(We sent TPJ Photographer-In-Residence Kate Sweeney to the Republican National Convention, last July. Here, her thoughts and photos)

I have never seen so many cops in one place in my entire life. I felt the worst for the horses- carrying officers on their backs through crowds of people, forced to march back and forth in the Ohio summer heat all day and night, shitting on the street. People were wearing suits and literally running through horse shit to get to the arena where Trump was speaking.

Westborough Baptists were screaming and praying at everyone who walked by them, in the creepiest daze. I saw a disgusting t-shirt being sold that featured a cartoon drawing of Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky's faces, that said "Hillary Blows, But Not Like Monica". The men gathered around the seller thought it was HILARIOUS. True misogyny at its finest.

Luckily, there were some peaceful protestors displaying beautiful messages of love. The most memorable interaction I had was with a vendor selling pins and other Trump-related paraphernalia. Said he wasn't voting for Trump, hell no. "But when you have kids to feed, and they offer you a bunch of money to sell this shit, what're you gonna do?"