The Secret Service chief met with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to discuss the party’s efforts to keep expected protesters away from the site of the Republican National Convention scheduled for July in Milwaukee.
Republican officials and lawmakers oppose establishing a designated demonstration zone near the convention site, arguing it would lead to clashes between demonstrators and protesters. In a late April letter, attorneys for the Republican National Committee suggested that the Secret Service expand the security perimeter around the Fiserv Forum venue.
The meeting was held at the request of the top Senate Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell, who in a letter Friday called for a “potentially volatile situation” between rally attendees and demonstrators. It warned of “areas of possible and avoidable conflict.” The party plans to formally name Donald J. Trump as its 2024 presidential candidate.
“As you know, this has been a very difficult year for American protests,” McConnell wrote, referring to the recent wave of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. “We all must take the rising tensions seriously and do our best to balance the right to express dissent while keeping convention participants as safe as possible.”
Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, said in an interview on local television in Milwaukee that he was one of the senators who met with Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle.
“She’s basically saying that she doesn’t have the power to change their ratings and they’re rating them based on criteria that they’ve used for years,” Johnson said on Fox 6 News in Milwaukee. ” he added. . As a result, it seems like she can’t change anything. ”
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that Cheatle had “briefed the U.S. Senate” about the convention’s security plans, saying the security perimeter “considers security considerations such as protected information, risks, and threats.” It has been developed to ensure the highest level of security while minimizing impact on the public. ”
The Secret Service also said a security plan for the convention was developed and approved by a larger committee of city, state and federal agencies.
According to the RNC, under the proposed security plan, protesters would be forced to move to Pere Marquette, a small public park on the banks of the Milwaukee River about a quarter-mile from the Fiserv Forum, the arena where the convention will be held. You will be confined to the park. The park is adjacent to two streets designated as main routes to the convention site, and the Republican National Committee said forcing participants to pass in front of demonstrators could heighten tensions and lead to clashes. It is claimed that it causes
Republicans have cited recent campus protests, with Johnson on Tuesday mentioning the 2020 protests after the police killing of George Floyd and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
A group known as the RNC March Coalition is organizing the convention demonstrations. Social media posts promoting the demonstration suggest people will be in Milwaukee to protest Republican policies on issues such as the Gaza war, abortion rights and climate change.
“The RNC March Coalition condemns Republican attempts to take away First Amendment rights,” the group said in a statement, adding, “Despite these Republican complaints, we remain committed to We will march as far as we can,” he added. Republicans. ”
Maggie Haberman Contributed to the report.
