Cleveland - The spate of violence that left three police officers dead in Baton Rouge have heightened tensions in Cleveland, where thousands of delegates and tens of thousands of protesters arrived Sunday to a city on edge as it prepares to host the Republican National Convention.
And presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump will greet them with a new focus for the convention's Monday opening: A "Make America Safe Again" night featuring retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, briefly considered a potential Trump running mate.
White supremacists, black nationalists and anarchists were among the groups slated to protest over the four-day gathering, and Cleveland police have readied 2,000 riot kits and called in reinforcements from across the nation in case it spirals out of control.
The city had a trial run of sorts Sunday when dozens of protesters with a group calling itself "Shut Down Trump and the R.N.C." marched through downtown Cleveland. The bigger test is to come Monday when Citizens for Trump and a group linked to Black Lives Matter plan their first demonstrations around the corner from where the convention takes place.
Read more about Cleveland's preparations for the four-day event here.
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Starting in Iowa and New Hampshire, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has brought you every key moment in the 2016 presidential race, and our in-depth coverage will continue at the political conventions. Our team of seasoned political reporters will be on the ground in Cleveland and Philadelphia to bring you every development from these pivotal campaign events. An expanded editorial team in the Atlanta newsroom will round out coverage of both conventions.
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