Protest groups in Tampa would have happily endured searing summer heat outside of the Republican National Convention in Tampa this week.
Instead, most are cooped up indoors, waiting out Tropical Storm Isaac, which has moved off the Florida coast well into the Gulf of Mexico. Police seemed to outnumber protesters on Monday, as city officials worried about a repeat of the violence that plagued the RNC in St. Paul four years ago.
For those trying to get their message out to the world, unprecedented restrictions and lousy weather will stand in the way most of the week.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated the convention a National Special Security Event, enabling a wide array of security resources.
City officials set up "Free Speech Zones" a few blocks from the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where 15,000 delegates and media members will gather Tuesday for the formality of nominating Mitt Romney to challenge President Obama in November.
Parade routes were strategically positioned to keep delegates and GOP leaders away from groups looking to get their messages across.
Amid warnings that some anarchists are planning violent acts, local and federal authorities will be augmented by police from across Florida.
"No step will be overlooked to help ensure the safety and security of convention participants and Tampa Bay area residents," GOP officials said.
Protests groups say the mainstream media is being used as a tool to help justify the massive security forces. It is the government that is provoking violence merely by having such a massive presence, according to a number of demonstrators we spoke with.
"Unfortunately, we are seeing the fabrication of events to justify the use of heavy-handed police behavior during the 2012 RNC. We hope this is not going to be the case," said Amos Miers of ResistRNC told RTTNews.
"If there is any question about who is preparing for war, just look at how the protesters and police are dressed. It will be clear who is standing for peace, and who is standing for war," Miers explained.
For their part, ResistRNC has vowed not to partake in any rioting.
"It is our goal to have safe, effective demonstrations during the Convention. We stand for Peace and Justice," Miers assured.
Strangely enough, firearms are permitted while puppets, masks, and signs with sticks are on the long list of items banned from the convention zone. Florida governor Rick Scott rejected a proposal from Tampa mayor to ban guns downtown.
However, protesters say the only armed presence will be the police and National Guard roaming the streets outside the venue.
"I expect that the police presence will be shocking in its size, that they will be provocative simply by their overwhelming numbers, but also by their demeanor and actions, and will be likely to be very heavy handed with protesters," Leah Bolger, President of Veterans For Peace said.
"The mayor of Tampa has said that the police will not be tolerant of protesters," Bolger added, "and I am afraid that the actions of the government and the police at the 2012 RNC will be further slippage on the slippery slope towards fascism."
The storm that caused the GOP to delay the start of the convention until Tuesday has dampened the enthusiasm of demonstrators.
Asked whether Isaac was effecting their demonstrations, Penny Carson from Food Not Bombs acknowledged that planning around the storm has been a challenge.
"We are trying to find tarps and housing for people who will not be able to stay in the park," Carson said. "I do expect a drop in turnout and have already heard people reconsider their decisions to attend the protest due to the storm."
For Tampa residents struggling with a depressed real estate market and lackluster economic recovery, there is a financial incentive for putting up with the hassle of hosting the event.
The downtown area was cordoned off and most businesses shut down within the perimeter of the RNC.
But the RNC is expected to have an economic impact in the Tampa Bay area of at least $153.6 million, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
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