By Andrea Asuaje
BU News Service
Make America Safe Again. That was the theme kicking off the first day of breakfasts, meetings and emotional speeches at this year’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
“What I did for New York, Donald Trump will do for America,” said Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and one of the speakers during Monday night’s evening program.
Giuliani spoke passionately about how Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, will be able to fight crime and terror at home and abroad while respecting “blue lives” — the police. His speech often drew standing ovations and hollers from the crowd in support.
Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, speaks at the Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016. (Andrea Asuaje/ BU News Service)
And though the delegates were fired up throughout the night, the biggest moment of the evening came with its penultimate speaker: Melania Trump, who was introduced by her husband.
“We’re gonna win, we’re gonna win so big,” Donald Trump said during his short speech introducing his wife.
Melania then took the stage and delivered a speech about growing up in Slovenia and the Donald Trump she knows — a man she describes as caring but tough when necessary and open with his patriotism.
“Everyone wants change. Donald is the only one who can deliver it,” Melania Trump said. She received a standing ovation and left the stage by her husband’s side.
Melania’s speech is now causing controversy due to charges of plagiarism. She is being accused of lifting parts of her speech from a 2008 speech by Michelle Obama.
CORRECTION: Melania stole a whole graph from Michelle’s speech. #GOPConvention
WATCH: https://t.co/8BCOwXAHSy pic.twitter.com/zudpDznGng— Jarrett Hill (@JarrettHill) July 19, 2016
The evening program also featured speeches mothers and fathers whose children were killed by undocumented immigrants, U.S. senators calling for tightening security, actors Scott Baio and Antonio Sabato Jr, and by John Tiegen and Mark Geist, survivors of the attack on Benghazi and co-authors of the book “13 Hours.”
Protesters gather outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Jonathan Gang.
Protesters gather outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jonathan Gang/BU News Service)
During the afternoon session, delegates attempted to force the rules committee to vote to unbind the delegates. Despite boos and requests for more votes, the rules were passed and approved Monday: the delegates would remain bound.
Protesting was uneventful on day one. Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams reported just a single RNC-related arrest.
