The designated “protester zone” near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will be expanded during the July event.
The expansion came after months of pressure from Republican Party officials, according to the Washington Post. The perimeter was allowed to be expanded after party officials said they were using another facility near Pere Marquette Park, a site where thousands of protesters could gather, for some convention events. People familiar with the matter said that the change would be announced in the coming days.
“We applaud Secret Service leadership for including Pere Marquette Park in the security perimeter and we implore local officials to expedite the permit application for this park and choose a different location for the First Amendment zone,” Trump senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Secret Service spokeswoman Alexi Worley said the security plan was still under development.
“As of right now, the security plan for the 2024 Republican National Convention, which includes the security perimeter, is still in development,” Worley said. “The U.S. Secret Service does not determine demonstration zones for National Special Security Events — those decisions are made by the host city. The U.S. Secret Service is continuing to work closely with our public safety partners, the City of Milwaukee, and the Republican National Committee to ensure the highest level of safety and security during the 2024 Republican National Convention.”
Protest zones, or free speech zones, are designated areas allocated for protesters, allowing protests without widespread disruption. They first emerged on college campuses as a way for students to protest without impeding the functions of the school.
The RNC will hold its presidential nominating convention in the Fiserv Forum. The Democratic Party originally planned for the building to host its 2020 convention but changed plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the biggest protests are expected at the Democrats’ August convention in Chicago, the squabbling over the security perimeter shows Republicans are concerned too.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
In a meeting with Republicans on Thursday, Trump reportedly relayed a negative impression of Milwaukee.
“Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city,” he said.
