2004 Republican National Convention
...a National Special Security Event (NSSE). As such, the United States Secret Service was charged with employing and coordinating all federal and local agencies including the various bureaus of DHS, the FBI, and the NYPD to secure the venue from terrorist attacks. The city employed 10,000 armed police. Trains entering and exiting Penn Station were scoured by bomb-sniffing dogs as uniformed police officers were attached to buses carrying delegates. All employees of buildings surrounding Madison Square Garden were subjected to thorough screening and background checks. Expected security expenditures reached US $50 million, half of which was funded by the federal government. Timing The Convention held a week before September 11 therefore the main theme was the tragedy of 2001. Such a late date caused controversy in Illinois, as state legislature says the nominee has to accept the nomination 67 days before the election, whereas Bush accepted it on the last day of the Convention, 61 days before the election. State legislation had to be changed in Illinois to allow Bush’s name on the ballot sheet. Protests There were hundreds of groups organizing protests against the Republican National Convention, including United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of more than 800 anti-war and social justice groups, and International ANSWER. Over 1800 individuals have been arrested by the authorities, a record for a political convention in the US. Speakers Parties use conventions to invite celebrities and well known politicians, to endorse the Party. With famous speakers the media attention will be more focused on the Party. Parties use the speakers as to link themselves to certain people that the American people r...