The RNC Comes and Goes

http://www.solidarity-us.org/node/4750
Date Written:  2016-09-01
Publisher:  Against the Current
Year Published:  2016
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX21472

Throughout the week, journalists got plenty of newsworthy stories, from Melania Trump's plagiarism of Michelle Obama’s speech to the arrests of 18 protestors at Public Square.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

With the convention over, the news crews, celebrities and masses of out-of-state law enforcement are gone. Massive potholes, abandoned buildings and the failing educational system are still here. There are still large swaths of concentrated poverty, mostly among people of color.

Sure, the news crews gave Cleveland the spotlight for a short while. The protests raised awareness and expressed the anger of those who have been blatantly slandered in Trump's campaign. But what about those who continue to suffer in a city overcome by poverty, pollution and police brutality?

Will all the attention lead to any significant change for Cleveland residents and those in the surrounding suburban ghettos? Will the news clips help the homeless people or the working folks living paycheck to paycheck? Will the renovation of downtown really help those who exist in the areas that have been left behind? Probably not.

It was, quite honestly, a slap in the face that $50 million magically appeared when it was time to renovate downtown for out-of-town visitors, yet people in power continuously claim that they lack any money to help improve the parts of the city that need it the most.