The Twilight Zone: Protesting the RNC in Cleveland

Last Updated on October 31, 2024 by Ellen

I’ve been protesting at the Republican National Convention with my husband in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. We came to Cleveland to wrap up a few business matters before we continue world travels. We happen to be against the candidacy of Donald J. Trump (and I’m not pro-Hillary, by the way), so we decided to protest the lunacy of the possibility of egomaniac Trump becoming the next president of the United States of America.

The experiences so far this week have caused me to feel a number of emotions: disappointment, fear, anger. These are not healthy emotions. They are as sick as America.

Fear has swelled up in me a few times – never because of the massive police presence, and not even from the Jesus freaks with megaphones. I felt genuine fear when a young, white man slammed into my protest sign and then accused me of hitting him with it. Lucky for me, there were witnesses around who verbally pounced on him and told him to leave me alone – they saw him walk into my sign. Disappointment and a touch of anger was felt here, too.

Fear happened again for me walking down East 4th Street last evening. That’s a happening spot in Cleveland with many popular restaurants. This week, it’s overrun with Republican delegates. Last night, we walked down that street and there were many people who didn’t like the message on my sign: “Justice Ginsburg was right!” I felt like a character in Stephen King’s novel ‘The Stand’ – when the good guys were living in Las Vegas among evil people. I felt ill-will towards me coming from the scowls and sneers and squinted eyes leveled at me. It was one of the most unpleasant feelings I have ever experienced. It was surreal.

I know these are fellow Americans – there should not be this level of discomfort. My husband felt it, too. It’s an unseen slap of hate coming from invisible hands of several people. My husband’s sign yesterday read, “Build a wall around Trump”.

There is disappointment, fear and anger I have over the people with guns walking around me, who don’t like what I say or how I look. Some of these guns are automatic. Some of the people with guns wear an insane amount of ammunition in special belts. Yet — the stick on my protest sign has to be within certain measurements. Yep. That’s right. Insanity.

I’m angry there aren’t more people peacefully protesting here. Americans apparently are OK with Donald Trump as a viable candidate for president. That’s absolutely insane. It’s prompted me and my husband to come up with crazy costumes and props this week to protest this unacceptable nomination.

I’m angry media have scared people away from downtown Cleveland.

I’m disappointed this country doesn’t have a moral leader to guide the masses to action. We need another Dr. Martin Luther King, because people seem to have trouble thinking on their own. They are having trouble working together for solutions. Where are you, America? We need to have a really long talk and work out some solutions to problems that are mounting high enough to topple this country. Put down your damned Pokemon Go game, people. Stop posting memes on Facebook that mean nothing. Quit watching stupid TV shows in your Fantasy Land.

Insanity will be the theme of my costume today as we set out from home a few minutes from right now. I’m going to look ‘Crazy’, with a capital C. Looney Tunes. Nuts. I don’t care if it’s not “politically correct” to say those phrases. I feel like I’m living in the Twilight Zone. Someone, please, wake me up from this nightmare.

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