Cleveland Police Punched And Shoved As Fights Break Out

Seventeen people were arrested and taken away in zipties by police after a fight broke out during protests near East 4th Street and Prospect Avenue on Wednesday, reporter Dani Carlson said. The fight started after protesters tried to burn an American flag. Two police officers, a CPD officer and an Ohio State Highway Patrol officer were punched and shoved when other protesters jumped in and tried to stop the flag burning, said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

Police were telling everyone to clear the area. It is near the security zone entrance to Quicken Loans Arena. Crime scene tape was put up in the street.

Delegates were told to lineup to try to get them through the security zone. Police made a human blockade to keep protesters out.

A self-identified evangelical group out of Indiana were the same ones instigating people in crowds at Public Square and Mall B throughout the week and were involved again in Wednesday’s clash.

VIDEO: Most dramatic #rncincle confrontation yet. This was the first man detained. “I can’t breathe,” he said. pic.twitter.com/JnrxMWjoCF

— John P. Wise (@wisejohnp) July 20, 2016

Protesters started yelling at the crowd, then several people went up to the group and shoving and fist-punching started. Cleveland police said that two officers suffered minor injuries.

The media and some of the crowd were pushed to the side by mounted police in the street. Officers continued to work to get the scene under control as it involved lots of people with different viewpoints.

Revcom.us – Revolutionary Communist Party, USA – were some of the people who were arrested and escorted out of the area.