Executive Summary
The 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC), to be held in Cleveland, Ohio from July 18-21, and the Democratic National Convention (DNC), to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from July 25-28, have the potential to be controversial and disruptive events. Both of the conventions are designated as National Special Security Events (NSSEs), meaning they could become targets of international/domestic terrorism or other criminal activity. While authorities have not received any credible threats against either convention, law enforcement and emergency personnel are preparing for the likelihood that protests could disrupt business and travel in the host cities. The papal visit to Philadelphia in September 2015 has played an integral role in security preparations for the DNC, and the city is largely considered to be more prepared than Cleveland. Despite this, officials in Cleveland feel confident that outsourced staffing and training programs can adequately address potentially violent protest activities.