The Republican Party has gathered to officially nominate its presumptive presidential candidate, billionaire real-estate speculator Donald Trump. With a number of speakers scheduled for the week-long event, the party’s policy positions are beginning to take shape.
These include a number of potential adjustments to current financial laws. For one, Republicans would give the wealthiest Americans a sizeable tax cut and also make it legal for financial advisers to invest the money of retirees.
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
According to Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, the party will also pursue the reimplementation of the Glass-Steagall Act, allowing the US government to break up large financial institutions.
"We believe that the Obama-Clinton years have passed legislation that has been favorable to the big banks, which is one of the reasons why you see all of the Wall Street money going to her," he told reporters, referring to presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
"We are supporting the small banks and Main Street. We talk about legislation that affects, you know, some of the mistakes made in repealing Glass-Stegall and some of the mistakes made in imposing Dodd-Frank. The platform reflects those things."
As the convention kicks off inside the Quicken Loans Arena, large crowds of protesters have gathered outside, marching in the streets, in protest of Trump and the GOP. The billionaire’s divisive rhetoric concerning religious and racial minorities, in particular his xenophobic comments about Muslim and Mexican immigrants, have caused outrage throughout his campaign.
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
Separate protests have begun to draw attention to economic justice issues.
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
Speaking to Cassandra Fairbanks of Sputnik News, musician and activist Tom Morello of the band Prophets of Rage said that the protests are about "human rights and resistance to oppression."
— Cassandra Fairbanks (@CassandraRules) July 18, 2016
"The top issue might be apathy, and people having to realize that they have their hands on the wheel of history, and that they cannot trust in hope of some political candidate waving a magic wand and making the world a decent and humane place."
Adding to the tension, large crowds have also gathered in support of the candidate, many of whom are armed, given Ohio’s open-carry weapon laws.
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
The convention comes in the wake of a spate of shootings across the country. The deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile earlier this month added fuel to the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality, while the shooting deaths of five Dallas police officers have added to concerns about anti-violence. On Sunday, three officers were shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
RNC chairman Reince Priebus addressed the deaths of officers during his opening remarks, calling for a moment of silence.
— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) July 18, 2016
The keynote speaker for the first day of the convention will be Trump’s wife Melania, herself an immigrant to the United States, who has been largely silent on the campaign trail.
