2024-07-15 10:25:02
After months of preparation, Milwaukee is set to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.
But now, it’s in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally Saturday in Pennsylvania, as news continues to unfold about the incident.
While the RNC officially starts Monday and runs through Thursday, but there was a lot going Sunday. The Journal Sentinel provided live coverage.
‘Unfortunately, because of state law,’ city can’t limit guns near RNC, Mayor Cavalier Johnson tells CNN
Mayor Cavalier Johnson pointed a finger at the state legislature for allowing guns near the Republican National Convention.
“Unfortunately, because of state law, we are not able to enact more restrictions for individuals who may decide to carry guns,” Johnson said in an interview with CNN Monday night.
Johnson said he’s confident in the security protocols for the RNC this week.
Still, Johnson said, the City of Milwaukee would’ve liked to do more to regulate firearms around the convention. State law, however, prohibits cities from imposing gun regulations that are stricter than state law.
Firearms are banned from the “hard,” credentials-only security perimeter around Fiserv Forum, but are allowed in the area just outside the perimeter — the so-called security “footprint.”
Governor Tony Evers asked the Secret Service to tell the Republican National Committee to reconsider that policy.
“I don’t think that’s a Secret Service issue,” Johnson said, when asked about Evers’ request on CNN. “I think that’s a State of Wisconsin issue.”
— Genevieve Redsten
Under existing plans most guns would not be banned in an area immediately outside the RNC perimeter.
Trump will appear at the convention on Monday
Former President Donald Trump will make an appearance Monday at the Republican National Convention, said RNC committee member David Bossie in an interview with WISN-TV (Channel 12).
“The welcome that he’s going to get here, I think, is going to be a very emotional and overwhelming thing,” Bossie told WISN.
Trump has yet to name his vice presidential pick. Asked whether a running mate would join Trump on stage Monday, Bossie said: “I don’t get ahead of him, but that’s — the plan is, it’s imminent, for certain.”
The attempted assassination has changed Trump’s tone going into the convention.
Trump told the Washington Examiner he has completely rewritten his keynote speech, which he is set to deliver Thursday.
The previous draft took aim at President Joe Biden’s policies. Now, Trump plans to call for national unity, according to the Washington Examiner.
— Genevieve Redsten
Update on Gov. Doug Burgum, potential VP candidate, after tearing Achilles
Last August before the Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ruptured his Achilles playing pickup basketball.
He was treated by the Milwaukee Bucks orthopedic surgeon.
Burgum toughed it out during the debate and eventually dropped out of the race.
On Sunday, after speaking to the California Republican delegation, Burgum was asked how his Achilles was feeling.
“It’s feeling pretty good, thank you,” Burgum said.
Burgum did not say if he would play anymore basketball while in Milwaukee for the convention.
Donald Trump has not named a running mate, but Burgum is on the short list for potential vice presidential candidates.
—Ricardo Torres
Bill Maher cancels Milwaukee show citing travel problems
Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher said on X he is canceling his show in Milwaukee.
“It’s not going to happen tonight, I can tell you,” Maher said in a video posted to the social media site. “First they said it’s going to be impossible to get to the theater because downtown (Milwaukee) is going to be closed off for security reasons.”
Maher said he wanted to “go to Milwaukee anyway and maybe things will change. I hate to cancel shows.”
Maher said the plane he was trying to take broke.
“I tried to get a commercial flight out of Minneapolis … that was not possible,” Maher said. “I’m so sorry but I’m not going to make the show tonight in Milwaukee. It breaks my heart. I was really looking forward to it, we’d do anything to be there but I just can’t fight this.”
Maher was to perform at the Riverside Theater. The theater’s website said his show was “postponed due to mechanical issues with the artist’s plane.”
Maher, host of “Real Time With Bill Maher” on HBO, was to appear as part of his “The WTF? Tour.” In an interview with the Journal Sentinel last week, Maher said he was looking forward to the Milwaukee show as an opportunity to bring people together.
In the video with Maher was a man he said was the captain of the plane “to testify because I know there are a lot of conspiracy theorists out there.”
The man Maher called “Steve,” who was dressed in pilot attire, validated “everything he just said,” referring to Maher.
Maher concluded with a joke to fans saying “you probably couldn’t have gone to the show anyway. So I guess the show is not meant to be.”
Maher asked for his fans forgiveness.
“I’ll see you again, Milwaukee,” Maher said. “Love you.”
Ricardo Torres
Biden gives remarks from Oval Office: ‘We cannot, we must not go down this road’
President Joe Biden gave remarks regarding the assassination attempt from the Oval Office Sunday night.
“A former president was shot. An American citizen killed, while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot, we must not go down this road in America,” Biden said.
Biden did not give any updates on his direction to the U.S. Secret Service to review security measures for the RNC, but noted “the Republican convention will start tomorrow.”
“I have no doubt they’ll criticize my record and offer their own vision for this country. I’ll be traveling this week, making the case for our record and the vision, my vision for the country – our vision,” Biden said. “I’ll continue to speak out strongly for our democracy.”
–Hope Karnopp
Oops: RNC is in Milwaukee, not Minneapolis
The New York Times’ ‘The Morning’ newsletter accidentally wrote the “Republican National Convention begins tomorrow in Minneapolis,” Milwaukee radio host Jeff Sherman pointed out on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“That’s Viking country,” Sherman said, adding he’d buy anyone from the New York Times a beer or brat and show them around.
–Hope Karnopp
Trump’s motorcade arrives at the Pfister Hotel
Former President Trump’s motorcade arrived at the Pfister Hotel on Sunday evening, where many expect he will be staying for the Republican National Convention.
A crowd of spectators — some with boxes of popcorn — peered through the fence to catch a glimpse of the former president, just 24 hours after he survived an attempted assassination.
Secret Service agents lined the perimeter and eyed the surrounding rooftops as dozens of SUVs pulled up to the storied hotel.
Trump, however, could not be spotted exiting his vehicle. A tent was waiting outside the entrance, and security quickly pulled the curtains shut.
— Genevieve Redsten
Milwaukee under severe thunderstorm watch, storms could arrive around 9 p.m.
Milwaukee County and much of southern Wisconsin are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 1 a.m.
Storms have developed in southwestern Wisconsin and will push eastward into tonight, the National Weather Service said in an update. Storms also may develop earlier in an “unsettled area” southwest of Milwaukee.
The storms are expected to peak between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight, reaching Milwaukee sometime around 9 p.m., according to the NWS forecast. Damaging winds and large hail are the main concerns.
The delegate welcome party at the Summerfest grounds is scheduled to end at 10 p.m.
The NWS says more severe thunderstorms are expected tomorrow afternoon and evening, along with a heat index up to 100 degrees.
–Hope Karnopp
Motorcade travels toward Pfister
Trump’s motorcade exited the 794 freeway onto Milwaukee St at 6:15pm on Sunday. The motorcade headed up North Milwaukee St, towards the Pfister Hotel.
Two Hop streetcars were stuck behind temporary street closure signs, but police let them through minutes after the motorcade finished.
A group wearing RNC badges gathered on the corner to watch.
– Zoe Jaeger
Trump’s motorcade departed from the 128th Air Refueling Station at 6:04 p.m.
A group of four people watched from the sidewalk across from the refueling station along Layton Avenue. Others watched further away from Mitchell Airport Park in front of the playground.
Claire Reid
No changes to RNC security perimeter, plan
The security perimeter and plan or the Republican National Convention will remain in place as-is, even after an assassination attempt targeting former president Donald Trump, federal and local law enforcement officials said Sunday.
Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, RNC Coordinator the U.S. Secret Service, said the “security plan will remain in place” for the event, which is set to begin Monday in downtown Milwaukee.
“We will continue to assess the security environment and adapt our security measures,” she said Sunday afternoon during a media briefing in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and others stressed the planning and preparation that had already gone into the existing plan.
“A national special security event is the highest designation that you can get for a security event of its size and magnitude in the United States,” Johnson said. “We have that designation, and we’ll continue to work to make sure that public safety is tantamount out here this week.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said he wanted to reassure RNC attendees as well as members of the community that local and federal law enforcement officials were prepared.
“We got this,” Norman said. “We got this.”
— Mary Spicuzza
Trump has landed in Milwaukee
Donald Trump’s plane landed at Mitchell International Airport
At least 10 people watched from across Layton Avenue in Mitchell Airport Park. Many waited for over two hours.
Some filmed or photographed the plane landing on their phones.
Next to the park on Brust Avenue, onlookers in four cars waited for the former president’s arrival, some standing outside their cars and looking up at the sky. Andrew G (who declined to give his last name to a reporter). of Milwaukee, who’d been waiting near the airport for at least three hours, stood outside his car waving a large American flag.
— Claire Reid
Smoke near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport from car fire, no impacts on airport
Reports of black smoke and emergency vehicles near the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport were due to a car that malfunctioned and caught fire on an exit ramp near the airport, airport director of public affairs and marketing Harold Mester said.
The fire has since been put out. The incident did not happen on airport property and had no impact on the airport as former President Donald Trump’s plane arrived in Milwaukee.
–Hope Karnopp
California GOP chair responds to Trump assassination attempt
Jessica Patterson, chairwomen of the California GOP, said many their delegates were learning about the assassination attempt after they landed in Milwaukee.
“We saw delegates, huddled together as they watched on the TVs in the lobby, watching really in disbelief,” Patterson said. “ and I think it was really important for President Trump, when he stood up and put his arm in the air, that we really knew that he was OK, and that our country was OK.“
Patterson added they are mourning the person that was killed and “ we pray for the victims that are still in critical condition”
“We also know we have work to do,” Patterson said. “And (Saturday) Really underscored how important what we’re doing is.”
— Ricardo Torres
Gov. Evers seeks to bar firearms from RNC soft perimeter
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has requested that the decision to allow firearms within the soft perimeter of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee be reconsidered “immediately” following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, a source with knowledge of the discussion shared with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The request was made to the U.S. Secret Service, which would relay the governor’s concerns to the Republican National Committee, the source said.
But the request appears likely to go nowhere. The power to ban firearms in the security “footprint” outside the credentials-only “hard” security zone seems to rest with the state, not the Secret Service, the RNC or the City of Milwaukee.
— Jessie Opoien
The Great Milwaukee Block Party hosts puppet-making event
Members of a UWM student puppet club and various other groups met Saturday and Sunday at Tooth + Nail Studio and Gallery to create puppets from cardboard, paper mache and paint.
The event was hosted by Milwaukee activist and artist Susan Simensky Bietila and Nora Leccese, a community organizer. Both are participating in the Great Milwaukee Block Party, which is hosting a “collection of events to connect the Milwaukee community in acts of joyful rebellion during the RNC” between July 13 and 20, according to the group’s Instagram page.
“This is part of bring people together in a positive way,” said Simensky Bietila, who has been creating activist art since the mid -1960s.
She said the group of artists are “generally people who are not supporters of Trump.” Instead of demonstrating downtown, they want to bring people from across the city together through “doing art and teaching skills.”
Many of the puppets resembled animals, including a paper maché and cardboard otter designed by Leccese that can be worn as a hat or on her arm. She said it represents clean water. Another artist created an intricate cardboard bird and another created a painted owl to wear on her head. Simensky Bietila said her own work often addresses clean water and environmental advocacy.
Leccese said she thinks elected officials “made a big mistake” in inviting the RNC to Milwaukee.
“[They] invited a bunch of people here who don’t generally like the population of this city,” she said. “We wanted to create safe places outside of downtown for people to come be in joyful resistance together.”
Leccese said they chose puppets because they tell a great story and encourage people to be involved in politics and demonstrations.
— Claire Reid
Inside a quiet Fiserv Forum, RNC staff and media prepare for busy week
The inside of Fiserv Forum was a focused and quiet atmosphere a day before the big show.
National TV networks workers lugged wagons of camera equipment into their media suites. Reporters from smaller outlets found their stations to file stories on the top floor. Volunteers received tours to learn the building’s layout and where to direct people. RNC merchandise shops and concession stands were closed Sunday.
The most activity was on the event floor where banners proclaimed “MAKE AMERICA GREAT ONCE AGAIN!” Stairs up to the stage were lined with red lights and balloons waited in nets to be dropped from the ceiling. TV reporters rehearsed their live shots.
During a Color Guard rehearsal, five men carrying flags and rifles practiced their procession and presenting of the colors.
Several songs played from the sound system periodically, including “The Star-Spangled Banner.” RNC staff checked sound levels for the various camera crews.
“Testing mic one,” someone said. “Hello, Milwaukee.”
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Wisconsin pastors pray for Trump’s recovery at Turning Point Action event
Several dozen people gathered at Zeidler Union Square Sunday afternoon for a prayer vigil for former President Donald Trump following his attempted assassination on Saturday.
The gathering was hosted by conservative group Turing Point Action.
People were clad in “Make America Great Again” hats, held American flags and signed a “get well soon” sign for the former president.
Milwaukee resident Bryan Dudley, 51, said he attended to show his support for Trump.
“It was a tragedy what happened yesterday to begin with, shouldn’t ever happen… just because you don’t like somebody doesn’t mean you need to take them out,” Dudley said.
Dudley said while he understands tensions will be high in Milwaukee this week during the Republican National Convention he is still looking forward to a positive event.
A handful of pastors from across Wisconsin, including Milwaukee pastor Marty Calderon, prayed for Trump’s recovery and thanked God for saving his life.
At times, they encouraged praying for the safety of President Joe Biden and elected officials in Congress, whether Republican or Democratic.
“I was asked to come pray for our nation, for our country … I don’t care if you’re Democrat, Republican, I don’t care who you believe in,” Calderon told the Journal Sentinel.
“I was very shocked,” Calderon said of the assassination attempt.
Calderon added he’s avoiding the downtown next week during the RNC despite being asked to come as a guest. Instead, he’ll be praying.
“I expect a lot of chaos, to a point, on both ends. It’s not just going to be one particular group, it’s just going to be very chaotic down here.”
– Jessica Rodriguez and Hope Karnopp
Interfaith leaders rally hundreds to reject Christian nationalism
Over 500 people have filled the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s performing arts center for an interfaith “rally for democracy” this afternoon in opposition to the Republican National Convention and in rejection of Christian nationalism.
Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton had been scheduled to speak at the rally but canceled after being asked to offer eulogy for D’Vontaye Mitchell, who died after being held down by security guards outside a Milwaukee hotel June 30.
The event at the Zelazo Center was organized by Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), a social justice and interfaith organization representing 42 congregations.
At a press conference before the 2 p.m. rally, MICAH President Richard Shaw, a pastor at St. Matthew CME Church, said the event was necessary to show the world that “there’s a group of religious leaders who do not stand for white Christian nationalism.”
“It’s necessary because the group who’s meeting here in Milwaukee, they pushed an ideology that separates us,” Shaw said. “But we want to show that regardless of our race, regardless of our religion, regardless of our origin, our sexual origin, our gender, that we come together.”
Janan Najeeb, who serves as director of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition and is the first non-Christian chair of the MICAH’s religious leaders caucus, said the caucus’ work is to build “beloved community that believes in the intrinsic worth of all people.”
“MICAH has a 36 year history of welcoming people of various faiths and spiritualities, people who believe in the dignity of every human being and commit to the justice work needed to make that happen,” Najeeb said at the event.
Organizers called Christian nationalism – a movement that argues the government should be based on Christian values – an urgent threat to democracy.
Dennis Jacobson, a founding pastor of MICAH, cited surveys by the Public Religion Research Institute that found about 30% of Americans qualified as Christian nationalism adherents or sympathizers.
“To privilege Christianity would destroy our multicultural democracy and kill the dream of a beloved community for which so many people are striving,” Jacobson said. “If white Christian nationalism prevails, you may soon know what it’s like to live in an authoritarian society.”
The rally, scheduled to run until 6 p.m., features a range of local and national speakers who will discuss Christian nationalism, its “threat to democracy,” and how attendees can work together to reject it.
— Rory Linnane
People waiting in airport observation lot told to leave
About two dozen cars were waiting in the plane observation lot at the Milwaukee International Airport. Some were waiting to see Trump’s plane land. Around 2:30 p.m., they were told to leave by Milwaukee County Sheriff’s department officers to prepare for Trump’s arrival at Signature Flight Support.
All the cars left. Officers told media and people watching from the cars that the observation lot would be closing and no one would be allowed to park along the observation lot fence on Layton Avenue.
Andrew G. of Milwaukee was waiting to see Trump’s plane land and flying a large American flag out of his sun roof. He said he had already purchased the flag today and wanted to come out and see Trump’s plane after last night’s shooting.
Andrew called the assassination attempt “absolutely horrible” and said he was “speechless.”
“If convicting Trump as a felon made his poll numbers go up, what do you think this is going to do?” he said.
Others waiting in the observation lot, such as a couple who was enjoying Leon’s custard before heading out on vacation, were surprised to learn Trump was due to fly in nearby.
— Claire Reid
Coalition to March on the RNC reconfirmed route with city last night
Coalition to March on the RNC reconfirmed route with city last nightThe Coalition to March on the RNC held a press conference Sunday afternoon to share updates on their planned march route.
On July 12, organizers shared a revised route plan and said they had reached a “handshake agreement” with MPD and the city attorney’s office, though city officials did not confirm the agreement.
Omar Flores, the coalition’s co-chair, said the group reconfirmed their route with the city Saturday night.
Asked if the route would change if the perimeter is adjusted, Flores said “all of the planning from the city has been extremely last-minute, and so we’re pretty used to last-minute changes and we’ll be ready for anything.”
The group said Sunday that a representative from the city attorney’s office would join the route “to ensure that there’s no problems.”
The route is separate from the city’s designated parade route.
Flores said the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump does not change their messaging. Asked multiple times by reporters if the group condemned the shooting, Flores repeated “it has nothing to do with us.”
The coalition will hold a press conference 10 a.m. tomorrow, followed by a rally at 11 a.m. and a march at 12 p.m. The group currently only plans to march on Monday.
— Hope Karnopp
Trump to leave for Milwaukee shortly
Former President Trump said he will arrive in Milwaukee Sunday, just hours after he was wounded in an assassination attempt during a rally Saturday in Pennsylvania.
Trump on Truth Social Sunday afternoon said he will be leaving for Milwaukee at 3:30 ET as scheduled, despite originally planning to delay his arrival at the Republican National Convention following the shooting.
“Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days,” he wrote, “but have just decided that I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”
Earlier in the day, President Joe Biden said he asked the Secret Service to “review all security measures” for the RNC in Milwaukee.
“As I said last night, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter,” Biden said Sunday. “As assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation.”
-Lawrence Andrea
Biden says he directed Secret Service to review all security measures for RNC
President Joe Biden gave brief remarks from the White House Sunday afternoon, noting he spoke with former President Donald Trump Saturday night. Biden will also address the nation from the Oval Office Sunday night
“I’ve directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures – all security measures – for the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to start tomorrow,” Biden said.
Biden emphasized all of the security measures will be reviewed. The Secret Service has not yet released any information on security measures that could change.
— Hope Karnopp
Melania Trump issues statement after assassination attempt
Former First Lady Melania Trump issued a statement Sunday responding to the assassination attempt on her husband, former President Donald Trump.
Melania Trump said when she “watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change.” She said she was grateful for the secret service agents and law enforcement officials who “risked their own lives to protect my husband.”
“The winds of change have arrived,” she ended her statement. “For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide – thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.”
While Melania Trump was not included on a list of headliners and keynote speakers for the RNC, other members of Trump’s family are expected to speak, including his sons Donald Jr. and Eric Trump and Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump.
— Hope Karnopp
Delegates arriving at Mitchell International
Brenda Milewski, 64, carried a black-and-red tote bag through the terminal at General Mitchell International Airport Sunday morning with script encouraging people to “Vote for Trump.”
Milewski, a Washington state delegate, was among visitors who began arriving in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania Saturday night. The shooting was on the minds of several RNC attendees as they arrived at the airport, but several said they were still excited for the convention and not worried about safety or security in Milwaukee.
“I am excited,” Milewski said. “And very confident. Although there was the incident from yesterday, it’s still going to be pretty strong and we still have the confidence knowing that Trump’s going to be our person.”
Clif Vicars, an alternate delegate from Tennessee, flew in Sunday morning from the Tri-City Airport for his first Republican National Convention.
“I’m not apprehensive at all,” Vicars said as he walked through the terminal in a red Make America Great Again hat.
Schimming: Trump is expected to be in Milwaukee ‘soon’
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said it “remains to be seen” whether there will be changes to the RNC as a result of the assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump.
“We feel pretty confident on where we are there,” Schimming told WISN-TV. “I’m sure there’s some folks getting another look today just to make sure, but we feel pretty confident we’re going to have a great convention.”
Schimming said he hadn’t seen anything yet about any changes to the convention program.
“I know the President will be on site, and so we’re looking forward to welcoming him here to Milwaukee and to the Republican National Convention. I don’t see a situation where there are massive changes,” Schimming said. “We haven’t been told anything that’s going to change, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”
Asked when Trump would arrive in Milwaukee, Schimming said, “Soon.”
-Mary Spicuzza and Alison Dirr
Long line into Fiserv
There is a single entrance into Fiserv Forum on Sunday, with press, volunteers and others affiliated with the RNC trying to get inside in a timely manner.
Some national media reporters grew impatient as the line expanded around the block past Mader’s. At least 100 people stood in line.
“I have a hit (a live TV appearance) in 20 minutes,” one TV reporter told an RNC staffer.
Someone asked how the line could be sped up. Another questioned if the line was even moving.
One convention staffer managing the line described the situation as a “disaster.”
RNC staff are bringing in a computer to scan credentials more quickly.
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Will the RNC’s welcome party still take place Sunday in Milwaukee?
A spokesperson for the RNC’s host committee told the Journal Sentinel there were “no changes planned at this time” for the committee’s convention welcome party scheduled for Sunday at the Summerfest grounds at Henry Maier Festival Park.
— Mary Spicuzza and Alison Dirr
Wisconsin GOP chair doubts there will be ‘massive’ changes to convention
The head of the Milwaukee Republican Party said Sunday that officials may make some changes to this week’s convention schedule, but nothing very major.
“I don’t see a situation where there are massive changes,” said Brian Schimming, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, speaking on WISN-TV in Milwaukee.
One issue is when Trump will arrive in Milwaukee and what he will be doing here, he said, and that “remains to be decided.”
— David Jackson, USA TODAY
Trump still plans to come to the RNC as scheduled
Trump was rushed from a stage in Pennsylvania Saturday night after gunshots were fired as he was speaking to supporters at a rally.
Trump left the stage with blood on his ear and cheek. The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage before being “neutralized” by the Secret Service.
A joint statement released by the Trump campaign and the RNC Saturday night after the shooting said that Trump “looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States.”
As part of an early Sunday morning post on Truth Social, Trump said, “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 will continue as planned Monday
For months, the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 was planning peaceful protests in opposition to the RNC, and the shooting at Trump’s rally won’t change the group’s plans.
“The Coalition to March on the RNC reaffirms our commitment to a family-friendly march along the route we have agreed on with the city,” the Coalition said in a statement. “From the very beginning of our coalition, we have been clear about two things: we stand in opposition to the racist and reactionary Republican agenda, and we are a broad coalition that is planning a family-friendly march. Our points of unity are in opposition to the entire Republican agenda, not solely one candidate or politician.”
When does the RNC start? When is the Republican National Convention?
The RNC begins Monday, July 15.
How many days is the RNC? What are the RNC convention dates?
The convention runs four days, from Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18.
What’s the RNC 2024 convention schedule?
Here’s the master schedule of events for the Republican National Convention.
The convention is closed to all but delegates, politicians, media members and volunteers.
Events kick off Sunday night with the invitation-only “Red, White and Brew” welcome party at the Henry Maier Festival Park.
Throughout the week, guests are invited to attend official sessions at the convention venues; affinity group receptions; lectures and presentations; and film screenings.
Many events require tickets or registration; be sure to consult the master calendar for information on how to register.
The official convention watch party takes place each day at the Drink Wisconsinbly Pub, 320 W. Highland Ave., across from Fiserv Forum.
— Claire Reid
What’s the RNC convention location?
Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, is the main venue for the RNC. That’s also where the first Republican debate was held in August. Thousands of delegates will gather there to hear the big speeches.
The nearby University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center will also be used as spaces for the event.
Here’s more about each venue:
— Hope Karnopp
What’s the RNC convention agenda, platform?
Monday, the party approved a new platform that solidifies Trump’s takeover of the party.
The platform, released after a closed meeting of Republican National Committee party officials in Milwaukee’s Baird Center, promotes nationalism, is less socially conservative on the issue of abortion access and promotes new voting restrictions at a time when the GOP is pushing a conflicting message to their party faithful.
The way the platform was crafted and approved angered some committee members focused on pursuing a more aggressive policy on abortion access, who told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel debate was discouraged more than had been the case in previous platform draftings.
Here’s more about the Republican Party platform
— Molly Beck and Mary Spicuzza
Can I get tickets to the Republican National Convention?
Unless you’re a delegate, politician, media member or volunteer, you won’t be able to attend the RNC. Those attendees already have credentials to get inside the convention venues.
In other words, you can’t buy a ticket to get into the convention if you’re a member of the public.
But there are other RNC-related events that are open to the public. And, there are plenty of ways to watch the RNC. Numerous platforms will stream the convention, including the Journal Sentinel. Fox News Media will also have coverage across all of its platforms.
— Hope Karnopp
When is the March on the RNC?
The Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 is planning a protest march Monday.
The group plans to gather in Red Arrow Park at 10 a.m., Coalition Co-Chair Omar Flores said. Flores said there would be a rally at 11 a.m. and the march would begin at noon.
Friday, protest organizers shared a slightly revised route for Monday’s march, reporting that they reached a “handshake agreement” on the route with Milwaukee police and the City Attorney’s Office to deviate entirely from the city’s sanctioned march route.
— Rory Linnane
When is the Democratic National Convention, or DNC, in 2024?
The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago — less than 100 miles south of the RNC — from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.
