Protesters, law enforcement discuss security at the RNC after Trump shooting

On Sunday, the Coalition to March on the Republican National Convention (RNC) affirmed its determination to march Monday morning, on the convention’s first day. “For the past two years all across this country, we pulled together a broad grouping of community organizations, unions, students, immigrant rights, LGBTQ, anti-war groups, and many others,” coalition spokesperson Omar Flores said at a press conference. “We have not had safety issues at any of our several marches or events, and we look forward to our family-friendly march tomorrow, Monday July 15 at 10 a.m., here in Red Arrow Park.”

Earlier this week, the coalition came to an agreement with the city of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Secret Service on a route for its march within sight and sound of the Fiserv Forum, where the RNC will be held. The agreement on the protest route was met without a permit actually being approved by the city. Still, coalition organizers are confident that the agreement significantly decreases the level of risk to marchers.

Over 120 progressive organizations have come together to confront what the coalition calls a “racist and reactionary Republican agenda.” Flores said that on Saturday evening the coalition met with the city and re-confirmed that agreement. A member of the Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office will also attend the march to make sure it proceeds smoothly.

The Sunday press conference came after former President Donald Trump was shot during a rally in Pennsylvania. The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthews Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who was killed at the scene. On Saturday, the Secret Service said shots had been fired from an elevated position near the stage where Trump spoke. Reports indicate that at least one rally-goer was killed, and two others injured. Trump received a grazing wound to his right ear, and was photographed bloodied and raising his fist in the air while being escorted away by Secret Service agents. The motive for the shooting is unknown and currently under investigation.

The U.S. Secret Service said that there are no plans for changes in the security perimeter for the RNC. During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, RNC coordinator for the Secret Service, said, “We’re not anticipating any changes,” adding that the Secret Service and local law enforcement worked for 18 months to develop a security plan. “We are confident in these security plans that are in place for this event, and we’re ready to go.”

Gibson-Cicchino said she could not comment on a statement by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who has called on the Secret Service to ban guns in the outside perimeter of the RNC and that she had not had any conversations on the matter with Evers.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman, and officials from the FBI also spoke at the press conference. Since the RNC is a “national security event,” it receives the highest degree of security attention from the agency, they explained.

Norman said people have a right to carry firearms under state law. However, he added, “as that is your right, please exercise your right in a responsible manner.” Norman said that MPD “will not tolerate any particular behaviors outside of what is legally allowed in regards to that right.” Johnson reiterated that Wisconsin is an open carry state, and local officials can’t override state law by banning weapons in the RNC’s outer security perimeter. An FBI spokesperson at the Sunday press conference said that there is “no known, articulated threat to the RNC or any specific individual attending.”

To convention attendees and delegates, Norman stressed that a lot of effort is being dedicated to securing the convention. “We are planned and actually ready with the resources,” said Norman. “This is our community, too.”

At the protesters’ press conference, when asked whether the coalition condemns the shooting, Flores repeatedly stressed that “the shooting has nothing to do with us.” The coalition does not anticipate that the shooting will change any plans with the protest, though organizers are prepared make any changes at a moment’s notice. “Honestly, all of the planning from the city has been extremely last minute, so we’re pretty used to last minute changes, and we’ll be ready for anything.”

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