa, Fla., is on virtual lockdown this week as local and federal law enforcement authorities ready for tens of thousands of protesters, politicians and media to swarm the coastal metropolis during the Republican National Convention.
With the Secret Service at the helm, the FBI, the Coast Guard and the military have taken extensive steps to guard against potential terrorist attacks as well as uprisings from anarchists intent on disrupting the five-day event.
“As far as demonstrators, we don’t make estimates or predict what will or will not happen — a part of our planning process is planning for any and all scenarios,” said George Ogilvie, a spokesman for the Secret Service, in an interview with The Hill.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a joint intelligence bulletin this week stating a “high confidence” that anarchist groups are “preparing to use violence and criminal tactics in an attempt to disrupt the Republican National Convention,” according to a copy provided to The Hill.
The city’s police department has bulked up its bike and horse units with a $50-million federal grant, adding more than a dozen all-terrain vehicles to speedily navigate Tampa’s streets if protests get out of control with roving mobs, as they have at previous conventions.
In an effort to extend a visual olive branch, police purchased more neutral-looking khaki uniforms for the roughly 1,000 officers expected to be on duty throughout the week, in hopes that they will appear more approachable and less threatening to demonstrators. Thousands of police from surrounding cities and counties are expected to bolster the local department’s ranks.
Federal officials have shut down a major nearby highway and positioned floating steel-cable barriers in the harbor to stop potential terrorists from launching an attack from the water. Air and water security zones and traffic restrictions have also been put into place, as an armored truck stands at the ready along with the regional bomb squad.
Local and federal officials have looked to past conventions for guidance, especially St. Paul, Minn., in 2008, where more than 700 people were arrested for protesting — nearly 300 on the first day — as some violent demonstrators broke windows and vandalized cars.
Authorities are aiming for a much more peaceful series of protests this week, however, and have established areas and routes near the convention center where protesting will be allowed.
“Working with the city and with the United States Secret Service, we’ll have a designated free speech zone and we’ll be working with them to make sure that’s open and available,” said James Davis, the communications director for the GOP convention.
“And we’ll be having our own freedom to assemble as well. We’re Republicans and believe in the right to free speech. We’ll be exercising that right as we gather to nominate Mitt Romney as our nominee.”
One of the largest rallies is expected to take place on Monday as the “Coalition to March on the RNC” meets at a downtown park about a mile away from the Tampa Bay Times Forum to hold a “peaceful” march in protest of Republican policies on healthcare, education and the economy. Many people from the local and out-of-state Occupy movements are anticipated to take part in that rally.
It would really be bad if the Occupy ninnies would be out in the hurricane-force winds and trees would fall on them.
Ahhh, isn't that nice...
Since the convention is starting later because of the hurricane, these fools are going to be doing all their rioting with nobody to see anyway. Also, I think Monday is expected to be the day it hits (if it hits at all).
Sounds like Tampa’s prepared, though. A police officer in my family had to work the convention in Denver 4 years ago, and they found that the anarchists had gone through days earlier and stashed weapons, Molotov cocktails, etc. in bushes and other hiding places along the route. The cops came at night and removed them, and then when the anarchists did their “peaceful march,” where they planned to break out and go to their stashes along the route and make it not peaceful...they found nothing stashed anymore. Ha ha!
It doesn’t sound as if the anarchists have even had the chance to get close enough to do this in Tampa.
I would not feel safe with our federal forces protecting us from anarchists. The experience with NOPD during Hurricane Katrina tell of how they help each other invariably.
My thought as well. What? aren't the snappy black storm-trooper uniforms good for putting fear into the populace?
/johnny
Tampa will get off easy. Charlotte will burn
Anarchists protest the Republican convention; vote for Obama
What a defining moment in our history.
Unfortunately, the hanging judges in Florida tend to be liberal or RINO. Just ask George Zimmerman, the family of Terri Schiavo (the judge who ordered her death was a Republican)
Florida’s judiciary is liberal and corrupt
It will be welcomed, supported and encouraged by the justice department and the entire regime in control. Hear we will see the United States presidency and it’s entire support team aiding and abetting anarchists hoping for a spark they need to continue thier plan.
Interesting prediction, and one which would worry me if I were a Charlotte resident or a Meck Cty taxpayer.
I hope they just stay away from Matthews Library, though!
“Anarchists” is now the politically correct term for the OWS mob.
The visuals of these hair balls will turn more people to our side.
From 4 days ago; FRiend. Hopefully they have continued scouting for similar, or worse.
May God keep watch.
Tatt
Or Tea Party members.
Obunga could go on TV pontificating about the loss of civility in our nation, the need for increased security in our cities, increased funding for police - blah, blah, blah - and effectively establish a civilian army and guarantee reelection with one sinister act....
Oh, that's just crazy talk.
I agree it would, but I think the press is going to show a minimal amount of this... and also characterize it as rare law-breakers crashing a "peaceful protest".
“ST. PETERSBURG SEES FIRST RNC-RELATED ARRESTS AFTER MEN FOUND ON DOWNTOOL ROOFTOP WITH WEAPONS”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2922988/posts
masks, machete, pocketknife, bb-gun....
Would you want to wear a “black” uniform in normally sunny Florida?
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