MILWAUKEE — The Coalition to March on the RNC is one of several groups speaking out against the security zone the United States Secret Service (USSS) established for the Republican National Convention (RNC).
Zeidler Union Square and Haymarket Square Park have been designated as free speech zones for the RNC.
However, the coalition said neither of the two spots are reasonable spots for its protest.
Casey Serrano, the outreach coordinator, took a quick walk in Zeidler Union Square. She said at the edge of the park, she can see the top arc of Fiserv Forum, where the RNC will be held.
“What we really want is to be in sight and sound of those front doors and not sight, like, 'Oh, if I stand on the lake in Kenosha, I can see Chicago,'" said Serrano. "We want real sight and real sound. We want them to be able to see us and them to be able to hear us as well.”
Serrano said one of the group's biggest concerns is what the convention will do to those who live and work in Milwaukee every day.
“I’m not seeing there are a whole lot of benefits, economic or otherwise, coming to Milwaukee because of the RNC," said Serrano. "What I am seeing is that I fully expect is for me and everybody else’s life to be disrupted when they shut down major streets downtown. I fully expect everybody’s life to be disrupted when the Republicans decide they can just book out a park and take it away from the city.”
The Coalition to March on the RNC held a press conference Friday afternoon. Omar Flores said the group planned to keep its protest out of the credentialed zone.
However, it will move forward with their lawsuit because the coalition believes the city is repressing first amendment rights.
“There was an inaccuracy in the secret service press conference that they said they are allowing us the closest point to be within sight and sound of the RNC," said Flores. "That is not true. The closest point is on hHghland and MLK, and that is where we plan on marching through and where we plan on hosting some of our speakers.”
Serrano said she believes Republicans will misrepresent Milwaukee at their convention. The coalition's goal is to counteract that narrative and show people what Milwaukee actually is.
“Which is a city that I am so proud to be from because it is a city of Black and Brown folk, a city of immigrants, a city of LGBTQ folks, a city of unions, a city of workers and so to us, it’s just really vile to watch the Republicans come in to get a full vehicle to say whatever they want,“ said Serrano.
Serrano and those protesting hope the city will grant their permit to march on the RNC, but if not, they state it won’t change their plans. They intend to march their planned route.
Tim Muth, staff attorney for the ACLU of Wisconsin, issued the following statement on the subject:
“We were surprised and disappointed to see how many blocks of Downtown Milwaukee the Secret Service has declared off limits to anyone but convention attendees. The large size of this zone makes it more critical than ever that the City take steps to allow for effective opportunities for expression and assembly by those with differing viewpoints.
"The ACLU and the Coalition to March attempted to mediate our differences with the City, but the divide was too great to bridge so we will proceed with our case in federal court in Milwaukee. We hope for a swift ruling that will vindicate the Coalition’s plan for a march that passes within sight and sound of Fiserv Forum.
"The expansion of the credentialled zone all the way to the Milwaukee River and including Pere Marquette Park cannot be justified. The expansion represents an impermissible concession to the Republican National Committee, which did not want to see or hear demonstrators near its convention.”