MILWAUKEE – The Republican National Convention ended Thursday night.

From the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and the convention that followed, to calls from Democrats for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race – voters are now left to make sense of a historic week of American history.

Conventions usually lead to a boost for that party’s nominee in the polls. The campaigns put their chosen message out to the world, and arenas get packed full of excited, loyal supporters. There’s a rock concert atmosphere, as well as speeches from celebrities and some of the biggest names in politics.

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The American Presidency Project keeps track of changes in support after political conventions. When comparing poll averages, those boosts do usually take place – but the score often evens out, since both parties get a chance for that convention bounce.

The Democratic National Convention will take place next month in Chicago.

Swing city, swing state

FOX6 wanted to gauge how the week’s events played out in battleground Wisconsin. In Ozaukee County, Cedarburg has become a swing city in a swing state. Here is what some voters there had to say:

Tom Just, Cedarburg voter for Democrats: “It’s a show making Donald Trump now look like the attempt on his life, now he’s changed. Well, if you listen to his speech, he spoke differently in the beginning, and then he went right back to Donald Trump.”

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Julie Carver, Jackson voter for Trump: “It cemented my decision, and actually, I was kind of on the fence. I am voting for Trump. I don’t like a lot of the things he does, but I do like the policies. And I do remember what it was like four years ago.”

Cedarburg voted for Trump in 2016, voting Republican as it had in previous elections. In 2020, though, Biden won the city by just 19 votes – turning blue in a strongly red Ozaukee County. 

If you thought the Republican National Convention leaving town meant the end of thousands of visitors wandering downtown Milwaukee in business wear, think again.

The Northwestern Mutual annual conference is back this weekend. More than 12,000 employees and agents of the Milwaukee-based insurance and financial services company will gather downtown for the multi-day event.

Here’s everything you need to know about the conference — including what’s up with those long ribbons many of the employees will be sporting.

How long is the Northwestern Mutual conference?

The conference will run from July 20 to 23. The gathering is typically held at Fiserv Forum and the Baird Center but will be on the Summerfest grounds this year — because takedown of the RNC is still underway at those facilities.

What happens during the Northwestern Mutual conference?

Employees and agents will spend most of their time in Milwaukee attending company meetings and events.

But it’s not all work: the company also dishes out on big-ticket headliners to entertain employees. Last year, country music star Kenny Chesney put on a private concert for the convention-goers. The company is keeping with the country music theme this year, with singer Eric Church scheduled to headline, the Milwaukee Business Journal reported.

What are those ribbons all the Northwestern Mutual people wear?

When you see the ribbons, you know Northwestern Mutual is in town.

Throughout the conference, Northwestern Mutual agents will wear lanyards with colorful ribbons that sometimes extend almost all the way to the floor. The ribbons denote sales goals achieved, benchmarks passed, accomplishments made, and employees earn them over their time at the company.

MILWAUKEE – Police officers from Columbus, Ohio – in Milwaukee to help with law enforcement during the Republican National Convention – shot and killed a man on Tuesday, July 16.

A portion of the bodycam video was released later that day. Now, the rest has come out.

Video showed the man, identified as Samuel Sharpe, with knives in each hand moving toward another person before police shot him. 

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New video shows police handcuffing Sharpe after the shooting and putting a wrap on his arm

Officers also handcuffed the other man, set up crime scene tape and discussed communication.

March outside RNC

On Thursday, hundreds marched downtown – just outside of the RNC – in support of Sharpe and another man who was recently killed.

Red Arrow Park filled with protesters before the group headed onto the streets with their message.

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The protest focused on two men killed in two very different situations. But both families said the deaths of their loved ones did not have to happen. 

Demonstrators stopped outside the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee hotel. That’s where 43-year-old D’Vontaye Mitchell died after security guards tried to restrain him.

March for justice in deaths of D’Vontaye Mitchell, Samuel Sharpe

Witnesses said Mitchell tried locking himself in a women’s restroom and fought with security. Employees held him down until police arrived; when they did, he was unresponsive.

The employees involved have been fired. Supporters want to see the people involved criminally charged.

Sharpe’s family

The march also focused on Sharpe. His family said Sharpe chose to live in a tent community, and he was still very connected to his family.

They said, in recent days, Sharpe told them a man had been threatening him. They said he left the tent community, but returned to get his dog.

Sharpe’s brother told FOX6 the 43-year-old had advanced multiple sclerosis and struggled to stand. He believes his brother was not the aggressor in Tuesday’s encounter. 

“I believe my brother was defending himself. If anything he was defending himself,” he said. “If you’ve ever seen someone with advanced MS, it’s very laborious to walk, anything like that.

“It’s like putting a child against an adult. A toddler that barely knows how to walk. He ain’t going to get away. The man that was in that video knew all of that information as well.”

Both families said their fights do not end Thursday. They will continue to rally and protest until they get what they believe is justice.