In more news from the 2016 election, the ACLU has sued the city of Cleveland over restrictions on free speech Cleveland officials are planning to impose during the Republican National Convention in July. The city has demarcated a 3.3-square-mile “Event Area” in downtown Cleveland that will be subject to broad restrictions during the convention, including banning everyday items such as umbrellas with metal tips, glass bottles, canned goods, large backpacks and sleeping bags. The lawsuit argues the bans of such items are arbitrary and will criminalize the homeless community. The city has also delayed issuing permits for marches and parades for months, making it difficult to organize protests.