It has been a hallmark of this Presidential campaign that Donald Trump’s speeches and campaign appearances have been marked by violence.  No one is sure what will happen in July at the Republican convention in Cleveland but we can be sure that violence is a real possibility.

At one of the rallies, news footage showed a metal bicycle rack being thrown in the direction of a police horse. We ask that the Cleveland Police not use their Mounted Police division to patrol and control the crowds.  It is not fair to subject these animals to the frightening noise, tear gas and danger of being hit by flying objects.

Horses are innocents, and should not be placed in harm's way when there are better ways - in the 21st century - to control violence.  We want to prevent animal suffering by keeping the police horses away from mobs of protesters and dissenters.  The custom of using horses in dangerous situations belongs in the dustbin of history - and to put it there, people need to speak out.