MILWAUKEE — Hundreds of demonstrators converged Monday on downtown Milwaukee to protest around the Republican National Convention, saying the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump won’t affect their long-standing plans to rally outside the site.

A wide range of organizations and activists gathered in a downtown park outside the Fiserv Forum’s security perimeter to listen to speakers ahead of a street march coordinated by The Coalition to March on the RNC. The coalition, made up largely of local groups, supports abortion and immigrant rights and is pressing to end the war in Gaza.

The atmosphere was festive, with music playing over loudspeakers, a man strumming a guitar and vendors selling T-shirts and buttons supporting both Republicans and Democrats. One protester wore an orange prison jumpsuit with a giant Trump cutout for a face. Activists carried signs that read “Stand with Palestine,”https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/jul/16/protesters-rally-in-milwaukee-as-gop-convention/”We Can No Longer Afford the Rich” and “Defend and Expand Immigrant Rights.”

At one point, a group of demonstrators got into an argument with counterprotesters who denounced LGBTQ+ rights, Muslims, Black Lives Matter and women.

Counterprotester Rich Penkoski of Stillwater, Okla., bellowed through a bullhorn that women should go home and make sandwiches for their husbands. The demonstrators eventually walked away from the counterprotesters as police looked on.

At noon, the demonstrators set off on the march around the arena’s security perimeter, chanting “Hey-hey, ho-ho, Republicans have got to go” and “This is what democracy looks like.” Many carried Palestinian flags.

Marchers passed within a block of Fiserv Forum on the edge of the arena’s security zone before returning to the downtown park where they began. The Milwaukee Police Department estimated the crowd at between 700-800 people and said no one was arrested.

However, an Associated Press reporter saw a man in handcuffs being held by police outside the park after the march ended. An officer told him he was being arrested for disorderly conduct, though it wasn’t immediately clear what led to the arrest or if the man was part of the protest.

The Philadelphia-based group Poor People’s Army, which advocates for economic justice, marched later Monday afternoon. Two dozen protesters gathered in a park about a mile from Fiserv Forum to prepare for the march, jotting slogans on signs decrying corporate greed, mass incarceration, the war in Gaza and other issues as Pete Seeger’s “Which Side Are You On?” played on a speaker.

Perennial Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein addressed the group, calling for less military spending and larger investments in public education, social housing and health care. She didn’t mention the assassination attempt.

Cheri Honkala, 60, said she traveled to Milwaukee from one of the poorest districts in Pennsylvania to “send a strong message to all politicians” that people living below the poverty line “are not surviving.”

Honkala said she was nervous after the attempted assassination of Trump about potential encounters with law enforcement officers and counterprotesters while she marched with the Poor People’s Army, but she said she wasn’t deterred.

“The climate is definitely a scary one,” she said, “but you know what’s scarier? Not saying anything.”

A gunman identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a shot during a Trump rally in Butler, Pa., on Saturday evening that grazed Trump’s ear. A rally participant was killed and two more were critically wounded during the assault, prompting widespread calls to improve security and raising questions about Trump’s safety in Milwaukee, as well as that of other convention-goers.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, Wisconsin’s largest immigrant rights group, condemned political violence but blamed Trump for fostering anger.

“It’s undeniable that Trump’s rhetoric, policies and actions have contributed to a climate of increased violence and legitimized hate crimes,” she said.

Peter Wilt, 64, of Whitefish Bay, Wis., was in the crowd Monday morning. He held a sign that read “Now Will U Ban Automatic Weapons.” Wilt said the sign referred to the assassination attempt.

“Common-sense gun laws are just that. Common sense,” he said. “The GOP has refused to enact common-sense gun laws, in part because it hasn’t hit home for them.”

There was a heavy police presence in the city, with officers from multiple jurisdictions providing security. Pentagon officials said 1,700 National Guard troops, mostly from Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota, were on active duty at the convention as well.

Milwaukee officials and federal authorities have repeatedly said their priority is safety and insist that they’ve made free speech accommodations.

Information for this article was contributed by Kathleen Foody and Lolita Baldor of The Associated Press.

    Protestors march near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  

    Protestors march near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
  

    Protestors speak at Red Arrow Park near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  

    Protestors speak at Red Arrow Park near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  

    Protestors speak at Red Arrow Park near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  

    Protestors march near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  

    Peter Wilt, 64, of Whitefish Bay, Wis., holds a sign Monday, July 15, 2024, during protest in downtown Milwaukee, by the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024. Wilt said his sign referred to the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. “Common sense gun laws are just that. Common sense,” he said. “The GOP has refused to enact common sense gun laws, in part, because it hasn’t hit home for them.” (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
  

    Protestors march near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
  

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – At the Republian National Convention underway Monday in Milwaukee, Gov. Mike Dunleavy pledged Alaska’s 29 Republican delegate votes.

“The furthest northern state, western state and eastern state, the largest bears in the country, largest moose, biggest military, more retired veterans per capita,” said Gov. Dunleavy, addressing the RNC. “Once again, we pledge all of our votes 29 delegates to Donald Trump.”

Alaskans joined Republicans from across the nation in nominating the former president for a third time, as Trump named Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate. U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said there are 100 Alaskans at the RNC including himself.

“There’s heightened security here with regard particularly to the convention, as there should be,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan and GOP delegates cheered as they formally nominated Trump to the Republican presidential ticket less than two days after an assassination attempt was made on his life.

“You often hear the phrase, you know, ‘you don’t know what people’s courage will truly be until they’re under live fire,’” said Sullivan. “The President of the United States was under live fire. The President of the United States took a bullet.”

Sullivan, who was at the 2016 RNC in Ohio, said this year’s convention feels different for several reasons. Along with heightened security, he also said there’s a strong sense of unity and a high degree of energy. The senator echoed what many, across party lines, have been saying since Saturday, a call for a cooler political temperature in light of Saturday’s assassination attempt. Sullivan said Trump’s courage transcends political lines.

“He showed courage, he showed defiance and again, I don’t think that’s a Republican thing,” said Sullivan. “Americans wanted to see that. Nobody, nobody wants to see an elected politician in our great nation being shot or slain or even an attempt. So the fact that he got up while bleeding and showed that kind of courage and defiance, I think that was an important moment, not just for Republicans for the country.”

Sen. Sullivan, who’s a U.S. Marine, said he’s thrilled that former president Trump selected J.D. Vance as his running mate at said, in his words, that Vance is the first Marine Corps veteran to ever be nominated as vice president.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, will not be attending the RNC.

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.

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Milwaukee is in the national spotlight this week with tens of thousands of visitors in town for the Republican National Convention, or RNC.

The RNC, which convenes for four days and ends on Thursday, July 18, is held every four years to formally nominate the Republican Party’s nominees for president and vice president and flesh out the party’s platform.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters asked a cross-section of Milwaukeeans what they like most about their city and what they want the RNC attendees to know about their city. Here’s what they had to say.

Robert E. Holmes III, 54

Occupation: Business Owner

What I like best about Milwaukee: “What I like best about Milwaukee is the river. We can flow down inside downtown in the boats. We need an ethnic area by the river that grills food outside.”

What I want RNC to know: “I would like RNC to know how diverse Milwaukee is, and that reflects on the food we have here in Milwaukee.” 

Christal West, 58

Occupation: Community resource and research specialist

What I like best about Milwaukee: “Milwaukeeans are good down home family people and love to be a service to each other.” 

What I want RNC to know: “Milwaukee is culturally diverse, rich in resources and it’s like one giant family.  You got some of the best hidden treasures in Milwaukee.” 

Drea Rodriguez, 46

Occupation: Executive director of Peace Learning Center

What I like best about Milwaukee: “I love the neighborhood pride. We need to see more of it. When one takes pride in a home, they are more invested in their neighborhood.”

What I want RNC to know:  “I want the RNC to acknowledge how lucky they are to be in a city as beautiful as Milwaukee and despite its past approval of horrible initiatives such as trickle-down economics, families of Milwaukee are committed to bridging divides and strengthening our communities.” 

Rafael Mercado, 54

Occupation: Owner of Top Quality Services and founder of TEAM HAVOC

What I like best about Milwaukee: “What I like about Milwaukee is our diversity. We are so full of different ethnicities and cultures that there is always something going on.”   

What I want RNC to know: “We are considered one of, if not, the most segregated cities in the U.S., yet I find that hard to see. We’re filled with every culture out here in this small but big city.” 

Raymond Duncan, 44

Occupation: Special education teacher; member of Martin Drive Neighborhood Association Coordinating Committee

What I like best about Milwaukee: “Us as a neighborhood, we don’t charge fees or dues. We’re able to run a number of events that are almost solely potluck by nature, just bringing together different talents. And then that’s what we see with Milwaukee. Milwaukee can be this potluck of different people and groups and thoughts, and we can really solve problems.”

What I want RNC to know: “Milwaukee can be this home where I feel like it’s this big city, small town feel.”

Roderick Rush, 62

Occupation: Educator

What I like best about Milwaukee: “In the summertime, we’re the city of festivals. So you can’t lose for visiting Milwaukee during the month of July. … In general, we are a friendly place, no matter what your ethnicity or race is.”

What I want RNC to know: “It’s hypersegregated. But the people who live here, they know that … However, in summertime, and with sports, that seems to go by the wayside and people have a good time getting along with each other.” 

Miriam Elizabeth Ramirez, 35

Occupation: Initiative coordinator at Muskego Way Forward

What I like best about Milwaukee: “We remain connected by the bridges meant to divide us. The Good land remains a place to call home for those that can appreciate its history, our skyline and architecture, and many fun festivals and food to enjoy throughout all four seasons. Milwaukee is home.”  

What I want RNC to know: “Milwaukee is a place full of great potential where generations of people continue to create opportunities that represent our city’s diverse culture and community. (There are) a vast and valuable number of immigrant communities within our city who are involved in supporting the arts, music, education, health and wellness as well as business and historic social justice movements and more.”

Felice Green

Occupation: Director of programming at Milwaukee Water Commons 

What I like best about Milwaukee: “I love my city, and I love what we stand for. And I think that Milwaukee has great lakes, great opportunities.” 

What I want RNC to know: “Just like other big cities, we do have our challenges, but we try to come together to work out the challenges and work on the issues, for example, with pedestrian safety and reckless driving. … Spend some money in urban communities, Black and Brown communities while they’re here as well and learn each other.”

Howard Snyder, 74

Occupation: Semi-retired; former director of Northwest Side Community Development Corp. 

What I like best about Milwaukee: “It’s easy to get around. It’s easy to live in. If you have kids, it’s a good place.”

What I want RNC to know: “It’s not Chicago, and we’re not a suburb of Chicago. We have an awful lot to offer. … Milwaukee is just not, it’s not a touristy place. You have to look a little bit. You have to work at it.” 

Elijah Holbrook, 32

Occupation: Coffee sales associate

What I like best about Milwaukee: “What I like best about Milwaukee is the beautiful trails, parks and beaches allowing people to get outside, be in nature and see some of the best views the city has to offer while running, biking or walking..”

What I want RNC to know: “I would want the people of the RNC to be open-minded about Milwaukee and all cities. They aren’t the dangerous, crime-infested war zones conservative media often paints them to be.” 

Diego Avila, 29

Occupation: Quality Engineer

What I like best about Milwaukee: “I love the size of this city. Small enough to allow you to connect with your community and people in your neighborhood while still being culturally diverse and vibrant. It is so easy to find your niche and make friends as an adult out of college and outside of work.”

What I want RNC to know: “I wish people understood that there are so many programs and activities coordinated by people in the city who want to make this a safer and more accessible place for everyone.”

Gary Zajackowski, 38

Occupation: Factory worker

What I like best about Milwaukee: “Milwaukee is underrated. Slept on. Anyone determined to focus on negatives is missing out, and we don’t need them anyway. Always something to do. … We have basically anything a big city has, but you can get across town in 20 minutes, in bad traffic.” 

What I want RNC to know: “Most people you come across are nice. Anyone willing to get acquainted with Milwaukee will probably find things they love. If you’re miserable here, you’re probably miserable anywhere, anyway.” 

Victor Cambell, 66

Occupation: Musician

What I like best about Milwaukee: As a drummer, I’ve traveled all over the world, so I am comfortable saying Milwaukee is a great place to live.

What I want RNC to know: Milwaukee has its issues like driver’s education safety. We need people to gain knowledge and the wisdom to put guns down, but on the flip side of that, the history of this city is beautiful and rich if you’re willing to get to know it and the city does have some great things going on. 

Dominic McCallum, 18

Occupation: Student

What I like best about Milwaukee: “I moved here from Dallas not too long ago, so Milwaukee was really different. I like that Milwaukee feels like a hometown. Everyone knows everyone and it feels like a safe community.”

What I want RNC to know: “I think people should know that there’s a lot to do here and people are friendly. You just have to be open to experiencing the city.”

Maurice “Moe” Wince

Occupation: Owner and operator of Sherman Park Grocery Store

What I like best about Milwaukee: “One of the things that I love to share with folks that I love about Milwaukee is the fact that it has amazing opportunities for businesses to start as well as entrepreneurship.”

What I want RNC to know: “While you’re here in Milwaukee, I strongly encourage you to not only come to Sherman Park neighborhood but visit all the other amazing neighborhoods and the business improvement districts, so that you know that the city of Milwaukee is not just a place to be, but it’s also fun to be here.”

A version of this story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, a nonprofit news organization that covers Milwaukee’s diverse neighborhoods.

News414 is a service journalism collaboration between Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service that addresses the specific issues, interests, perspectives and information needs identified by residents of central city Milwaukee neighborhoods. Learn more at our website or sign up for our texting service here.