CLEVELAND — Anti-Donald Trump protesters marched here on Monday, urging voters to 'dump Trump' as the Republican National Convention kicked off.
Chanting "No KKK, no racists," the marchers weaved their way toward the city's Quicken Loans Arena in sweltering heat. At least 100 people or more walked through the city's downtown, holding signs decrying Trump, police-involved shootings and deportation of immigrants.
Dozens of police flanked the peaceful demonstration, riding on bikes alongside and behind protesters amid heightened security around the convention area. More than 40 trade unions, immigrant rights, student and anti-war groups joined in on the rally, organizers said.
The marchers eventually encountered groups protesting the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting police to separate the two sides as they shouted back and forth.
The march comes amid heightened tension between police and racial minorities. The killing of police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dallas in recent weeks followed outcry over police shootings of African-American men in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Trump, who is expected to accept the GOP presidential nomination later this week, has also drawn ire with his comments about immigrants and Muslims throughout the election cycle. Protesters carried signs reading "Making America hate again," a play on Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again."
The bombastic businessman has pledged to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border and crack down on immigration. Trump also previously called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, a stance he has since changed to heavily vetting immigrants from countries with ties to terrorism.
Organization of anti-Trump protests has ramped up ahead of his expected acceptance of the GOP nomination Thursday. About 58 groups were granted permits to parade, protest or march during the convention, and roughly 5,500 law enforcement officers are assigned to security.
Some rallies in the city Monday were in support of Trump. His supporters gathered on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, where Trump adviser Roger Stone and others spoke.