CLEVELAND — While the nation's attention was focused on what was happening inside at Tuesday’s presidential debate, protesters held demonstrations for a host of different causes outside of the health education campus.
Countless organizations came together in Cleveland at Wade Oval hoping to spark change on the first night of the 2020 presidential face-off.
“This is a conversation about the multitude of issues that are decided when you vote for whoever you vote for in that poll booth,” said Nubia with an organization called Be Quick based in Central Ohio. “Whether it be climate change, whether it be women’s rights, whether it’s black liberation or just you know general issues with the government, we really are gathered here today to support one another and our fight for better.”
A few miles away, nearly 100 Northeast Ohio doctors marched while chanting, “Trump lied, people died,” regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The group also pushed for universal healthcare and racial equality.
“Lives are at stake and democracy is at stake,” said Dr. Arthur Lavin, a member of Doctors Organized for Healthcare Solutions. “We outperformed the world just a few years ago now were one of the worst performers in the world now the doctors in your community are coming out here on the streets to say it’s time to change that.”
While some silently protested change by holding signs on sidewalks in support of the current administration, others continue to push for it.
“We aren’t going anywhere on November 3, 4,5, 6 so you’re going to still hear from us no matter who is in the White House,” said Scott Connlly with Black Spring Cleveland. “We are not just voting on a federal election we have to make sure that we are bringing truth to power to our community that is here.”
The protests were mostly peaceful, according to Cleveland police. We’re told there were four arrests as of 11 p.m.
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