Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, July 25-28

The Primary Protest Area Is Across the Street From the Arena

400 feet Six demonstration zones are available for permitted protesters in F.D.R. Park 400 feet Six demonstration zones are available for permitted protesters in F.D.R. Park 400 feet Six demonstration zones are available for permitted protesters in F.D.R. Park 400 feet Six demonstration zones are available for permitted protesters in F.D.R. Park 400 feet Six demonstration zones are available for permitted protesters in F.D.R. Park Imagery from Google maps | The New York Times

The Democratic convention is being held at the Wells Fargo Center, an indoor arena in South Philadelphia, far removed from the city’s central district. The primary area set aside for permitted protesters is F.D.R. Park, across the street from the arena.

The Secret Service has designated a secure zone, which will include the arena, its surrounding parking lot and the adjoining section of Broad Street. It is fenced off and limited to people with credentials or tickets; banned items include backpacks, balloons, selfie sticks and any weapons.

Protests Also Are Allowed to Spread Out Across the City

Independence Mall Market St. City Hall Where protests have been approved S. Broad St. Philadelphia Marconi Plaza F.D.R. Park Wells Fargo Center 0.5 mile The New York Times

The city issued permits for demonstrations across Philadelphia, not just in F.D.R. Park. The A.C.L.U. of Pennsylvania succeeded at getting the city to back off a ban of marches on Broad Street, a main thoroughfare, even during rush hour. On Sunday, more than 1,000 people marched down a four-mile stretch of Broad Street in the first of many planned demonstrations to support Senator Bernie Sanders.

“So far we have not seen any kind of ‘no-go’ zones in Center City, and that’s great,” said Mary Catherine Roper, the deputy legal director of the A.C.L.U. of Pennsylvania. “People should be able to protest all over downtown.”

Last month, Mayor Jim Kenney signed a bill decriminalizing nuisance offenses in the city, including disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and public drunkenness. The policy was part of a larger effort to decrease the incarceration rate in the city, but the mayor has also said that no one will be arrested solely for protesting without a permit during the convention.

Republican Convention in Cleveland, July 18-21

Official Demonstrations Were Limited to a Few Sites, Blocks From the Convention Center

Designated protest areas: Speakers stage were reserved for 30-minute slots Public art or tables were installed in two parks with a permit Parade route for protesters with permits to march in 50-minute slots 500 feet 1.7-square-mile event zone with security restrictions Lake Erie Ontario St. Cuyahoga River Carnegie Ave. I-90 Designated protest areas: Speakers stage were reserved for 30-minute slots Public art or tables were installed in two parks with a permit Parade route for protesters with permits to march in 50-minute slots 500 feet 1.7-square-mile event zone with security restrictions Lake Erie Ontario St. Cuyahoga River Carnegie Ave. I-90 Designated protest areas: Speakers stage were reserved for 30-minute slots Public art or tables were installed in two parks with a permit Parade route for protesters with permits to march in 50-minute slots 500 feet Lake Erie Ontario St. Cuyahoga River 1.7-square-mile event zone with security restrictions Carnegie Ave. I-90 Designated protest areas: Speakers stage were reserved for 30-minute slots Public art or tables were installed in two parks with a permit Parade route for protesters with permits to march in 50-minute slots 500 feet Lake Erie Ontario St. 1.7-square-mile event zone with security restrictions Cuyahoga River Carnegie Ave. I-90 Designated protest areas: Speakers stage were reserved for 30-minute slots Public art or tables were installed in two parks with a permit 500 feet Lake Erie 1.7-square-mile event zone with security restrictions Carnegie Ave. Ontario St. I-90 Parade route for protesters with permits to march in 50-minute slots Imagery from Google maps, TerraMetrics, NOAA | The New York Times

The City of Cleveland issued permits to groups that wanted to demonstrate at the convention, but official protest areas were hundreds of feet from the Quicken Loans Arena, or “the Q,” where the main events took place. While the city prepared for large-scale and potentially violent protests, the week’s demonstrations were modest and largely peaceful. The most noteworthy encounter between protesters and police occurred Wednesday, when officers arrested 18 people after some of them burned an American flag near the convention center.

Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio brought a lawsuit against the city, saying that its convention security plan “severely limited” the opportunities for free expression. A federal judge agreed and threw out the plan, resulting in a new agreement that, among other things, expanded the parade route for protesters, which is the area where demonstrators are permitted to march. Also, the number of available time slots for marches were increased and buffers between groups were added.

Christine Link, the executive director of the A.C.L.U. of Ohio, said that the Secret Service participated heavily in the negotiations and that her organization achieved almost all of its goals in ensuring that the government balanced security with the least restrictions. City sidewalks were still open for anybody to carry a poster, speak or march, she said, if they did not block intersections or enter secured areas.

Much of Cleveland’s Downtown Was a Restricted Zone. But Guns Were O.K.

Road closures or restrictions Secret Service secure zones Welcoming event zone* LAKE ERIE EVENT ZONE Media Center CLEVELAND Quicken Loans Arena 0.4 mile Road closures or restrictions Secret Service secure zones Welcoming event zone* LAKE ERIE EVENT ZONE Media Center CLEVELAND Quicken Loans Arena 0.4 mile *The secure zone around the welcoming event area and surrounding road closures only applied on Sunday, July 17, the day before the convention began. | The New York Times

The official event zone — where a long list of everyday items, like glass bottles, were banned — blanketed 1.7 square miles in downtown Cleveland. However, guns were allowed inside the event zone because Ohio is an open-carry state, and state law overrules any regulations put into place by the city. Firearms were not allowed in the smaller secure zones managed by the Secret Service, including the convention arena.

In the wake of the shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday, the head of the Cleveland police union asked Governor John Kasich of Ohio to suspend the open-carry laws during the convention. While a spokesperson for the governor said that he did not have the power to do so, no incidents involving the use of firearms were reported during the week.

Prohibited items in the larger zone included large bags and backpacks, mace, loudspeakers, tents, coolers and canned goods. Residents, including homeless people, were be given some leeway.