The Hardcore Security Gear Protecting the Conventions
Congress gave Tampa and Charlotte police $50 million each to keep America’s egg-throwing anarchists at bay during the Republican and Democratic conventions. Turns out, both cities got quite a lot of bang for their buck.
Armored cars look a lot more warm and fuzzy when you paint “rescue” on the side, don’t you think? The article spends a lot of time on the drones – aerial and otherwise – the armor and the bomb-disposal gear, all cool guy stuff to be sure. It doesn’t mention the by-now standard “free speech zones,” (oh, that Orwell had lived to see those) or the remarkable variety of things attendees – or even residents of the cities – are not allowed to carry, say, do, or presumably think, leaving one wag to comment,
So while you may not bring, do or think about any of the above prohibitions, you may on the other hand want to be prepared for an experience in a public park in Charlotte or Tampa that will feel an awful lot like a trip to a U.S. airport.
So at least it won’t feel unfamiliar to visitors.
Personally I’m glad I’m busy that day. in a holler in a desert far, far away.
