It's not like you are going to convince any of the delegates of anything. So your audience must be the people watching on TV. But who is going to be sympathetic to the demonstrators' position? I think only those who are already sympathetic. Those on the fence are more likely to side with the police. Let's remember that the riots outside the Democratic convention in 1968 only helped Richard Nixon win the election, even though the police tactics in dealing with the demonstrators were horrific. Most people watching on tv are turned off by disorder, and sympathize with the forces of law and order.
I think a more effective type of demonstration would be to pretend you are a Republican and carry signs that take their positions to a logical extreme, a la Steven Colbert. For example, Shoot all illegal immigrants; or Death penalty for all abortion providers; or Bomb Iran. The news might pick up signs like that, and that would perhaps help advance the cause of showing that Republicans are nut jobs.
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